Case Tumbler Frankford Arsenal vs Cabela's/Berrys

WVsig · February 3, 2015, 09:21 AM

Looking at getting a case tumbler. I am looking at the Frankford Arsenal vs the Cabela's 400 which is made by Berrys.

The Frankford is cheaper $35 at Midway vs the Cabela's which is $54.

From everything I have read the Frankford seems to be hit or miss in terms of QC. Some report them dying within a year others reports years and years of reliable operation. It only has a 1 year warranty.

Berrys has a 3 year warranty on the motor which honestly is the part which is going to break and then a lifetime on the plastic. They seem to have a better rep but is it worth 55% more? You can almost buy 2 of the Frankfords for the price of the Cabela/Berrys.

Looking for user feedback on these two units. I am not going to be a high volume reloader. I cannot imagine using this tumbler more than 2 times a month.

Don P · February 3, 2015, 11:07 AM

Started off with a Frankford and it died some 30,000 cases later. Purchased a Lymann 2500 Pro Magnum from Brownells, yes more money than the 2 you mentioned BUT with Brownells 100% satisfaction forever guarantee if it quits call them ship it back and get a new one in its place for free

WVsig · February 3, 2015, 11:25 AM

Brownells also sells the Berrys but is out of stock. Something I will consider.

Jim243 · February 3, 2015, 01:00 PM

I have had (and heavy used) my Lyman tumbler for 5 years now and it still works. All I can say.

Jim

Metal god · February 3, 2015, 01:27 PM

I've had the Frankford for 1.5 years and have tumbled thousands or rounds . It works fine but It seems to vibrate less then when new . Like I said it is working fine now and does the job but my guess is it will die sooner then I'd like . I paid $70 for the whole package deal . Tumbler , media separater and a few pounds of corn cob media . It was a good deal to start out with . I kinda knew I would need something better at some point . If I can tumble the same amount I already have before it dies . I would not be unhappy . I will still have the separater and half the media still . If you have the cash I'd step up in quality .

Sevens · February 3, 2015, 02:51 PM

I ran the guts out of a Frankford and replaced it with a Berry's so I have seen it from both angles. The Frankford's motor was solid -- it was the wiring and connectors that went in to the toilet. I honestly band-aided that thing five times and when I finally gave up on it, the motor would still spin but I was sick of trying to keep it from vibrating itself apart. So if it's simply about the motor, mine gave a long service life... years.

I replaced it with a Berry's and have been extremely happy and I would never go back. It's simply much more quiet and does the same job and I've never opened it or had to futz with the cheap wiring.

The other thing I would mention about the Frankford is that you simply have no idea what you're getting depending on when you buy it. Not that the Berry's may not be in a similar situation, but Frankford is a cheap, cheap outfit that sources the cheapest stuff to under cut every price on the market, seemingly, and these kinds of products tend to use whatever they can get cheaply at that time. It would be a crapshoot that a Frankford now would have the same guts as the Frankford I bought 10 years ago.

Berry's is an American company that strives to produce quality products. I trust the folks that make up this small company. Admittedly, they also are forced to use a Chinese sourced motor, but that was not a decision they took lightly at all and they admitted they tried and could not bring a tumbler to market with a U.S. sourced motor and be able to sell it. Berry's has watched first-hand as dirty Chinese outfits have STOLEN designs outright from other companies (including their awesome brass separator) and a Berry's rep has posted about it here in these forums.

I would choose a Berry's over all the other tumblers on the market and I would choose almost all other tumblers over the Frankfort -- with the exception of anything, and I mean anything from the SmartReloader brand. Direct, yellow covered rip-offs of any and every other company that has introduced designs in our industry. Cheap, Chinese rip-offs.

PoiDog · February 3, 2015, 10:31 PM

I have one Berry's, and one Midway, the old 1292. They both work great, and the Midway is probably 15 years old.

My shooting buddy has 2 of the Berry's, and they also run great. No issues with either of them.

Our Berry's are around 10 year old. We bought them at the same time from the same dealer.

