Hi guys,

I want to start loading 223 and I am trying to figure out the best way to prep the cases. I had kinda decided on the Frankford Arsenal case prep center but now have been seeing some positive things about the Lyman.

The nice thing about the FA is that it can trim cases, but then only has 3 stations. Alternatively, the Lyman doesn't have the built in case trimmer but has 5 stations and is a bit cheaper.

Just looking for opinions on the FA case pre station vs the Lyman case prep station plus a separate trimmer. Any specific trimmers you recommend? Is it going to get old with the hand crank versions? Although I'm not putting out high volume, so maybe thats not a concern.....

I use the Forster original case trimmer. I have it rigged up on my drill press to drastically speed things up and save my old hands and wrists from a whole lot of pain.


If I was starting over , I'd buy this:
Power Case Trimmer & Accessories Archives - Forster Products(R)

I've got the Lyman Universal trimmer and have it set up to use in the drill press just like the photos above. Works great for large batches of 223/5.56 and saves me a ton of work. It also came with a hand crank which I use for small batches of 44mag.

For the rest of the process, I use my cordless drill with the appropriate attachment to finish prepping. I prefer to do the chamfer/debur and ream out the primer crimp in separate steps so I don't mistakenly leave a step out. Works well and so far saved me some money.

Thanks for the thoughts. I do have a Delta variable speed bench drill press, but I think I blew a belt need to look more into it.

That being said, i should have mentioned, I'd really like to get one of the multi function case prep centers. I'm just not sure what one

If you are talking about the following Lyman Case Prep Xpress.
I have one and used it to clean up about a 1000 .223 Remington cases and it works pretty good, but with one major caveat. The lyman tools that come with it suck. Luckily, the Hornady tools I had fit. The original outside chamfering tool was so dull it wouldn't work and the replacement worked, but is now dull. The inside deburring tool is ok, and the primer pocket cleaners work, but not as well as the Hornady. The primer pocket uniformers are ok, but actually work better as a cleaner.
As far as a trimmer, you are on your own for that. My Hornady is better than the original Pacific/Hornady trimmer it replaced but still has accuracy problems.

c/o post #2;

Now that be smoke'n !!

Way to put the brain cells together.