3 way brass trimmer on a budget

[freediver111]

I’ve been a dedicated reloader for 10 yrs now, and I’ve made a lot of tool upgrades over the years to speed the process, except when it comes to trimming/chamfer/deburr cases.

I typically reload for 4 cartridges and process around 800-1,000 rounds in a year on the low end, and some years I go through 1500-2k.
Most of my high volume reloading is for a pair of 6.5 creed that my daughter and I use for practicing and NRL hunter matches.

Dropping $600-$700 on a Henderson or similar style seems a little much for my needs. I currently have a Lyman case prep xpress that I use cheap Lee cutter adapters with cartridge pilots for higher volume work and a hand crank Lyman case trimmer for small volume brass trimming. Chamfer and deburr are also all done after trimming on the Lyman xpress.

I’m looking at the following options:

1) Sell the Lyman xpress and buy a Frankford Arsenal unit with the case trimmer.

2) Get an FA universal trimmer kit that runs $80 and uses a drill.

3) Buy a new cutting rod for the old Lyman hand crank case trimmer to convert it to a cordless drill set-up and buy an RCBS 3-way cutting tip. At least I think that’s a retrofit option, but I’m looking around $80 in parts so now we’re back in a similar price range as the other options.

Anyone have any insight for a quick and economical option? I don’t need to trim length every time, so really just seems crazy to drop the coin on a Henderson. I also would prefer to avoid buying a dedicated tool for every caliber like a WFT or Giraud tri way.

Thanks.


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[wind gypsy]

Hornady.

 

[freediver111]

Hornady.

The $600 Henderson version?


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[SloppyJ]

The fankford one is just okay. I've upgraded to the carbide RCBS cutting head and it's still just okay. I feel like the motor is just too slow.

I'm about $275 into that one with the new heads and I wish I would have just spent the money on a better one. Right now it seems the Hornady one is legit. The RCBS/Henderson one looks good too but I don't know the MSRP.

 

[freediver111]

The fankford one is just okay. I've upgraded to the carbide RCBS cutting head and it's still just okay. I feel like the motor is just too slow.

I'm about $275 into that one with the new heads and I wish I would have just spent the money on a better one. Right now it seems the Hornady one is legit. The RCBS/Henderson one looks good too but I don't know the MSRP.

I keep running into similar comments that lead me to believe it’s likely a buy once cry once issue. I’ve been spinning my wheels trying to avoid buying another expensive reloading tool. Seems like it’s just the nature of the sport!
About a year ago I finally splurged on an AutoTrickler V4 with the A&D scale and I’ve had no regrets with that one. Might be time to keep an eye on Hornady sales over the year.


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