Reloading 223: Swage before or after resizing?

[SWThomas]

I just ordered all the remaining items I will need to start reloading 223. I'm a Dillon guy so I got the Super Swage 600 to take care of those pesky primer crimps. I plan to have 2 tool heads for this set up. Tool head #1 will have the resizing/decapping die in station 1 and the Dillon RT1200B in station 2 for trimming. Mine plan is to run all the brass through tool head #1, then swage, then tumble again to remove case lube and brass shavings. Tool head #2 will have the powder drop, seating die, and crimp die.

My question is: will swaging after sizing and trimming have any effect on the case mouth? I know the Super Swage 600 uses a rod that you slide the case onto mouth first. I just want to make sure the resized neck will not be adversely affected during the swaging process.


Thanks!

 

[Laphroaig]

You need to have the primers removed before you can swage the pockets. Ergo, after sizing. The plunger is small enough so that it won't affect the sized neck.

Laphroaig

 

[cfullgraf]

You could use a universal decapping die to decap the cases without resizing.

If you are concerned about damaging the case mouth, get a universal decapping die and swage the primer pockets before resizing..

While I have not used the Dillon swaging unit, the little swaging of primer pockets that I have done was after resizing. I would probably do the same with the Dillon.

 

[straight-shooter]

I just finished 500 rds of 223. I full length sized and then used a bench swager to swage the primer pockets. Then I trimmed and chamfered the case necks. After all this I loaded them on a single stage and every round had good neck tension when seating the bullet. Been doing it this way for years with no adverse results.

 

[SWThomas]

Thanks for the info fellas!

 

[joustin]

I remove the primer with a Lee universal die, then swage before resizing. It is a little easier to get the rod from the RCBS press mounting setup into the brass when the neck is a little larger.

 

[SWThomas]

Thanks for the info. I'm just trying to figure out the quickest method to churn out a bunch. I don't wanna have to put the brass on the press and take it off and then put it back on 3 times per case. I'll see how it all works out when the equipment gets here

 

[3GunEric]

1. Tumble Brass Clean
2. Resize/Deprime
3. Swage
4. Tumble Brass Clean Again
5. Run through case gauge & check primer flash hole for media
6. Reload

All on Dillon equipment - thousands of .223 no problem

 

[Guilty]

I remove the primer with a Lee universal die, typically while watching TV, then swage with a Dillon Super Swage and wet clean the brass prior to resizing. Processing the brass using this method keeps my sizing dies free of dirt and other crud.

 

[Weber]

I did some brass prep with the help of my 10 year old son today.

We had a good rhythm going and could do 1,000 223 in an hour and 10 mins.

Brass was already tumbled, and I use a Hornady LNL AP.

Lube brass
Decap
Trim/size (dillon 1200)
Expander
Then to my son to swage on the dillon 600
Tumble lube off.

 

[hentown]

I've also been using the Dillon Super swage. I resize, then swage and trim. I then run all that brass back through the press, priming, dropping powder and seating. I tumble the finished rounds, in order to remove case lube. I hate tumbling with no primer in the primer pockets.

I'm going to try this setup for my 650: Universal decapper on Sta 1; GS Custom swager on station 2; Dillon power trimmer on station 4. I'll then run those processed cases back through the press, priming, dropping powder and seating.

If the GS swager doesn't work, then I'm going to buy a CH4d press-mounted swager, as that seems to be even faster than my Super Swage. (Will use on Rockchucker)

 

[Racerx7]

I have a Dillon and have 2 tool heads. 1st tool head for de-priming, sizing/trimming (RT1200). 2nd priming, charging, seating and crimp. I swage after I de-prime and size.

 

[SWThomas]

For those of you running the Dillon trimmer... Do you just allow the trim-die to do the resizing and not worry about expanding the case mouth before seating? Or are you running the case through a backed off sizing die or expander mandrel after sizing/trimming?

 

[Weber]

For those of you running the Dillon trimmer... Do you just allow the trim-die to do the resizing and not worry about expanding the case mouth before seating? Or are you running the case through a backed off sizing die or expander mandrel after sizing/trimming?

I size and trim with the Dillon trim die, then run the case in a regular sizing die, but have it turned up so it's not sizing and only expanding the case mouth.

 

[Weber]

Here is a pic of my setup.



On some calibers I can put use the expander in station 4, so I move it to station 5.

 

[SWThomas]

Any reason why you can't use a regular full length sizer with ball in station 1 and then trim in a follow on station?

 

[Weber]

Station 1 use a lee universal decapping die, then station 3 trim and size, then station 4 or 5 full length die set to just expand the case mouth.

No reason you couldn't do it differently, this is just my preferred setup.

 

[SWThomas]

I think I'll try it both ways and see what I like best.

 

[SWThomas]

I got my super swage yesterday and think I have it set up correctly for 223. Are the directions pretty good or is there any special tricks I need to know so I don't over/under swage the brass?

 

[Weber]

Don't over extend the piece the brass sits on. I had mine set tight thinking it needed to be really tight against the plate. It would damage some brass if it was not in there prefectly straight.

After loosening it up, it will almost automatically straighten the brass before swagging.