Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Trim & Prep Center

Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Trim & Prep Center

In this article I thought might discuss Frankford Arsenal’s Platinum Series Case Trim & Prep Center.  This is something I picked up a few months back when I was looking for a faster, more reliable way to process large quantities of brass, and it didn’t disappoint.

Construction & Features

The build quality is second to none; featuring an all-metal body design made from steel and aluminum, a long power cable, and thick rubber feet.  The whole unit feels rock-solid and will definitely last a long, long time.

The list of features is similarly impressive.  Right out of the box, the platinum series comes with all your case prepping mainstays including a chamfer, deburr and primer pocket cleaner, each of which is made from hardened tool steel.  These bits can be cycled around from any of the three stations, or even removed altogether depending on the user’s preferences.

The engineering team at Frankford Arsenal’s done a similarly great job taking comfort and ergonomics into consideration. The prep center is very well balanced, and includes an adjustable base that allows it to be used in a vertical, horizontal or angled position, according to the user’s workspace.

What really drew my attention to this unit though is the trimmer.  The fact that I can trim and prep my brass on one piece of equipment, without having to worry about presses, drills, or batteries makes this the perfect tool for my purposes.  Not only is it convenient, it’s extremely quick and accurate.  Since the unit runs off AC, I never have to worry about dead batteries or charge time.  Likewise seeing as the depth gauge on the trimmer includes a marked scale, I can also make fine adjustments much faster and more repeatably when changing calibers than I ever could with other trimmers on the market.

Lastly unlike every other trimmer I’ve seen before, the Frankford Arsenal includes a full selection of collets and bushings, allowing me to process any bottle-neck case from .17HMR to .460 Weatherby without having to shell out for additional dies or adapters.  As everything fits inside a storage compartment on the same unit, it’s also right within arms reach with a minimum of fuss.

Setup

With the features covered, I decided to put this thing to the test and see how it actually performs using some .223 brass.

Setup is simple; the operator begins by threading the included chamfer, debur and primer pocket cleaning tools (or any combination thereof) into whichever stations they prefer.

With that done, the user removes the tension knob, and pulls out the existing case collet.

Next, the operator removes the existing bushing.

At this point the user consults the included sizing chart to determine the proper size of bushing and collet.

As you’ll see in the video above, the bushing rests over the shoulder of the casing, while the collect serves to hold it in place. In this way the device ensures a good, even trim that’s consistent from case to case.

The operator now proceeds to drop the proper bushing into place and ensure it’s level, after which the collet is seated on top.

Now the user re-installs the tension knob, being careful not to cross-thread it.

After some fine adjustment, the platinum series is pretty much ready to begin trimming and processing brass.

Operation

The operator begins by taking a case, and inserting it into the trimmer.  Since the depth is already set, and the collet holds the case steady, all it takes is a bit of pressure to obtain an even, level trim.

Next the user moves the casing on to the chamfer station, where the tool steel bit works to remove sharp edges on the inside of the case mouth.

Similarly, the deburring station serves to smooth the outside of the case mouth.  As with the previous step, very little force is needed.

Finally it’s on to the primer pocket cleaning station.  A second or two with this bit removes leftover primer fouling, and leaves the case with a nice, shiny pocket.

And that’s one casing done.  The entire process is quick, accurate and requires virtually no effort on the part of the operator.  Even after processing hundreds upon hundreds of cases, this unit will continue to maintain tight tolerances that can be counted on for even the pickiest precision marksmen.

Summary

While it wasn’t cheap, this is a fantastic tool and I have no regrets at all about buying it.  It’s faster, better built, more ergonomic, and above all more consistent than any other trimmer I’ve used before.  Although pricey, it includes every bushing, collet and bit you’ll ever need, so you know exactly what it’s costing you without any surprises.  Best of all, it includes everything you’d find on a standard case prep station, plus the trimmer, effectively combining two tools into one.

If you’re an intermediate to high volume reloader looking for something to precisely trim and prep thousands of casings quickly and efficiently, look no further than Frankford Arsenal’s Platinum Series Case Trim & Prep Center.

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Tactical Advantage TV is focused on delivering short, to-the-point content on a host of subjects related to firearms, casting, reloading, optics and accessories.  In addition to theoretical discussion, I will be performing a number of practical demonstrations on processes and products, including my own designs.