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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[HuntHarder]

Hornady... Sign up for capital one shopping, set Scheels as a favorite and wait maybe a couple days for a 30% back coupon. That's what I did when I picked up my hornady. I grabbed a 150$ gift card from just the Hornady 3 in 1 purchase. The trimmer is amazing. Quick, easy to set up and very precise.

 

[Krumfola]

I hate trimming cases, easily my least favorite part of reloading. I reload about the same volume as the OP. Last year I bought the WFT from Little Crow Gunworks and their chamfer/debur cutters for the Hornady Case Prep Duo and it has made a world of difference. I’d love a 3-in-1 like a Henderson or Giraud but I don’t trim enough to justify the cost.

 

[CMP70306]

I started with the hand turned Hornady cutter and manual Lyman chamfer and debur tool, after the carpal tunnel started getting to me I got the Hornady Case Prep center. After a couple years I added the RCBS 3 way cutter to it to cut down on time but it was still slow and finicky to get each case set correctly.

Finally while staring at a pile of 2,500 once fired and long 6.5 Creedmoor cases I sat down and did the math. Turns out the Henderson would save me 37 hours of case trimming just on that pile.

I bought the Henderson, my hands and wife thanked me.

 

[coast range]

Hornady... Sign up for capital one shopping, set Scheels as a favorite and wait maybe a couple days for a 30% back coupon. That's what I did when I picked up my hornady. I grabbed a 150$ gift card from just the Hornady 3 in 1 purchase. The trimmer is amazing. Quick, easy to set up and very precise.

So I have a capital one credit card now. How do I sign up for “shopping”

 

[freediver111]

Well, I’ve been eyeballing the Hornady trimmer since it came out and my buddy has a retail store and was able to order one for me at a good price. So back to buy once cry once.

I highly doubt reloading has saved me money in the last 10 years, but man I’m addicted to those low ES/SD’s. Doesn’t hurt that it keeps me shooting regularly as an excuse to hang out in the reloading room.


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[coast range]

yeah I am in the same exact boat as @freediver111 it kinda last piece of the puzzle. Been hard to justify

 

[freediver111]

yeah I am in the same exact boat as @freediver111 it kinda last piece of the puzzle. Been hard to justify

It really did get to that point for me. I streamlined and upgraded all the other tools, and it just came down to hating that final stage of brass prep using the old 3 step version. Just enough of a pita.


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[coast range]

Exactly and the cheap options are not “cheap”

 

[streamerfish]

For a creedmoor?????

Quit trimming, annealing, etc etc. Save lots of time and money by not doing such things. Throw away brass after handful of reloads. Buy more brass and continue..

Not as simple on other cases that naturally 'grow" more. But for modern cases....just no...

 

[freediver111]

For a creedmoor?????

Quit trimming, annealing, etc etc. Save lots of time and money by not doing such things. Throw away brass after handful of reloads. Buy more brass and continue..

Not as simple on other cases that naturally 'grow" more. But for modern cases....just no...

True, I can go several firings before I need to trim with a 6.5 creed, but I do reload for other calibers that do require more frequent trimmings and I hate the 3 step process every time.

The real plus is regardless of needing to trim for length, you can set it to just give it a light touch and you get a chamfer and deburr in one quick motion. First world problems I guess.


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[HuntHarder]

For a creedmoor?????

Quit trimming, annealing, etc etc. Save lots of time and money by not doing such things. Throw away brass after handful of reloads. Buy more brass and continue..

Not as simple on other cases that naturally 'grow" more. But for modern cases....just no...

My creedmoor got 4 firings before I was at max length and needing to trim. This is with Lapua brass. Why not just trim and get another ( probably 5-10) more shots out of it? With a nice trimmer, it takes about 5 seconds a case or less than 15 minutes to do 200 cases.

 

[freediver111]

My creedmoor got 4 firings before I was at max length and needing to trim. This is with Lapua brass. Why not just trim and get another ( probably 5-10) more shots out of it? With a nice trimmer, it takes about 5 seconds a case or less than 15 minutes to do 200 cases.

I bought 400 pieces of Lapua SRP 6.5 creedmoor brass years ago and I lost track of the number of reloads they’ve gone through, but they’ve easily been reloaded 10x and still going strong. Tossing them to avoid some minor case prep would be a waste.


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[streamerfish]

My creedmoor got 4 firings before I was at max length and needing to trim. This is with Lapua brass. Why not just trim and get another ( probably 5-10) more shots out of it? With a nice trimmer, it takes about 5 seconds a case or less than 15 minutes to do 200 cases.

You can sure. Personally I just prefer to tinker with loads, not with loading if that makes sense.

Starline brass (or equivalent), +- 5 firings, toss, move on. Less equipment needed, less time needed, cost equivalent on the brass to around 10 firings or more with "premium" brass without the extra steps to make sure you get to 10 firings (if the primer pockets hold that long).

But, like the OP mentioned. My preferences go out the window when your dealing with other cartridges that like to grow like weeds....And if he is reloading alot of stuff that does have to be trimmed extremely quickly, it probably makes sense to just bite the bullet and get a nice trimmer.....

 

[streamerfish]

I bought 400 pieces of Lapua SRP 6.5 creedmoor brass years ago and I lost track of the number of reloads they’ve gone through, but they’ve easily been reloaded 10x and still going strong. Tossing them to avoid some minor case prep would be a waste.


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Sure, If i bought Lapua brass I would agree...

Just different ways to get to the same spot really. I'm Running Starline/Hornady type brass about 5 reloads and tossing them with no prep work. Its running me roughly $.12 a firing. Your running Lupua brass, and with the proper prep work you need to get to about 11 firings for the same roughly $.12 a firing.

Its kinda the same thing...just different ways to get there. But what i do really only pencils out for certain cartridges (also why I will only buy modern cartridges from here on out, and sold my other guns. Possible exception for .223).

 

[freediver111]

Sure, If i bought Lapua brass I would agree...

Just different ways to get to the same spot really. I'm Running Starline/Hornady type brass about 5 reloads and tossing them with no prep work. Its running me roughly $.12 a firing. Your running Lupua brass, and with the proper prep work you need to get to about 11 firings for the same roughly $.12 a firing.

Its kinda the same thing...just different ways to get there. But what i do really only pencils out for certain cartridges (also why I will only buy modern cartridges from here on out, and sold my other guns. Possible exception for .223).

I’m a firm believer that a quick chamfer and deburr is always a good idea whether you trim or not prior to seating bullets. So even if you buy cheap brass and don’t need to trim before tossing them, you’re still going through some level of case mouth prep.

With the Hornady or similar tool, I can get rid of multiple tools in favor of one that does all 3 steps. Already sold my Lyman case prep xpress to a buddy getting into reloading. By the time I sell some of my other trim/case prep tools, the Hornady 3 in 1 will be a minimal cost upgrade.


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