Once accuracy with precision rifle shooting is achieved, precision is then about consistency. One of the most important factors in your consistency of your precision rifle reloading ammunition, is the consistency of the brass cases from one loaded cartridge to another. Things like case volume and neck tension play some of the most important parts of consistent accuracy, and for this very reason, correctly preparing brass for reloading is an important step and process not to be overlooked.
Even preparing new brass for reloading, is just as important, because brand new brass from the factory, comes somewhere close to the minimum spectrum of the SAAMI case specifications, so that it will fit in all factory and custom actions for that caliber, so it will not be the perfect shape and specifications for your rifle and load you have developed.
Steps for Preparing Brass for Reloading:
Preparing New Brass for Reloading:
- Chamfer
- Deburr
- Neck brush
- Expand neck with mandrel
- then load
Preparing Fired Brass for Reloading:
- Deprime
- Anneal
- Wet tumble
- Dry
- Chamfer
- Debur
- Neck Brush
- Full-length resize / bump 0.001
- Expand neck with mandrel
- Wipe off excess lube and load
Why Each Step for Preparing Brass for Reloading is Important?
Annealing fired brass, is done because once brass gets fired, it starts to work-harden and lose it’s malleability, this not only causes differences in resizing and therefore neck tensions, but also decreases the working life you will get from the brass cases.
Wet tumbling fired brass, is done to clean the inside of the primer pockets so the new primers can all be seated at the same consistent depth, to clean and open the flash holes so the primer flashes through it consistently on every cartridge, to clean the inside of the brass cases so the case volume is consistent with them all and lastly to clean the case inside neck so neck thickness and neck tension remains consistent and controlled.
Chamferring brass case necks, is done so that bullets being seated, slide in well, and there are not any inside rough edges on the case neck, scrapping pieces of the bullets off when seating them, and affecting their weights and shapes.
Deburring of brass case necks is done to remove any brass burrs or shavings left on the edges that can also scrape or interfere with the bullets when seating them in the case necks.
Neck brushing is done to remove any brass shavings or pieces that may have fallen into or got stuck to the inside of the case necks during chamferring and de-burring, which could again affect the bullets and neck tension when seating the bullets.
Best Equipment for Preparing Brass for Reloading
There are many small and large tools for each of these steps to prepare brass with, and we have owned and personally used most of them, but once we discovered the Lyman Case Prep Xpress, and used it for a while, we have never and will never use the separate tools for this purpose again. Not only does the Lyman case prep station do it all in one, it does so cleanly, quickly and basically effortless. The only two pieces of equipment we still use separately for case prep which the Lyman Case Prep Xpres does not do, is the case annealer, and the wet tumbler.
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Benefits of Owning Lyman Prep Station
Lyman prep station is an essential tool for any reloader. It has a multitude of features, such as size cases, preparing brass for reloading in less time & more. Lyman offers the only case prep station on the market with a 2-in-1 design. It’s both a resizing die and primer pocket cleaner in one!
This means you can get your cases sized and cleaned before loading them into your press for maximum efficiency. Whether you’re looking to increase your accuracy or decrease load times by prepping while loading. This tool got you covered! Read on to know the benefits of owning Lyman prep station!
What’s The Use of Case Prep Station?
Case prep station is an essential tool that gives you convenience, efficiency, and accuracy all in one. You can now size your cases, chamfer flash holes, deburr the necks, clean primer pockets, and even taper crimp.
The case prep station can work with a wide range of cases from 22 to 45 caliber. It also has a universal shell holder that allows you to use the same holder for all calibers.
This tool is perfect for any reloader. Even preparing your brass before loading reduces case splitting and helps you achieve maximum accuracy. The primer pocket cleaner ensures that your primers are seated firmly so that you can have a good shot.
Why We Choose Lyman for The Best-Case Prep Station?
Lyman has been in business for over 200 years. The company is a well-known name when it comes to consumer accuracy and efficiency tools for reloaders. Their product line offers a variety of options so you can find what’s best for your needs. In addition, Lyman has an excellent customer service team that supports all your questions and difficulties with reloading or using their products.
Additionally, Lyman manufactures two different types of case prep stations. One is the standard manual version, and the other is the automatic version. They are both class-leading products that stand out on their own.
Here are the reasons we chose Lyman for the best-case prep station.
Double-Ended Design
Lyman case prep xpress offers the only case prep station on the market with a 2-in-1 design. It’s both a resizing die and primer pocket cleaner in one! This means you can get your cases sized and cleaned before loading them into your press for maximum efficiency. Whether you’re looking to increase your accuracy or decrease load times by prepping while loading, This tool got you covered!
Electronic Primer System
The electronic primer system is designed to be convenient and avoid confusion during priming. It also prevents double-priming by stopping the machine if a case has already been resized and primed. This allows you to focus on reloading without worrying about wasting time and material.
Noise Reduction System
It is specifically designed to reduce noise while priming, which doesn’t wake up deaf and hard-of-hearing family members when operating at night or early morning hours. This is a great feature that can help you keep time while reloading with no interruptions.
Safety Reduction System
The safety reduction system is another excellent feature that helps minimize the risk of injury and damage. If the case gets stuck or there’s a jam, this system automatically stops all motions. It can be reset by simply unplugging it from the power source. This is an important feature to look for in any prep station as many do not offer such safety features.
Onboard Storage Tray
The storage tray keeps parts organized and prevents the loss of small details while you work. The tray ensures that all your tools are within reach, so you don’t have to worry about looking for them between steps. Everything stays neatly stored onboard until it’s needed next.
