Prepping 223 Brass

mred20

mred20

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So just getting in to reloading and have done my first batch of 9mm....(that will be all of that till I can get to the range and make sure they don't blow up lol). Now I kinda want to go ahead and start getting setup to load 223. Looking for some recommendations of trimmers and whatever I need to prep the brass that won't break the bank.
 
mred20 said:
So just getting in to reloading and have done my first batch of 9mm....(that will be all of that till I can get to the range and make sure they don't blow up lol). Now I kinda want to go ahead and start getting setup to load 223. Looking for some recommendations of trimmers and whatever I need to prep the brass that won't break the bank.
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat. Just started about 2 months ago. I, like you besides being cheap or shall we say frugal, didn't want to spend a butt load to begin with because I didn't even know if I was going to stick with it. I got the Lee single stage press and dies. I clean the brass with a harbor freight dual drum tumbler with pins, dawn and lemishine. I have the Lee deluxe power quick trim thingy and dies for 9mm and 223. Works pretty good. Trims pretty consistently once you get the feel for it and it deburrs and chamfers all in one step. Cheaper than a separate stand alone case trimmer. Now I'm not sure if that quick trim will work in all presses so check that out first if you don't have a Lee press and want to go that route. If you want to go an even cheaper route you can try the Lee Cutter and Lock Stud. You still have to buy the gauge and holders and a deburring and chamfer tool but still comes out significantly less than a stand alone bench trimmer and gives very good results. It's a manual process done by hand so you don't have to worry about what press you have. I'd also recommend a Hornady small primer pocket reamer. #390750. $10 on Amazon or something similar to remove any military crimps you may come across. It has a threaded end because Hornady makes a special handle for it but I just chuck it in my drill. Works great. MCJ has a set of large and small ones Amazon for $17. Does the same thing but I just wanted the small one so I got the Hornady. Also much less $$$ than a standalone brass swager and gives very good results.
 
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You can go fancy or cheap for trimming 223 brass. All can do a fairly good job. Cheap is a Lee pilot and cutter used with one of their universal chucks in a power drill. It works just fine. You might also need something to take out the crimp in primer pockets. The same fancy or cheap applies here. A simple reamer that can be used in a drill does a good job and is about as cheap as you can get.
 
To be honest, if I am reloading for an AR, I usually do not trim the brass. Have not had any problems. If I am reloading for the bolt actions, I will trim the brass. I do use the WFT Trimmer in a drill press to trim my bottle neck brass.
 
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mred20 said:
This is what came with the kit I bought. Just wondering if this is good enough or should I get something else.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012840269
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That's what came with my press. You'll still need the case length gauges for each caliber. They work good. Just a bit more time consuming. That deburring and chamfer tool isn't the best. It works but you may want to upgrade that down the line.

Here are the case length gauges and holders.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012838679

Don't forget a small size primer pocket reamer for the crimps.

https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-390750-Primer-Pocket-Reamer/dp/B000NOORPW/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1TPDL6C0SHVEQ&dchild=1&keywords=rcbs+primer+pocket+reamer&qid=1589834819&s=sporting-goods&sprefix=rcbs+primer+pocker+reame,sporting,158&sr=1-2
 
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mred20 said:
This is what came with the kit I bought. Just wondering if this is good enough or should I get something else.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012840269
Click to expand...
I have used that and it works well, especially for low volume loading. The chamfer/deburr tool, though, does not work that well, in my opinion. I have used the Lee cutter that has a 8/32 stud that allows it to be used in a case prep center. The one you linked to, though, can be chucked up in a drill or power screwdriver which is better than trimming by hand.

I think you could spend a little money and get a good setup to do trimming and chamfering. I have not used one personally, but have heard good things about this:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012719754?pid=628405

I does a good job trimming, and has the extra stations for chamber and deburr bits. Add a pocket crimp remover bit for the crimped pockets you will find on some 5.56 cases.
 
I use the RCBS swager tool. Works good.

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