Military crimp removal

[xlh883]

Just came across a batch of LC cartidges, with crimped primers, my question is:
What is the better way to remove the crimps, with the rotary rcbs military crimp remover or using a press mounted RCBS pocket swager?

 

[taliv]

if you can do it on a press-mounted swager, then you only have to run it through the press once, right? (i assume your'e talkign about a progressive)

 

[byf43]

For the best results, I'd pick the Dillon Primer Pocket Swager - -

http://dillonprecision.com/template/p.cfm?maj=15&min=0&dyn=1&

(It's at the bottom of the page!)


I have the RCBS pocket swager that I've tried to use.
To me, it was a PITA.

I've used the old tried and true RCBS de-burring tool to cut out the swage on many, many cases.
The trick is to just cut out the swage and not damage the primer pocket.
(But then again, when I used this method, I didn't have two nickels to rub together, either!)

 

[layusn1]

I love my RCBS pocket swagger die...just a matter of opinion I guess.

 

[USSR]

For the best results, I'd pick the Dillon Primer Pocket Swager - -

+1. A much better and faster tool to use.

Don

 

[Jim Watson]

I have used the RCBS and found it a bit of a pain in the neck, but effective at its job. For a few to make up plinking ammo, I just twirl the chamfering reamer in the primer pocket. For quantity loading of crimped primer pockets... well, I just don't; except for the .45s that get it automatically in my S1050.

 

[Bronson7]

If you don't have too many to do, the cheap little Lee chamfer/deburring tool work great for removing primer crimps. Price? I dunno. Around 3 bucks I think.
Bronson7

 

[Matt-man]

Dave from Flowery Branch pointed out another primer pocket swager, made by CH4D (look under Priming Tools on their site). It works like a ram prime setup and it ought to work on any single stage press. I found out the hard way that the RCBS swager won't work on presses with rams larger than 1", like my Lee Classic Cast.

I don't have one yet but I plan to pick one up sooner or later. It's less than $20.

 

[1911user]

The hornady primer crimp remover seems to work well without cutting too much. It has a non-cuttting pilot section for depth control. I've successfully done a few cases by a hand, but no large quantities yet. For larger quantities, I plan to put the cutter into a drill press (slowest speed) and hold the cases by hand.

 

[Ida Noski]

Another +1 for the Dillon Super Swage.
Makes that whole task very easy!

Hold Hard

Jim

 

[cheygriz]

Dillon!

 

[Ross]

The Dillon and others are doubtless superior, but the cost is high.
I have used the old CH tool and do not care for it, though it works. I keep bending the rims when I get too exuberant.
I often hear folks who do not like the RCBS tool, but I find it easy to use and fast enough for me. As mentioned, the stripper must fit on your press squarely for any kind of success.
For a few dozen cases a pocket knife works better for me than a case mouth beveling tool. Early pocket crimp hand reamers would often create oval holes. Later ones do not do this. My pocket knife is quicker though.
The case mouth beveling tool creates those huge craters you see on many cases when I become bored with the tedium and tired from the gripping and twisting. It is too hungry for real finesse.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

 

[Matt-man]

I have used the old CH tool and do not care for it, though it works. I keep bending the rims when I get too exuberant.

I wondered about that. I also noticed that RCBS makes a different version of their swager for the Ammomaster, which has a larger ram. I might try that and see if it works on my Lee.

 

[tommysempra]

I hate to drag up an old topic, but i recently got the ch4d swager, and is a PITA to use. SOMETIMES it removes the crimp enough, and when you try to adjust it to remove just a wee bit more crimp, you start digging into the rim deforming the lip. not real happy with it

 

[rcmodel]

Yep!

Deformed rims are a known problem with the CH4D.

Everybody elses swager supports the case head from the inside.

rc

 

[D. Manley]

As noted above, there are lots of ways to get the job done but I guess I'm in the Dillon Super Swage camp. I'm one of the few that happens to like WCC military brass and the Dillon tool makes running volume of them quick & easy. It's not the cheapest way to go but it's very versatile and a "one-time" purchase. IMO, if you shoot military stuff in quantity it's worthwhile.

 

[AirplaneDoc]

+1 Dillon super swage

 

[rondog]

I have a Hornady, just a little cutter that looks like a tiny router bit. I chucked it up in a hand drill, and it worked great! I did over 2 gallons of .30-06 milsurp with it, didn't take too awful long either. Just run the drill slowly, it doesn't require very many revolutions to complete the cut. I don't think I'd use a drill press, that sounds like a recipe for disaster.

 

[FlyinBryan]

i made my own little cutter and have it in a drill that is mounted to the end of my bench and is operated by a foot pedal.

i can decrimp them at about 20-30 a minute

 

[evan price]

I use the RCBS swage die. Works great even in my Lee classic cast turret. I just made a sleeve that fits under the case to help eject the case from the swage stem.

As far as cutting the crimp off- I've seen too many cut cases with insufficient primer support, you can see the sides of the primer in the pocket.

 

[Flash!]

I use the RCBS swage die also..... works fine.... lasts long time.....cheaper than Dillon.....

 

[luzyfuerza]

One question with regard to the RCBS tool: the instructions say to never lower the internal ram...but the ram on my die has to be lowered closer to the mouth of the die or I ruin cases by pushing the case neck down toward the shoulders. I'm using 30-06 LC once-fired cases.

Any experience with this that anyone else would like to share?

 

[angus6]

I to went with the RCBS tool , But when I tried a buddies Hornady reamer I put the rcbs back in the box and haven't looked back

 

[unloaded]

One question with regard to the RCBS tool: the instructions say to never lower the internal ram...but the ram on my die has to be lowered closer to the mouth of the die or I ruin cases by pushing the case neck down toward the shoulders. I'm using 30-06 LC once-fired cases.

Any experience with this that anyone else would like to share?

I use mine for .223. I start the neck in the die then raise the ram up and sit the primer pocket on the swager, works much better this way. Just be sure to get your fingers out of there before raising the ram the rest of the way. 30-06 should be even easier, more room to work. Also a bit of case lube on the tip of swager helps to remove the case after wards. Might want to tumble them for a bit afterwards.

peace.
unloaded

 

[bobotech]

A trick for the RCBS tool that I found that makes it MUCH quicker. I don't rest the case on the primer swage and then raise the ram up, I will shove the case up into the die and hold it there while raising the ram. Once the ram gets high enough, I then just release the case and the swage automatically centers the case on the primer pocket.

Kind of like what Unloaded suggests I think.