Sturdy Construction
This tool is made of quality plastic and metal, giving it a sturdy construction that can be used for countless reloading sessions. It offers a variety of features with the best value and performance on the market today.
Reasonable Price
When you consider the features, the price is quite reasonable. The features are packed into a single tool that can be used both by beginners or experienced reloaders. The features of this product are not available in other tools that cost twice as much.
Fastest Case Resizing Available
The case resizer will quickly resize your cases in seconds. It doesn’t matter what caliber you’re using, this tool can handle it all! Plus, it saves time by preventing the need to use an external resizing die with your press.
Reviews of Lyman Prep Station
The Lyman case prep Xpress is designed to do all of the steps necessary to prepare brass cases for reloading. It resizes your brass, chamfers flash holes, cleans primer pockets, and deburrs necks, so you do not need to use multiple tools during your prep process!
It’s a great time saver and very convenient to have all of your prep work done in one machine. It has easy-to-follow, clearly labeled controls for each function, which makes it very user-friendly. The taper crimp feature is great because it eliminates the guesswork for the right taper crimp length you should use so your ammo doesn’t bulge or fall out.
Accessories That Come With It
- Power Cord
- Cutter and lock stud.
- VLD chamfering tool.
- Primer pocket uniformer bushings (PPU001).
- 4 case neck lube. (.25 .30 .38 .45).
- Chamfering die.
- Primer pick-up tubes.
- Cleaning brush.
- Brush shavings cup.
When you use the link above to shop for one of the products, we receive a small commission from the sale, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep this site going, and does not affect the price you would pay usually in any way whatsoever.
Features
- The station is designed to be ergonomically balanced for proper operation. You can easily change dies by rotating the dials.
- The primer tube has an excellent, large capacity. It comes with a case neck lube, uniformer bushings (PPU001), cutter, and lock stud. All of which makes this an all-inclusive station that will allow you to spend less time reloading and more time shooting!
- Its VLD chamfering tool is excellent because it positions the cutter at a 45-degree angle for easier chamfering. And the small and large primer pick-up tubes are great for when you’re changing primer sizes.
- The primer pocket cleaner is very effective and won’t let you down when cleaning your primer pockets.
- It also has a case locking system with 4 lockdown bolts that helps prevent cases from slipping during the cycling process, which prevents damage to both equipment and cases!
- Accuracy is a high priority among competitive shooters. The Lyman case prep Xpress allows you to perform all prep steps in one quick and easy machine, making your job easier and more efficient.
Tips for Proper Use of The Lyman Prep Station
These are some tips for proper use of the Lyman prep station to maximize its efficiency.
- You must resize all your cases at once before reloading them. All the cases are appropriately prepared for loading later on by using several steps in one cycle. This decreases the time spent preparing your cases.
- For maximum convenience, have a place inside or close to your main reloading workspace where you can put the prep station between each step and keep kinds of stuff organized.
- You can also store extra supplies needed for case preparation inside the storage tray. This prevents losing small parts during the case preparation process, saving time hunting down those pieces when required.
- It’s also a good idea to keep your primer system from being inserted upside down, which can cause a problem of primers flowing out of the cases.
- Avoid using excessive force while preparing your cases as it may damage the equipment and shorten its lifespan.
- Be sure to clean and dry your cases and workbench before using the machine, as dirtiness can affect its precision.
- Remember that all operations should be performed on a flat surface that won’t move or shake during processing.
- When you’re finished preparing all your cases, remember to unplug the product from the power source. This will prevent overheating, which can damage it beyond repair if not detected early enough.
- Be sure that all moving parts are properly oiled or greased before use. This will help prolong the equipment’s lifespan.
- Do not obstruct the safety guard of the Prep Station by trying to open it when the machine is working, as this can cause damage and injuries.
The Verdict- Should You Buy This Product or Not?
Based on all the factors we’ve considered, we recommend you buy the Lyman prep station.
It is durable and reliable and will last a long time. The manufacturer backs it up with a warranty and is very responsive to customer questions and concerns. It has many features that help you save time preparing your cases compared to other case prep tools.
It is also easy to set up and use once you watch the video tutorials or read their instructions manual. And since you will only need to buy one case-prep machine for preparing your cases, it also saves you money in the long run.
So if you want a product that is affordable and well worth the price, then this is the product for you! The Lyman case prep station might become one of your favorite pieces of equipment to use during reloading.
FAQ
Q: How Often Should I Use This?
A: It’s entirely up to you! However, in our opinion preparing cases, back-to-back will decrease the machine lifespan. You can even take a few days off between preparing batches of brass by using other methods (for example, manually) before coming back to the prep station when loading the next rounds.
Q: What Primer System Is Included in The Kit?
A: The kit includes a universal priming arm which can be used with large or small primers. It’s a very convenient feature that saves you the hassle of switching primers or using an additional tool to set them up!
Q: What Is The Warranty For This Item?
A: The product comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
Q: Is This Product Easy to Assemble?
A: Yes, it is. All the parts are clearly labeled, and assembling the machine only takes a few minutes with your bare hands or a small tool in your possession.
Q: What’s The Dimension of This Machine?
A: The prep station has dimensions of 12 x 8 x 11.25″, which fit perfectly either on a tabletop when preparing cases or on a shelf when not in use for later use.
Q: Does This Kit Come with The Priming Handle?
A: No, it does not come with a priming handle because that’s another accessory that needs to be purchased separately. You can either buy Lyman manual or electric priming tools for preparing your primer seating step.
Thanks AJ!