Best Quality way to open LC 5.56 Brass crimped Primer Pockets

[sstkmkrr]

OK, I've have 6K pieces of LC 5.56 Brass once fired to do. My question is to do this one time if possible (Best Quality end product) to open up the crimped primer pockets. What has been your experiences trying this and what would you recommend now that you have traveled down that road.

Your time and suggestions are appreciated!

Merry Christmas and a Happier New Year to all.

Steve Murphy

 

[Taildrag15X]

The fastest way I've ever cleaned up the crimp was with an 82 degree countersink in a drill press, second fastest is using a RCBS case prep center with deburr tool.

I've used both a Dillon and older press mounted RCBS swagers, which works nice and is the way to go if it's not going to be trash brass when you're done firing it the second time....as I load the stuff for use in machine guns and gave up trying to save it for a third firing.

 

[ebb]

The first time I removed the crimp I barrowed a lyman cutter from a friend, it worked perfectly. I bought one for myself and it doesn't work well at all. That said I think I just got one that is made wrong. I got an RCBS swage tool and its way more work than the cutter. The cutters are cheap and in a battery drill they are fast.

 

[Travelor]

Get the Dillon Super Swage. Works very well and each case is decrimped uniformly.

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25263/catid/8/Super_Swage_600

Tried all the others and this one is the best by far in my opinion!

 

[DRNewcomb]

Your choices are essentially swage or cut. For a large number I'd probably pick swage. I happen to have an RCBS press-mounted tool, which I don't particularly recommend. The Dillon tool looks pretty cool.

 

[skiutah02]

Is that 6M (million) or 6K (thousand)?

I have the RCBS Military crimp remover chucked up in a cordless hand drill. Done 4-5 thousand+ with this and it works well and is quick, but even with a drill, your hand(s) will fatigue after an hour or so and need to take a break. Seen the Dillon swager at work and it is a very nice tool that makes the brass quite uniform, but it is not as fast.

Drew

 

[918v]

The best cutter right now is RCBS. It cuts two angles simultaneously. Primers seat very smoothly.

 

[Jdne5b]

The best way for 6k (or 6 million) is this:

https://www.dillonprecision.com/content/p/9/pid/23877/catid/1/Super_1050

Might as well size and trim while you're at it. ;D

 

[AckleymanII]

I use the Dillon, and it is a real nice tool. I may investigate the New RCBS.

The issue is to not over do this operation if you are using a cutter. The excess clearance will cause the primer to fill out that area on high pressure loads and possibly pierce. I run very high pressure loads in my bolt guns for hunting, the Dillon is slower than the cutter in a drill press or drill, but it is very exact in how you can set the tool up.

 

[Baddog0302]

For 1 X cases, I de prime with the Lee Univ. de primming tool, then I clean in SS media, then FL size, then I chuck this in my cordless screw driver with the chamfering tool inside, then I can do primer pockets and case mouth's in the comfort of my recliner.
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/case-preparation/case-mouth-chamfering/sinclair-case-mouth-deburring-tool-holder-prod34054.aspx

About how much force does the Dillon require to swage out crimps ?

 

[nmjwolf]

Take a look at the ch4d swaging die...I have one and found it to work very well.

 

[sstkmkrr]

OK.

I've had my fun here with the 6M vs the 6K symbol. But yes, I do have alot of work before me. Pace is everything as well as the quality I wish to achieve.

Thanks for all your reply's so far. I appreciate it.

May you all have a Merry Christmas and a better New Year to come. And if you see Grandma before I do, tell here to set another plate please. Made you smile on that one!

Best Wishes from here.

Steve Murphy

 

[Greyman]

I have an over abundance of LC brass as well, Heres what I do. I will prep them in lots, I prep around 200 each time. just separate in lot counts to your desire and prep as necessary, when the case mouths split or case is otherwise rendered used then move on. I get several firings and move on.
I use the RCBS swager BTW.

 

[DocBII]

Good day,

Having used both RCBS and Dillon to swage over 5k .223 cases, use the Dillon.

HTH,
DocBII

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

This is the way I do it with my Dillon:

https://youtu.be/oCAy-t9z37M

 

[lightman]

If you plan to work your way through 6 K, I would buy the Dillon swage tool. Look on youtube for some simple mods that make it even faster. The tool is adjustable, and has to be readjusted for different crimps. With 6 k of the same case, go with the Dillon!

 

[navyrad8r]

Merry Christmas Steve,
Just my 2 cents.... I have both the RCBS swager die for the press and the bench mounted one...I personally am a reaming guy. the fastest way I think is the 1050 but...$$$$... even then if the brass varies in headstamp so will your degree of swage. I use the RCBS crimp remover and also have used the "rocket" type chamfer tools (not the vld type). I think the cutters are faster and more consistent if you pay attention to what you are doing. If you use the rocket, be conscious of the "angle" you put the pocket in the reamer as you can cut oblique holes and also be too aggressive. the price difference from the 1050 and the other reaming tools will keep your checkbook happy. If you can find a buddy who will crush them in a 1050 for you, you are set, hope this helps.
cheers,
Doc

 

[bddc2012]

I used the Dillon Super swage to uncrimp arouund 3000 LC cases in 2014 for a prairie dog shot it worked well for me.

 

[Tuxedo007]

OK.

I've had my fun here with the 6M vs the 6K symbol. But yes, I do have alot of work before me. Pace is everything as well as the quality I wish to achieve.

Thanks for all your reply's so far. I appreciate it.

May you all have a Merry Christmas and a better New Year to come. And if you see Grandma before I do, tell here to set another plate please. Made you smile on that one!

Best Wishes from here.

Steve Murphy

Steve,

I have used both the swage method & a cutter. The cutters I've tried seem to open the primer pocket slightly more that swaging.

Swaging, while slower, gives a primer pocket that stays tighter longer that those cases on which I used a cutter. This has been my experience.

While I have not tried the new RCBS swage, I have successfully used the old model. However, I do like the Dillon much better when I have a large qty to process.

Good Luck & Happy New Year!

Tuxedo007

 

[msinc]

One thing to remember if you elect to swage with the RCBS set up...it can push the flash hole burr back over the flash hole and partially obstruct it. So you might want to think about de-burring the flash hole before or after. That adds an extra step, so the next question is; is it really worth it for what you intend to use the brass for. I use LC stuff for long range accurate ammo, and it works as good as anything I have tried, so to me the answer is yes. I de-burr the flash hole, swage the crimp, sts tumble and anneal every case for my own personal use to be loaded as many times as I can get...if I was loading to blow thru a machine gun, no way.
I use the RCBS tool and it works fine for me. I have never found a cutter type that works as good or cuts as easily as it seems like it should. We are not talking rocket science here, it's cutting brass, but they just don't seem to be sharp to me. I think the end result with a cutter could be better IF I had a decent bench top drill press with a good accurate designed depth stop. Then I need a way to hold the case and keep it from spinning. This would allow a "same depth cut" every time if the cases were close to the same length {within reason}