February 3, 2015, 09:21 AM	#1
WVsig Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2010 Location: NC Posts: 5,309	Case Tumbler Frankford Arsenal vs Cabela's/Berrys Looking at getting a case tumbler. I am looking at the Frankford Arsenal vs the Cabela's 400 which is made by Berrys. The Frankford is cheaper $35 at Midway vs the Cabela's which is $54. From everything I have read the Frankford seems to be hit or miss in terms of QC. Some report them dying within a year others reports years and years of reliable operation. It only has a 1 year warranty. Berrys has a 3 year warranty on the motor which honestly is the part which is going to break and then a lifetime on the plastic. They seem to have a better rep but is it worth 55% more? You can almost buy 2 of the Frankfords for the price of the Cabela/Berrys. Looking for user feedback on these two units. I am not going to be a high volume reloader. I cannot imagine using this tumbler more than 2 times a month. __________________ -The right to be left alone is the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by free people.-Louis Brandeis -Its a tool box... I don't care you put the tools in for the job that's all... -Sam from Ronin -It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle

February 3, 2015, 11:07 AM	#2
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Started off with a Frankford and it died some 30,000 cases later. Purchased a Lymann 2500 Pro Magnum from Brownells, yes more money than the 2 you mentioned BUT with Brownells 100% satisfaction forever guarantee if it quits call them ship it back and get a new one in its place for free __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

February 3, 2015, 11:25 AM	#3
WVsig Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2010 Location: NC Posts: 5,309	Brownells also sells the Berrys but is out of stock. Something I will consider. __________________ -The right to be left alone is the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by free people.-Louis Brandeis -Its a tool box... I don't care you put the tools in for the job that's all... -Sam from Ronin -It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle

February 3, 2015, 01:00 PM	#4
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	I have had (and heavy used) my Lyman tumbler for 5 years now and it still works. All I can say. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

February 3, 2015, 01:27 PM	#5
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,876	I've had the Frankford for 1.5 years and have tumbled thousands or rounds . It works fine but It seems to vibrate less then when new . Like I said it is working fine now and does the job but my guess is it will die sooner then I'd like . I paid $70 for the whole package deal . Tumbler , media separater and a few pounds of corn cob media . It was a good deal to start out with . I kinda knew I would need something better at some point . If I can tumble the same amount I already have before it dies . I would not be unhappy . I will still have the separater and half the media still . If you have the cash I'd step up in quality . __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

February 3, 2015, 02:51 PM	#6
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I ran the guts out of a Frankford and replaced it with a Berry's so I have seen it from both angles. The Frankford's motor was solid -- it was the wiring and connectors that went in to the toilet. I honestly band-aided that thing five times and when I finally gave up on it, the motor would still spin but I was sick of trying to keep it from vibrating itself apart. So if it's simply about the motor, mine gave a long service life... years. I replaced it with a Berry's and have been extremely happy and I would never go back. It's simply much more quiet and does the same job and I've never opened it or had to futz with the cheap wiring. The other thing I would mention about the Frankford is that you simply have no idea what you're getting depending on when you buy it. Not that the Berry's may not be in a similar situation, but Frankford is a cheap, cheap outfit that sources the cheapest stuff to under cut every price on the market, seemingly, and these kinds of products tend to use whatever they can get cheaply at that time. It would be a crapshoot that a Frankford now would have the same guts as the Frankford I bought 10 years ago. Berry's is an American company that strives to produce quality products. I trust the folks that make up this small company. Admittedly, they also are forced to use a Chinese sourced motor, but that was not a decision they took lightly at all and they admitted they tried and could not bring a tumbler to market with a U.S. sourced motor and be able to sell it. Berry's has watched first-hand as dirty Chinese outfits have STOLEN designs outright from other companies (including their awesome brass separator) and a Berry's rep has posted about it here in these forums. I would choose a Berry's over all the other tumblers on the market and I would choose almost all other tumblers over the Frankfort -- with the exception of anything, and I mean anything from the SmartReloader brand. Direct, yellow covered rip-offs of any and every other company that has introduced designs in our industry. Cheap, Chinese rip-offs. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 3, 2015, 10:31 PM	#7
PoiDog Senior Member Join Date: September 1, 1999 Location: IL Posts: 309	I have one Berry's, and one Midway, the old 1292. They both work great, and the Midway is probably 15 years old. My shooting buddy has 2 of the Berry's, and they also run great. No issues with either of them. Our Berry's are around 10 year old. We bought them at the same time from the same dealer.