Speed reloading 223 and primer pocket reaming

[tabascoz28]

So I've been reloading for decades and I hate reloading 223 because of the crimp on the primer pockets. Usually I buy 1000k and save the brass, on my 4th or 5th loading now

Currently my process is:
If they are once fired brand new I trim farther down than normal and remove crimp with a lyman station.
1. Shoot on a tarp or catcher, throw them in the tumbler, lizard bed for an hour.
2. Run them through the annealeez (home brew)
3. Spray with hornady one shot and start the
4. 4 stage progressive lee, finger prime, case and bullet, no tubes.

About 100rds every 15 minutes if I don't make a mistake.

The problem is always the crimped primer pockets. Some just are tough and I've had a few desk pops in the past. If it wasn't for the pockets I can probably get this down to 10 minutes per 100?

How aggressive do you guys go on those pockets. I've had the pleasure of using non crimp PMC before but I haven't been able to find more of them as pickups and am too cheap to buy when there are so many once fired all around (friends). I'm afraid if I go too aggressive the pockets will loosen up and I'd have to start a new batch which is a pain. The issue is easier reloading and lose longevity or light with crimp removal and deal with the slowdown.

[tabascoz28]

The Clay's is for the shotgun station... It's farther away than it looks.

[baih777]

Get these guages.

https://ballistictools.com/store/small-and-large-primer-pocket-gauges

Take your time checking.
I usually do a two gallon bucket every winter. Just the primer pockets.
When you load it the second time and they dont seat properly.
Mark the brass. Shoot it. And just throw it away. Not worth the frustration.

[smoothy8500]

Meh, I just drill/ream the hell out of the pocket. You got 4 loadings already. Are expecting to get 10 reloads out of your brass?

[tabascoz28]

As many as possible for these plinking rounds but maybe longevity is not in the norm for 223.

My point is if I have to keep conditioning brass (time) then what is the best way to do it. I'll probably do that, drill the hell out of them so i can load fast and not risk a desk pop either.

The go no go gauge is good for seeing if it's not tight enough but I'm saying that I have to spend extra time per round if it's too tight and the crimp not completely removed. So if I remove too much material and they get loose then I have to pick up new brass and recondition again taking more and more time.

[ar15barrels]

Just get a 1050.
It swages the primer pockets automatically between the decapping station and the priming station.
The 1050 will load 100 rounds every 7 minutes.
At that point, refilling the primer tube is what slows you down.
The dillon primer tube filler machine works without any attention.
All you do is place the tube in it and empty a tray of primers into the hopper and 3 minutes later (while you are loading), the tube is full and ready for your next stop at 7 minutes of reloading time.
So your 8 minute stop requires you to pull the tube from the filling machine, dump the tube into the press and then top off the case feeder and your bullet box and maybe dump your loaded rounds.
That should all take about 1 minute so you are only losing about 7 minutes per hour spent loading and you should net 700+ rounds per hour with the stops included in that hour.

So I've been reloading for decades and I hate reloading 223 because of the crimp on the primer pockets. Usually I buy 1000k and save the brass, on my 4th or 5th loading now

Currently my process is:
If they are once fired brand new I trim farther down than normal and remove crimp with a lyman station.
1. Shoot on a tarp or catcher, throw them in the tumbler, lizard bed for an hour.
2. Run them through the annealeez (home brew)
3. Spray with hornady one shot and start the
4. 4 stage progressive lee, finger prime, case and bullet, no tubes.

About 100rds every 15 minutes if I don't make a mistake.

The problem is always the crimped primer pockets. Some just are tough and I've had a few desk pops in the past. If it wasn't for the pockets I can probably get this down to 10 minutes per 100?

How aggressive do you guys go on those pockets. I've had the pleasure of using non crimp PMC before but I haven't been able to find more of them as pickups and am too cheap to buy when there are so many once fired all around (friends). I'm afraid if I go too aggressive the pockets will loosen up and I'd have to start a new batch which is a pain. The issue is easier reloading and lose longevity or light with crimp removal and deal with the slowdown.

