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Reloaders like to control all aspects of their craft – this I know from first-hand experience. From sourcing components like cases, bullets, powder, primers, etc., to getting things ready to go to “press”, the more control you have over things, the better.
Nowhere is that more true than with case preparation. You cannot create top-quality reloads without having a good foundation for them to begin with. Cartridge cases comprise that foundation. Good quality cases are necessary to create uniform, consistent loads regardless of caliber or purpose. Whether you are blasting steel targets, running tactical courses, or sitting in a deer blind, you need ammunition that has consistent quality from one cartridge to another.
RCBS has, for decades, been the go-to company for top-notch reloading equipment. Here on this site, I’ve reviewed many of their products. A simple search will bring them up… if you’re in the market for a new press or whatever, you might want to do that.
It was with great curiosity that I accepted an invitation from my RCBS guy, Joel, to review the Matchmaster Precision Case Trimmer. This is a fairly new product and is designed to be the ultimate in case prep tools.
I’m no stranger to case trimmers… I own one, an RCBS by the way, that I bought in the late ‘70s when I invested in an RCBS Jr. reloading press, scale, and powder measure. All of those still work, after almost 50 years. That really says something about the brand, I think. The one I own is one that you turn a crank to spin the case against a cutter. You have different pilots, in different calibers, that guide the case mouth as it moves against the cutter. I got a newer version of the same thing with upgraded hardware, not too long ago.
The manual version is one option. Along those lines, you can buy the RCBS Case Prep Kit. This includes the updated manual trimmer along with a powered unit that chamfers and otherwise prepares the case for loading. It also includes a hand primer and digital calipers. With this unit, you can ream primer pockets, true up case mouths, chamfer case mouths both in and out, and otherwise get the case in prime condition to accept powder.
Going to the next level, we have the Precision Case Trimmer.
Here is its function in one statement, from the site linked above:
Designed in partnership with Henderson Precision, the MatchMaster trimmer’s micrometer length adjustment, 3-way carbide cutting head, powerful motor, and premium build allow handloaders to trim, chamfer, and deburr brass in one smooth motion.
That’s just the facts, ma’am. How it does all this is really interesting. Again, let me quote from the site, as they can explain it better than I can…
Built to the highest standards of quality and precision, it trims any .22 – .338 caliber case. The MatchMaster Precision Case Trimmer includes everything you need to take your case prep to the next level.
Here are some features…
- 3-Way Cutter: Trims, deburrs, and chamfers with adjustable carbide blades (it does all three at once)
- High–Speed Custom Built Motor
- MatchMaster Micrometer: Precision length adjustment
- Trimming Measurement Tolerance: .001 of an inch.
- Machined in the USA: Made from premium 6061-T6 aluminum and 303/416 stainless steel
- Trims Cartridge Cases: 22 – 338 cal, 1.460″ → 2.870″ length
- New Features from Henderson Precision: Upgraded motor, micrometer length adjustment, containment guard, brass catcher, carriage, motor mount, base plate, and more
- Easily Mounts: To the RCBS Accessory Base Plate or any bench
- Includes: Trimmer, motor, bracket, case bin, cutterhead, seven pilots (.22, .24, .25, .26, .27, .28, .30 cal), #1 collet for 223 Rem, 308 Win, 6.5CM, 300 Win Mag, and many others
- Additional Items: Cutter heads, pilots, and collets available
When I first got this in, I wasn’t sure what was in the big cardboard box – it didn’t say. I knew one was coming, but I had a mental image of the previous electric trimmers and case prep tools I’d received… something well smaller than the box sitting there. This thing is big. That’s the only way to say it. And, it’s not light. It’s engineered to make very precise cuts to your cases and needs to be well-made and anchored to do that.
You need to mount this on your bench. It has to be anchored, and you can screw it right to your bench or use an Accessory Base Plate.
How Does It Work?
After assembling the unit according to the directions – that should take about 15 minutes, using standard tools – and mounting it to your bench, you’ll need to install the proper pilot for the caliber you’re working with. You can see the ones they include with the unit above, and others are available from RCBS.
When you’re ready to roll, resize your brass if you haven’t done that already. It’s important to do that, as the brass tends to flow upward in the neck/mouth area during sizing. It isn’t much, but precision requires that you do that step first.
Unscrew the green micrometer a few turns to back it out a bit. Then, place a case head into the locking handle. Make sure the case is straight and not cocked. Turn on the motor, and push the case against the cutter. It shouldn’t touch it yet, as you just moved the micrometer back. This allows you to adjust your cut depth finely.
Keep pushing the case against the cutter, screwing in the micrometer a few turns at a time until the cutter contacts the case mouth. Here is where you’ll need to know the case length you’re after. Take a little bit of metal off, and measure the case with a caliper. Repeat this until you achieve the length you desire. Then, run as many cases as you want and let them fall into the collection bin below.
I found a really good video by the Ultimate Reloader… I like his videos. He knows what he’s doing. He was demonstrating this machine, and he trimmed 10 cases as a consistency test and plugged the numbers into a spreadsheet. Here’s what he got (minus the red video progress line…). The stated case length in the Hornady reloading manual is 1.760 inches.
Note the standard deviation and extreme spread numbers… extremely small. Without going all math geek, these numbers tell us how consistently this machine can trim brass. This is truly amazing! He achieved not quite as consistent, but similar, numbers when he trimmed .308 cases.
It’s a good thing that RCBS partnered with Henderson Precision and incorporated elements from both companies into this trimmer. They easily could have bought the rights to produce an “RCBS-green” version of the Henderson product, but they used good design elements from both products, from the ground up.
One of those elements is the micrometer. There is a dead stop for the micrometer on the handle assembly that allows you to be consistent every time… there is no guesswork involved. The micrometer bottoms out every time… all you do is change its length a thousandth or two with each adjustment until you’re where you need to be.
Also, the dual rails that the handle assembly rides on are finely-machined and allow the handle to glide effortlessly.
There’s no need to do anything else to the case mouth after trimming, as you get three cuts with this trimmer at once… length, and both inside- and outside-chamfering. The cases are ready for your press. Speaking of cutting, the cutting head has a clear, plastic shroud over it to keep your fingers away from the blades.
Finally, the case collection bin is a great idea. Loosen the handle, and the case drops away without you having to move it.
Above, with the cutter head guard in place, and below, adjusting the cutting blades. They move in and out. You might want to consider getting a separate head for each caliber you trim… setting them up takes some time.
With the guard removed for photo clarity
Final Thoughts
This trimmer is not for every reloader. If you do mostly handgun loads for practice or competition or you “just want to have fun” shooting your rifle, you may not need this level of precision… heck, you may not need to trim your cases at all, if you don’t shoot that often.
But if you are into precision rifle pursuits such as hunting or long-range target competition, or if you’re just OCD about loading the most precise ammo you can, then you will want to look at this trimmer. Its heavy-duty, quiet motor makes quick work of trimming the largest cases, and the level of precision is amazing. Many reloaders like to give themselves every advantage that they can, and want to start with the most consistent cases that they can source or create. This trimmer will allow that to happen, no doubt… it will help ensure that your loads begin with a solid foundation.
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