RCBS Case Prep center

[perpetual otter]

I'm looking to process a bunch of 223 brass soon. I already have a dillon 550 but I need a fast way to trim my brass. I'm looking at the RCBS case prep machine but I was wondering what else I need to but with it? I want to trim the brass so do I need to buy some sort of attachment?

Is it possible to just add a trimmer to my dillon via another tool head?

[C.G.]

Dillon has motor with trim die for that purpose and I just happen to have one of those for sale:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=261453

[10fcp]

Case prep center doesn't trim. As for attachments maybe a primer pocket uniformer and a mil crimp cutter.

[FLIGHT762]

If you want to trim cases in high volume quickly, buy a Giraud trimmer. http://www.giraudtool.com/

Don't buy the Dillon. I did and I was disappointed in the way you have to trim. With the Dillon, you have to set up the trimmer with their proprietary sizing die to cut the proper length. If you don't have a case gauge or headspace gauge to make sure you don't over size the case you can ruin the cases. I did to over 100 222 Remington cases by oversizing them.
After you properly headspace them and cut, you have to run the cases through a regular sizing die again (a regular die or neck sizer will work) since the Dillon cutter die does NOT have an expander in it to expand the necks for proper bullet fit. You also have to manually chamfer inside and outside the neck. It takes more time, but it is faster than manual trimmers. My Dillon now sits in a box and I rarely use it. I use my Gracey a lot.


After using the Dillon, I bought a Gracey trimmer, which is a good setup, but if I had to do it all over, I'd buy the Giraud. It is a bit better than the Gracey. I ended up buying a Giraud made replacement cutter for the Gracey, which works much better than the Original Gracey.

This is the Gracey:

http://www.matchprep.com/trimmer.htm

[perpetual otter]

If you want to trim cases in high volume quickly, buy a Giraud trimmer. http://www.giraudtool.com/

Don't buy the Dillon. I did and I was disappointed in the way you have to trim. With the Dillon, you have to set up the trimmer with their proprietary sizing die to cut the proper length. If you don't have a case gauge or headspace gauge to make sure you don't over size the case you can ruin the cases. I did to over 100 222 Remington cases by oversizing them.
After you properly headspace them and cut, you have to run the cases through a regular sizing die again (a regular die or neck sizer will work) since the Dillon cutter die does NOT have an expander in it to expand the necks for proper bullet fit. You also have to manually chamfer inside and outside the neck. It takes more time, but it is faster than manual trimmers. My Dillon now sits in a box and I rarely use it. I use my Gracey a lot.


After using the Dillon, I bought a Gracey trimmer, which is a good setup, but if I had to do it all over, I'd buy the Giraud. It is a bit better than the Gracey. I ended up buying a Giraud made replacement cutter for the Gracey, which works much better than the Original Gracey.

This is the Gracey:

http://www.matchprep.com/trimmer.htm

It looks like you're right. Thanks for the post !

[ar15barrels]

Don't buy the Dillon. I did and I was disappointed in the way you have to trim. With the Dillon, you have to set up the trimmer with their proprietary sizing die to cut the proper length. If you don't have a case gauge or headspace gauge to make sure you don't over size the case you can ruin the cases. I did to over 100 222 Remington cases by oversizing them.
After you properly headspace them and cut, you have to run the cases through a regular sizing die again (a regular die or neck sizer will work) since the Dillon cutter die does NOT have an expander in it to expand the necks for proper bullet fit. You also have to manually chamfer inside and outside the neck.

Sounds like operator error, not machine error.
How do you setup a regular full length die if you don't have a way to measure headspace length of the case?

As for chamfering the cases, the dillon cuts such a nice square edge that you really don't have to.
I tumble the cases after trimming and any loose cuttings get knocked off in the tumbler.

As for the neck expanding, put a decapping die in station 1 of the progressive press, but change out the decapping stem with the one from your sizing die and the case gets the primer knocked out AND the case neck expanded as part of the normal loading process.

You have to size cases before you can run them through the giraud or gracey.

[FLIGHT762]

Sounds like operator error, not machine error.
How do you setup a regular full length die if you don't have a way to measure headspace length of the case?

As for chamfering the cases, the dillon cuts such a nice square edge that you really don't have to.
I tumble the cases after trimming and any loose cuttings get knocked off in the tumbler.

As for the neck expanding, put a decapping die in station 1 of the progressive press, but change out the decapping stem with the one from your sizing die and the case gets the primer knocked out AND the case neck expanded as part of the normal loading process.

You have to size cases before you can run them through the giraud or gracey.

If you want to use the Dillon, go ahead, but the Gracey or Giraud is simpler to set up and use than the Dillon and it doesn't tie up your press.

As for setting up the die, many reloaders use the instructions from the die makers without headspace gauges. As I said, I ruined a lot of 222 cases by over bumping the shoulder in the Dillon die. For some reason, the Dillon 222 die allowed the shoulders to be set back way too far. I never thought the die would do that. Lesson learned.

If you don't use a progressive set up (like many reloaders) you still have to expand the necks in a separate operation.

With the Gracey or the Giraud, you size you F/L size your cases and feed them into the shell holder like a pencil sharpener.

