Primer pocket tool

[deadeye dick]

New to rifle reloading. Bought some .223 cases at the local gun show this past weekend. Mixed brass. Some of the cases won't except the primers ( to tight.) I have the primer pocket uniformer for small primers. Is that the same tool as the primer pocket reamer? They don't seem to have a crimp. all stamped .223 Rem, not 556x45 On some cases they will only seat half way. The pockets are clean ( no carbon or schmutz). Any help would be helpful.

 

[AJC1]

It's some kind of crimp. I use an rcbs military crimp remover others swage. A counter sink tool will also get the job done. Remove the minimum material needed to get the job done.

 

[mdi]

I have used a plain countersink for removing several thousand primary crimps. I would take one of the "tight" pockets and chamfer the pocket mouth, then reseat a primer. This will tell you if the pockets are crimped or not...

 

[Jackiesman]

For all of my 223/5.56 (except Remington) I find that I have to ream the primer pockets (whether they a military crimp or not) in order to prime smoothly with my Lee bench primer. Just a few twists with a pocket reamer (Lyman or RCBS) solves the problem. And I have successfully used a Lee deburring tool.

If you're converting the 223 brass to 300 BO you may want to check the head stamp (especially if it's range fodder) before you cut to make sure it isn't thick walled brass that won't chamber (there's a list in a separate thread). You may end up with a bit of neck turning work if you don't check

 

[Ranger99]

I used to have a swager that worked
really well, but I quit using surplus and
" range pick up " brass because of the
random problems I had with it.
It was taking too much of my valuable time
trying to sort flawed cases, fix different
problems, etc.
Any kind of monetary savings was negated
by the time wasted trying to solve problems

My time is the most valuable thing I have
since I can't buy any more at any price

 

[BigBoreBubba]

Some 223 brass is also crimped, and it’s not always very noticeable. I use this Lyman multi tool. It works very well.

 

[bullseye308]

Some 223 brass is also crimped, and it’s not always very noticeable. I use this Lyman multi tool. It works very well.
View attachment 1028132

If I’m not mistaken those are threaded the same as cleaning brushes and will thread into a section of cleaning rod. I cut off a 4” piece of cleaning rod and chucked it into a drill and that’s how I(my kids) do my chamfer, debur, and primer pocket reaming. One step at a time on the whole batch, switch tips, do the next step, etc. It makes it so much easier on my arthritic hands.

ETA I do all my brass because even among the same headstamp some are crimped and some are not.

 

[gwpercle]

The Primer Pocket Uniformer is used to ream/finish pockets to the same diameter and depth ... to make them all ..."uniform".

The Crimp Removing Tool removes the pesky ring of brass that crimps a primer in place and pots a small radius on the edge to help the primer seat easily .

I use both ... Remove the crimp first ... then use the Uniformer .

Mine are two simple Lyman Hand Tools with wooden handles bought decades ago ... they didn't have the nifty Lyman Case Prep Multi Tool gizmo (post #6) back then ... looks like that set has everything you could need small and large !
PS ... sometimes the cases don't look crimped ... but they are ... use the tools on every case !
Gary

 

[Walkalong]

What I use to remove primer pocket crimps. (Many things work)

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012921650

What I use to uniform primer pockets. (Match rifle brass only)

https://kmshooting.com/product/small-pistol-rifle-primer-pocket-correction-tool/

 

[AK Hunter]

I use the RCBS bench swag to remove the military crimps but the tight pockets I use the cutter end of the Lyman primer pocket tool in my cordless drill. A quick spin & the primers go in real smooth.