Primer Pocket swage?

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kmw1954

kmw1954

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Up until and still now I am using an RCBS pocket reamer tool and it has served me well. Though now that I am fully into this 223 and loading for bullseye targets I think it's time to move up to something a bit more user friendly and efficient,

So depending on where one looks the price on the 3 major models; Frankford Arsenal, RCBS and Dillon it seems they can all be bought for about the same price or within $25.00... Not enough to be an issue.

I have watched all the video's and read all the customer reviews at the primary distributors and still don't know which is the best., easiest or most consistent. So let's hear what and why you use what you do and I don't want to hear Dillon, just because, explain why and again I don't want to read because of their warranty. I already know all about it.
 
I have the Dillon Super Swage, and it does a fine job.
Not having any experience with the other 2, I believe they work on the same principle and will do what they are intended to do in a rather speedy way.
Pick your favorite color/price point and have a go...
 
i have both rcbs swage tools and the lee for the acp press.i hear a lot of people love the dillon, can't speak to that or the frankford arsenal, but the lee kit is worth buying the whole acp kit just to swage. It's like going from single stage to a progressive. The rcbs stuff works, is just hard on my hands and takes a lot of extra time
 
I have used the Lee and the Hornady pocket cleaner brush and did find the Lee a little easer to use and a lot faster. I did use the the RBCS primer hole cleaner nice to use, but its only to be useful on primer holes that are brand new.
 
Personally I like the CH4D swager you use on the top of the press. No need to be messing with cleaning flash holes or adjusting support rods for each web thickness. I got the combo kit with the ram prime.
 
I have never used the FA tool but have used various reamers, RCBS swage dies, the Dillon SS and have 1050’s that swage as part of the reloading operation.

F5A737A9-B580-4248-83F2-AEC03BE3467F.jpeg

If there are just a few, the cutters are generally what I grab. The die/cup swager works well but the cup to remove the case from the shell holder replacement die doesn’t work as intended with some presses. The SS works well, with less effort than some of the other methods but the 1050 is the winner hands down when it comes to fastest and least effort.

When swaging, a back up rod always seems to work better and without any rim distortion vs ones that rely on only the rim to hold the case for swaging.
 
FROGO207 said:
Personally I like the CH4D swager you use on the top of the press.
Click to expand...

I've got one of those... it works, but it's nothing to write home about.

I went and bought a Lyman Case Prep machine at Christmas... now THAT is a time saver. Granted, it cuts the crimp out, not swage it out, but in the same process it uniforms the primer pocket, too.... this in addition to it's other functions. I actually bought it to clean up case mouths after trimming, where it has saved my hands, the crimp cutter was a bonus.

If I were to buy a swaging tool, I'd spend the money on the Dillon... I think it works the best, based on what I've seen since I bought my C&H tool, based on it's design.
 
I bought one of the CH4D swager tools but didn't like it.
Then I bought the RCBS bench swager, it's fast & works great.
If you separate by head stamp you can get a good consistent swag without any problems. You don't need a warranty with the RCBS if you ever break or wear out parts you just call them & they will send you new parts free of charge.
 
Depending on what press your using, and weather you want a separate standalone setup. I use the Hornady Swager for their LNL-AP, it's fast but you do need to sort by head stamps. Which may apply to most all swagers.
 
I have looked at and studied the RCBS and CH4D and not sure that is the way I want to go, each of the the other 3 could be mounted on a board and then taken outside and clamped to my picnic table. jmorris I know about the on press crimp of the Dillon 1050. I do not load enough to fully utilize a press of that nature. Therefore stuck in the Slow Go lane.
 
SnowBlaZeR2 said:
Dillon. They have a great warranty.
Click to expand...

The best warranty ever....... You don't have to be the original owner, and they rebuild thier presses for free. Not sure about anything else like the swager. I have an RCBS swager.. I suffered through 1K cases, but would never do it again. You have to slam the press arm to bust the case loose fro the swager. Dillion is the best on the market, hands down.
 
Kevin, I use the Hornady Single Stage Swaging Die. I've used it on .223/5.56, .300 BLK, and 9mm military cases (rare pickup). It's fully adjustable to the depth that you like. Most support tools are in short supply right now, but I'm sure they'll turn up for sale before long. PM me your address and I'll send you mine to try out, see if you like it.

1410992640-041227-Lock-N-Load-Single-Stage-Swage-Tool.ace19b52.png
 
I've used most of the tools and methods over the years, except for the Dillon 1050. And I've found that none of them work on every headstamp, every time. For speed and ease of use the Dillon Super Swage probably comes closest to working everytime. I've gone back to using a reamer from Wilson that works in their case trimmer, for rifle brass. And yes, it can be hard on your fingers.
 
jmorris said:
I have never used the FA tool but have used various reamers, RCBS swage dies, the Dillon SS and have 1050’s that swage as part of the reloading operation.

View attachment 1003191

If there are just a few, the cutters are generally what I grab. The die/cup swager works well but the cup to remove the case from the shell holder replacement die doesn’t work as intended with some presses. The SS works well, with less effort than some of the other methods but the 1050 is the winner hands down when it comes to fastest and least effort.

When swaging, a back up rod always seems to work better and without any rim distortion vs ones that rely on only the rim to hold the case for swaging.
Click to expand...
When using the swager cup style, like RCBS has, dunk the head of a cartridge in case lube every now in then to lube that swager. When it starts getting sticky again, dunk another, and so on. 100% better once I learned that trick. I actually enjoy swaging now, of all things.
 
Well there are only 3 headstamps that I keep that have crimps; LC.FC and PSD. Everything else gets tossed back.
Also I have such readily available 223 brass that I doubt I will be annealing any of it any time soon. Just toss it and get more. My Labor of Love time is free and keeps me out of trouble!
 
DanK3Pos said:
When using the swager cup style, like RCBS has, dunk the head of a cartridge in case lube every now in then to lube that swager. When it starts getting sticky again, dunk another, and so on. 100% better once I learned that trick. I actually enjoy swaging now, of all things.
Click to expand...

I do the same with the Swage It and it makes a huge difference. Honestly takes the same or less force as seating a primer as long as you keep it lubed.
 
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