[Adam925]

As many as possible for these plinking rounds but maybe longevity is not in the norm for 223.

My point is if I have to keep conditioning brass (time) then what is the best way to do it. I'll probably do that, drill the hell out of them so i can load fast and not risk a desk pop either.

The go no go gauge is good for seeing if it's not tight enough but I'm saying that I have to spend extra time per round if it's too tight and the crimp not completely removed. So if I remove too much material and they get loose then I have to pick up new brass and recondition again taking more and more time.

I solved my .223 primer pocket woes using the McJ Tools Primer Pocket Reamer. I’ve threaded one onto a threaded-rod coupler to give it some surface, chuck it into my cordless drill, and hit each pocket. When the reamer bottoms out, I know I’ve got a pocket ready to take a primer, consistent every time, no guess-work - way faster and more consistent than a generic reamer. I never could get good results swaging pockets - never determined why, and finally gave up in favor of the reamer.

[hambam105]

https://youtu.be/oFD3jJ9AEXk

Check out this CH4D system.

I'm sure the Dillion swager works well too.

The RCBS swager has been working for me for years, but I seriously doubt I'll be using it ever again.

[ar15barrels]

I would not recommend swaging cases against the case rim as you will soon find out that the material around the primer pocket is stronger than the case's rim.
Proper swaging tools have a support rod that goes down inside the case and supports the case against swaging from the INSIDE of the case.
A standard shellholder is NOT a proper way to hold a case for swaging.

https://youtu.be/oFD3jJ9AEXk

Check out this CH4D system.

I'm sure the Dillion swager works well too.

The RCBS swager has been working for me for years, but I seriously doubt I'll be using it ever again.

[tabascoz28]

Yeah, I have a swager and the lyman prep center, there was one case that had a lot of material come out, so much I thought something was wrong with the tool head. The primer seated perfectly. I guess I'll have to do some more prep on my next batch.

[smoothy8500]

https://youtu.be/oFD3jJ9AEXk

Check out this CH4D system.

I would not recommend swaging cases against the case rim as you will soon find out that the material around the primer pocket is stronger than the case's rim.

I purchased one of those swagers and quickly discovered that issue.

[Wykyd]

I use the Dillon Swage Tool once when I first get the brass and they are perfect after that. Just like a normal primer pocket. The swage tool is very easy and fast to use you can probably do 5-6 a minute. It uses a rod that goes down inside and supports the case at the primer pocket like Randall mentioned.

[Itsrockysmodernlife]

So I've been reloading for decades and I hate reloading 223 because of the crimp on the primer pockets. Usually I buy 1000k and save the brass, on my 4th or 5th loading now

Currently my process is:
If they are once fired brand new I trim farther down than normal and remove crimp with a lyman station.
1. Shoot on a tarp or catcher, throw them in the tumbler, lizard bed for an hour.
2. Run them through the annealeez (home brew)
3. Spray with hornady one shot and start the
4. 4 stage progressive lee, finger prime, case and bullet, no tubes.

About 100rds every 15 minutes if I don't make a mistake.

The problem is always the crimped primer pockets. Some just are tough and I've had a few desk pops in the past. If it wasn't for the pockets I can probably get this down to 10 minutes per 100?

How aggressive do you guys go on those pockets. I've had the pleasure of using non crimp PMC before but I haven't been able to find more of them as pickups and am too cheap to buy when there are so many once fired all around (friends). I'm afraid if I go too aggressive the pockets will loosen up and I'd have to start a new batch which is a pain. The issue is easier reloading and lose longevity or light with crimp removal and deal with the slowdown.

I recommend adding a stage to your process and prepping your brass with a Dillon swager. Or any swager for that matter. Reaming primer crimps is a pain in the *****

[kris smith]

[TFA777]

Swaging doesn't do it for me with 223 I still end up crunching primers when hand seating.