Need Feedback On RCBS Trim Mate

[Glenn J]

I would like to hear what anyone has to say about the rcbs trim mate case prep center. It says it cleans and deburs primer pockets, removes military primer crimps, and reshapes the primer pockets.

I have always done my primer pockets and military crimps by hand, but I have come into some large amounts of military brass in 45 acp, and 223, and need a better way. The rcbs machine looks good to me, but I wanted to see what others have to say first.

Also is there something better than this.

Thanks Glenn

 

[HJ857]

If you figure on using it for most or all of the stations then it's pretty nice. However if you plan on using it for removing primer crimps only, then I'd say it's not a good value.

You can over do the crimp reaming, so you have to develop some "touch" with it, but it's not hard. I use a leather glove on my brass handling hand for better grip, otherwise my hand cramps up after a little while. You'll develop stronger fingers rapidly!

It's a bit on the loud side and the motor sounds a little rough, but it's strong and I have a feeling it's going to last a long time.

The deburring cutter works really well on wider cases (30 cal and above), and is less effective on .223. I rotate/skew the cases counterclockwise for three turns on .223 and that's all it needs. 6.5 and 9mm cases do not need any twisting/skewing for a fast and clean cut. Chamfering is very fast regardless of the case size, one second maybe. primer pocket cleaning is also about one second.

For .223 crimp reaming I press the case on to the cutter and hold for 5 seconds max with moderate pressure, this was a trial and error process to figure out.

I've had mine for about a year and have perhaps 5000 cases through it. I've worn out the primer brush but everything else is still going strong.

 

[fguffey]

Glenn J., The RCBS case prep center is one tool I would not be without, primer pocket uniformer, military crimp remover, bevel and remove burrs with a rotating brush to clean inside of necks, pick up a case, flip (turn it over once) and the case is finished, the military crimp remover is not included.

http://www.gunaccessories.com/lyman/CaseTrimmers/index.asp

Scroll to primer pocket reamers, $14.00 + or - a few.

F. Guffey

 

[snuffy]

This tool is essential for cutting military crimps from primer pockets;
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=253550

Using an inside neck chamfer tool, it is all too easy to remove too much brass. This one bottoms out in the primer pocket, so it can't cut too much. The one for the large pockets is right below that one on the midway page.

I have a case prep, didn't know how much I needed it until after I got mine! One thing it WON'T do is trim to length. But after trimming separately, it's a simple inside, outside deburr, then flip over to ream the crimp and clean the pocket.

 

[Glenn J]

Thanks for the feedback. My mind is made up. Glenn

 

[tomj44]

There is a better tool to remove crimped primers http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25263/catid/8/Super_Swage_600

 

[snuffy]

There is a better tool to remove crimped primers http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/con...uper_Swage_600

Yeah, everybody loves theirs, but at nearly 100 bucks the $8.99 Hornady cutter is what, less than 10% of that? And it works just as well/fast, when used in a trim mate or even a cordless drill.

Yes Glenn, the Hornady cutter screws into any of the stations on the trim mate. It also will screw into any of the accessory handles available on midway.

 

[Glenn J]

Hey Tom, that tool is cool. I watched it in action on a youtube video, but it doesn't clean the primer pockets, and that means a seperate operation. Thanks Glenn

 

[10 Spot Terminator]

Glenn ;

I have owned the RCBS Trim Mate for nearly 10 yrs. and couldnt get by without it these days . I bought the primer pocket reamer and it works fine . It is far less than the Dillon Super swager and is half the size of a matchbox .There is another alternative as well if you wish to press the crimp out of the cases rather than reem it out and that is the CH primer pocket tool that you can check out at http://www.ch4d.com/ that lists for about $22.00 and for me represents several pounds of powder and some bullets for the extra money saved . The CH tool is smaller than a sizing die too . Hope this helps . 10 SPOT

 

[fguffey]

10 Spot Terminator, RCBS sells a primer pocket swage that works with their presses, bending the top ram is common because of case web thickness, the ram is adjusted down inside the case to force the case into the swage, if the case thickness varies, the anvil will bend if adjusted to a case with a thin web, then used to swage a case with a thick web.

Case web thickness variation, from military to commercial ammo, there could be .070 difference, the military being the thinner of the two, when there is a variation in military cases, it is always said the military is heavy because it is thicker, not true, the web of the military case is thinner and the body is heavier, meaning the commercial case has a thick web and a thin body, and weighs less, in my opinion, commercial brass is safer when the case protrusion from the chamber is not known.

F. Guffey