Reloading 556 Questions

[charlie1000]

Good Evening GentleMEN. First post on the site so bare with me if there is any noob mistakes, I was referred to the sight by a coworker at my department. He mentioned this was a good place to ask since there are members with a lot of experience and knowledge.

So that being said. I have a lot of Military 556 brass I have fired. My question pertains to the crimped primer pockets. I have deprimed them using a Lee Universal decapping die and was wondering:
-Can I deprime and NOT have to swage the pocket before prepping them for a new batch?
-What exactly is does crimping the primer in do to the actual pocket? I understand that its for securing the primer in etc etc

[jdmstuff]

Welcome to Calguns!
You don't need to swage the crimped primer pockets if you intend on ruining your press and chewing up your primers. In other words, yes, you will have to swage them before repriming.

[MrElectric03]

The crimp is right at the opening of the pocket. Unless they have already been swaged you will need to swage them or like said about you wil ruin primer after primer. There are also places you can send your brass to prep them for you.

[baih777]

crimping slightly collapses the primer pocket around the primer. you should measure the primer pocket diameter in a few places and then measure your primer diameter to see how close it is. you only need to swage the primer pocket after the first once fired brass.
I swage mine.
clean the primer pocket.
use a primer pocket reamer.

I use a handprimer to seat the primers. if I have one that seems a little to tight or wont start to fit in the primer pocket its a lot easier to catch then and trim the pocket a little more.

[charlie1000]

Thanks guys, that clears that up. Next question, I see 3 major options readily available.
-Dillon bench top Super Swager
-RCBS bench top Swager
-RCBS Swaging die

money is definitely a factor but i would like to get the best bang for my buck but have quality work. Anyone have experience with the 3?

-I use a RCBS single stage press

[highpower790]

I use the RockChucker and the swaging die when necessary.

[baih777]

I use the swaging die. you can even find it on ebay sometimes.

there is a video on youtube, a guy using the RCBS benchtop. he puts a rubberband on the swager and a Tupperware container with a towel next to it. its pretty fast if your going to do a lot.

[45R]

I use the Dillon Super Swager. It makes quick work of swaging 5.56 brass or anything with a crimp.

[ireload]

Charlie since money is a "factor", go with CH4D press mounted swager. I use to use the RCBS brand swager die but their swager rod can easily bend if adjusted improperly. The CH4D is more robust plus it's faster to use. Way cheaper than the bench mounted Dillon and RCBS brands. I paid around $35 including shipping.

[damndave]

I would go with the Dillon unless it is out of the budget. If that's the case, go with the CH4D. I absolutely hated the RCBS swaging die.

For me, I swage them in my 1050 OR use the Hornady reamer in a cordless drill.

[jdmstuff]

I use the Dillon and have it set up right next to my press. If I come across a piece of brass that I missed, I swage it and continue loading without having to readjust my dies.

[jtv3062]

This is the cheapest. http://leeprecision.com/chamfer-tool.html

[Enfield47]

I use the RCBS swaging die and it works fine. However, if you are doing large quantities of swaging, the die will get old fast. If you break it up into 100 or 200 at a time it's better.

I use a Lee classic cast turret press and the popper doesn't fit the ram properly. I had to use a Lee primer arm (with the cup cut off) mounted under the popper to get the cases to pop off after being swaged.

Another option that is much cheaper than all the others is to use a Philips head bit in a drill and cut out the crimp. Your hand will hurt after a while, but do small batches and you'll be fine.

[klewan]

OP, $5 60 degree countersink in a drill press or drill motor. Just touch it to the bit, 2 small chips will curl off and you're done. Don't be a moron and hold it for a ten count and mess up the primer pocket. You can barely see the chamfer at the edge of the pocket when it's done correctly. You're not drilling to China; I see pictures of what the morons do to brass. It's pathetic and they shouldn't be anywhere near reloading ammo....

[Yreka]

I use this guy in my drill.. Like it because you can't cut off too much

http://www.amazon.com/RCBS-Trim-Military-Crimp-Remover-SM/dp/B0063IDE6A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1404887602&sr=8-3&keywords=rcbs+primer+pocket+swager