The Gracey takes a few minutes to adjust the cutter when you change calibers. The Giraud cutter is easier to adjust when you change calibers.

I still occasionally use my Dillon trimmer for .270 Win. and run a lot of cases.

I've found though for single stage presses, the Gracey I have is simpler to use.

I have used the Dillon in a progressive set up and it is quick as you described.

To each their own.

[C.G.]

If you want to use the Dillon, go ahead, but the Gracey or Giraud is simpler to set up and use than the Dillon and it doesn't tie up your press.

As for setting up the die, many reloaders use the instructions from the die makers without headspace gauges. As I said, I ruined a lot of 222 cases by over bumping the shoulder in the Dillon die. For some reason, the Dillon 222 die allowed the shoulders to be set back way too far. I never thought the die would do that. Lesson learned.

If you don't use a progressive set up (like many reloaders) you still have to expand the necks in a separate operation.

With the Gracey or the Giraud, you size you F/L size your cases and feed them into the shell holder like a pencil sharpener.

The Gracey takes a few minutes to adjust the cutter when you change calibers. The Giraud cutter is easier to adjust when you change calibers.

I still occasionally use my Dillon trimmer for .270 Win. and run a lot of cases.

I've found though for single stage presses, the Gracey I have is simpler to use.

I have used the Dillon in a progressive set up and it is quick as you described.

To each their own.

Flight762, your assesment of the Dillon does not make much sense. It was meant to be used on progressive presses and there is no faster way to reload including trimming on a proggressive press that I know of, which you admit as well. Yet you seem to be judging from a single stage press user's point of view.
While Giraud is a fine machine you need to size your case and remove it from the press in order to trim and then put it back into the shell plate/shell holder to continue which takes some time, especially if you don't have a case feeder.
As to your ruined .223 cases, personally I check the first several cases when setting up a die. Case gages are a cheap and quick insurance to make sure that your die is set up correctly.

[FLIGHT762]

Flight762, your assesment of the Dillon does not make much sense. It was meant to be used on progressive presses and there is no faster way to reload including trimming on a proggressive press that I know of, which you admit as well. Yet you seem to be judging from a single stage press user's point of view.
While Giraud is a fine machine you need to size your case and remove it from the press in order to trim and then put it back into the shell plate/shell holder to continue which takes some time, especially if you don't have a case feeder.
As to your ruined .223 cases, personally I check the first several cases when setting up a die. Case gages are a cheap and quick insurance to make sure that your die is set up correctly.

Yes, I am one of the Lepers still using a single stage and I'm judging from a single stage users point of view, it makes perfect sense if you're using the Dillon for that.

I ruined a bunch of .222 Remington cases. I wish they were .223 cases as .222 Remington cases are difficult to find. I didn't have a case gauge at the time in .222 Remington. Didn't think the Dillon die would do that. When I fired the loaded cases, the shoulder set back was so much, I was getting case head separations. There was nothing wrong with Sako .222 Remington I was shooting them in. Just an expensive learning experience.

The Dillon is fine for a progressive set up. I don't care for it in a single stage set up.

My money was better spent on a Gracey or Giraud.

C.G., you and Randall are right when using the Dillon in a progressive, especially with the case feeder. I was giving my experience using it in a single stage set up.

Regarding the O/P, the Dillon will work well if you use it in your progressive press. Be sure to use a case gauge to set the proper headspace when setting it up.

[17819]

Hey Yall,

I bought and tried to use the RCBS prep center but it was SUPER slow and really hard on the hands. Now it just sits on the bench.

I am running a Dillon 650 and my .223 case prep head is set up as follows. 1) Decapper 3) Size & Trim (Dillon Trimmer) 4)Neck Size.

I tumble the brass once before to get the bulk of the carbon and dirt off. Then I spray the cases with some Dillon lube, toss them in the case feed. I turn on the music/vacuum/trimmer and away we go. Once again into the tumbler to get the lube off, and done. (except for the swager)

I shoot across the course with a bolt gun and those rounds are handled much differently. As for my 55g zombie killing bulk .223 ammo, the Dillon is FANTASTIC!

Can someone offer some advice on the lubing process though? I tried a lube die in spot #1 but it did not seem to coat the brass consistently. The way I'm doing it now leaves a bit of lube in the case feeder.

[freonr22]

Possum hollow trimmer setup is $35 inyour drill press

[ar15barrels]

Can someone offer some advice on the lubing process though? I tried a lube die in spot #1 but it did not seem to coat the brass consistently. The way I'm doing it now leaves a bit of lube in the case feeder.

Modify your lube die by increasing the lube flow holes, or mount a heating element on your toolhead to heat the lube.
Either will increase the lube flow rate.
Then you will need to dramatically inrease the capacity of the lube die by adding an external hopper and a valve to control the rate at which the lube is fed into the die.

[Corky43]

Possum hollow trimmer setup is $35 inyour drill press

The best!! Nice, cheap and fast. What else can you ask for?

[ar15barrels]

The best!! Nice, cheap and fast. What else can you ask for?

Good results.

Good quality.
Low price.
Easy availability.

Pick any two.

[jwest]

I know this thread isn't really discussing this - I just want to mention that I really like the RCBS Case Prep Center I purchased from MidWay - really happy with it and it saves a lot of elbow grease.