swage vs ream 223?

I just found a killer deal on LC 223/5.56 brass. 1k for $60 but its not deprimed and swaged.

I usually buy deprimed and swaged but its $95 per thousand for that.

I thought about getting a rcbs swage die but would have to modify my LCT.

I also have a lyman reamer tool I could chuck in the drill.

never done either so looking for your thoughts?

part of me says just pay the $35 extra for them to do it cause the die is $30.

 

I had 1k unprocessed LC 5.56 and I was looking at the same issue. A thousand rounds will probably last me quite awhile but I had a thousand LC 7.62 that I had to do also. I bought the Dillon Super Swage and I think I did the right thing. It's a pretty impressive tool.
Saving $35 per K, it doesn't take long to get your $100 back.
Just a FWIW.

 

I cut the crimps out with a chamfer tool or a countersink with the appropriate angle.

I've never liked the primer pocket reamers that I have tried.

I tried the RCBS swaging die but used it on a small RCBS press and it did not have enough oomph to get the job done. I think you would have similar issues on your LCT.

A big press like a Rockchucker or Redding Big Boss II would work fine.

The Dillon Super Swager is a nice piece of equipment. If you think you will continue to have to deal with primer crimps, the Super Swager is probably the best for volume de-ctimping.

 

the thing is im not sure if this price is a one time deal. I guess the brass is stained from something so that's why its so cheap. didn't want to buy a $100 tool for a possible 1 time deal.

 

The question is how often are you going to buy 1,000 rounds of .223 brass?

If you buy 1,000 rounds a month then by all means the $35 savings justify spending the money on a primer pocket swager. If, on the other hand, buying 1,000 rounds is a once-a-decade sort of thing, then I think you would be better off to spend $10 on a Hornady primer pocket reamer.

Also, if you don't mind mixed headstamps, LEO Brass has .223 for $5 per hundred ($50 per thousand): http://leobrass.com/brass/index.php?cPath=24

 

I have used a case neck reamer and a #2 Phillips screwdriver and both work. I have the RCBS tool but my Rockchucker isn't set up right now. I finally bought a used Dillion SS600 and wondered why it took me so long. It's a very good and fast choice if you intend on buying any brass with primer pockets that need processing.

Of course it's your choice. I guess it depends upon how much time you are willing to spend on processing brass.

 

I guess I have just gotten lazy over the years! I have bought dirty as is, clean, etc and done all the processing myself with SS tumbler and Dillion swagger. But now it just order cleaned, deprimmed, & swagged from http://brassbombers.com/223-556-Cleaned-Deprimed-Swaged-Lake-City_c48.htm for the 30-35 dollars more...

 

this is what I buy. want to get 1k more but seen they had the stained brass for cheaper.

 

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=781642

You dont need to modify the LCT, RCBS has a taller case stripper they will send you. The one that comes in the kit is not tall enough to strip the case. The plactic bracket that holds the auto index rod has to be removed to allow the case stripper to sit over the ram/shell holder. I found that it took quite a slam of the lever to get the case off once it was swaged. I eventually moved on to the bench mount RCBS swager and it works much easier, just did 1500 rounds of 5.56.

 

Look for a good used Dillon in the Classifieds on various gun boards.

Buy it, use it to process your brass, then list it on the same Classified section.

You can often get exactly what you paid for it. Consider the modest shipping cost as rent.

I won't buy commercially processed brass unless they specifically state that they swage the pockets. I have a collection of "reamed" brass that has totally destroyed the primer pockets. No problems like that with swaged.

As for all the cute and creative methods like pocket knife blades, drill bits, etc, to each their own.

 

I use the RCBS bench mounted swager. Seems to work fine.

The trim-de burr-bevel is the part I dislike

I have been processing brass ahead of need. Then I can just grab some brass, seat a primer, charge it, and seat the bullet. I'll load 200 in an evening and not have the brass prep steps to deal with.

No matter what, there are lots of steps but a bench mounted tool makes the swageing process go easy.

Mark

 

I do neither, swage or ream. Being a lifelong machinist/mechanic when I first encountered crimped primer pockets I immediately thought of a countersink (60 degree). I have done thousands of cases (30-06, 7.62x51, 45 ACP, and 9mm). They are available most any hardware store, inexpensively. Fast, easy, and safe...
http://www.mcmaster.com/#countersinks/=13503co

 

That's all I use. Works fine in lieu of a #2 Phillips screwdriver. Have all the other stuff but a simple RCBS deburring and chamfering tool works just fine and takes a few seconds per case.

Ron

 

Another for the Dillon SS600. I bought a 1,000 rounds of 9mm. I found that some were crimped. It sucked a lot of time out of using the progressive. I bought the Super swage then swaged the rest of that 9 mm brass & then my 223/5.56 I had laying around. I did the whole cutting thing with my 308 brass & it's sucked.

 

+1 for Dillon swedge.

 

I chuck a Hornady reamer in a drill and remove crimps about as fast as I can pick brass up from one bucket and drop it in another.

If you want to swage offer cwal64 $50 for his Dillon swager. Sounds like his is gathering dust now.

 

I resize then trim. Then I use a Lyman case prep center to clean the primer pockets debur and chamfer and ream the primer pocket. Only takes a few extra seconds. Wish I'd bought a case prep center years ago

 

I have a swager to fit the normal press and it works semi-OK...but really doesn't put enough power into swaging as the rim limits how much force you can apply without bending them. The Dillon swager looks neat as it's got a mandril inside the case that it's pushing against so it can put enough force into the pocket to reform the brass.

So in the end I just chuck up a small counter-sink in the electric drill and bump the crimp against it and presto...no more crimp. Fast, easy and cheap...just like I like my women.

 

I use one of these in a drill now after trying the other various reamers. I like it because it's fast and doesn't require perfect case alignment due to the spherical nature. In the back of my minds project list I'll modify one to screw on to my Hornady case prep center, but it may never happen. YMMV