can I use a chamfer tool to bevel primer crimp in 5.56 brass

[short range]

I been trying to find some place that has the Hornady sm primer pocket reamer tool in stock, ( it seems to get very good reviews) but I haven't found it. I tried to order in from Hornady.com and they are on back order for 4 to 6 weeks. Can I use a chamfer tool to bevel the crimp and prime the brass ? I tried it with four brass, and the primers seem to seat fine, but I'm not sure if I should do it that way. My chamfer tool is not cutting the primer pocket any deeper, I just don't know if I will be taking a chance of over sizing the primer pocket. i don't want to wreck the 500 once fired brass that I just got, but I don't want to wait 4 to 6 weeks for the reamer. I've read some reviews on other primer reamers, and they don't get very good ratings.

 

[Cigarcop]

I don't see why you couldn't, the RCBS one is basically a chamfer with a stop on it..u just don't want to go to deep.

RCBS

 

[short range]

The chamfer tool that I have is flat at the tip, so it won't cut deeper than the bottom of the primer pocket.
I did find a place that has the hornady sm primer pocket reamer in stock, it isa couple dollars higher than Midway USA, it's at "Outdoor Sports USA" $11.01 so I ordered one a few minutes ago. I think I will wait until I get the reamer before I process anymore primer pockets, but it's good to know that the chamfer tool will work if I don't receive the reamer.

 

[KMart]

http://www.forsterproducts.com/catalog.asp?prodid=700272

Try one of these. You can find them just about anywhere that handles Forster trimmers.
You chuck it up in a drill and a quick twist and the crimp is gone. Very quick.

Forster is in Lanmark. Looks like it is only a few miles from you

 

[short range]

K mart, You're correct, Lanark,Il. is about 50 miles from me. I didn't know that's where Foster was located.
I read some reviews on the Froster case trimmers, it sounds like they make a very good product. i'm not happy with the trimmer that I have, I have been using the Lee Case Trimmer, and it sucks. The cutter got bull pretty fast, so it leave a big burr on the outside of the case mouth, so by the time I get the burr off, it's hard to keep the case length consistent. I just finished trimming all my brass, but I'm very interested in the Foster trimmer.

 

[Juma]

Check this out as well. Aussie technology.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FskNx4UBZvc&feature=related

 

[Wildboar]

All i've ever used on 5.56 crimp is an rcbs chamfer tool. No need to go deep, just knock the sharp edge off.

 

[fdshuster]

short range: Although I mostly use the Forster cutter, I have used the case mouth deburring tool. It too works fine. All you're doing is getting rid of that very small sharp edge that makes primer seating so difficult. I've never seen any hint of damage to the primer pocket.

 

[amlevin]

I'm a major fan of swaging. Just reaming the sharp edge doesn't do anything to reform the primer pocket which can (and often is) deformed by the crimping process.

Since I load several thousand .223/5.56 rounds every month or so I use the Dillon Super Swage but good results are claimed by many using the RCBS tool which is around $30 or so. Swaging also doesn't remove metal, it just reforms, only having to be done once.

 

[short range]

amlevin, I understand that using a chamfer tool just removes a small portion of the crimp. Doesn't the Hornady Sm Pocket Reamer Tool take out the crimp ? This may sound like a dumb question, but what is the difference between using the Hornady Sm Pocket Reamer Tool, and a swaging tool ?

 

[short range]

I went on You Tube yesterday and watched two videos about swagging primer pockets. It looks like the swagger tool just makes the primer pocket larger, but doesn't remove the crimp. It must bevel the sharp edge of the crimp also.

 

[amlevin]

I went on You Tube yesterday and watched two videos about swagging primer pockets. It looks like the swagger tool just makes the primer pocket larger, but doesn't remove the crimp. It must bevel the sharp edge of the crimp also.

The Dillon Super swage not only reforms the primer pocket, it has sufficient mechanical advantage in it's mechanism to form a radius on the primer pocket edge. The RCBS has to be used on a single stage press. The Dillon Super Swage is self contained and can be used anywhere. I have mine attached to a "lap board" and swage while watching TV. No shavings, no mess, and faster by far than reaming.

I have a lyman reamer and find the results far inferior to swaging.

 

[short range]

Thanks everyone for the info. Have a great day.

 

[short range]

I bought the Hornady Sm Pocket Reamer Tool and the Lee 3 Jaw Chuck and Spindle, to use in my cordless drill, It does a great job. I reamed out the crimp in a few brass, and then put primers in them to check how they fit. They seem to fit just fine, so I reamed about 400 brass in no time. I'm very happy with these products, the reamer is nice because stops cutting at the bottom of the primer pocket. ( I guess you could probably make it cut deeper if you pushed hard ). The 3 Jaw Chuck holds the cases very well with no spin outs.

 

[XTR]

I have a Dillon swager, I use it for 308s and 223s, I'll never use a reamer again. Seriously get a swager and don't look back.

 

[amlevin]

Just saw today where RCBS has a tool that looks pretty much like the Dillon that's "Coming Soon".

Apparently THEY like the Dillon Super Swage too, at least enough to copy it.

 

[short range]

I guess with a swagger there are no brass filings to make a mess. How much did you say the Dillon Swagger is ?

 

[Sray53TXTN]

runs around $100.95

 

[RonS]

What does the Dillon swager do for cases that seem to have loose primer pockets? Can it repair them?

 

[amlevin]

What does the Dillon swager do for cases that seem to have loose primer pockets? Can it repair them?

Nothing. There is a tool that will tighten primer pockets by upsetting metal into the pocket which can then be swaged back to a reasonable size. I don't see the value personally unless one has a case that's real expensive or almost impossible to find a replacement.

For 5.56/.223 or 7.62x51, just scrounge a few more from the range brass bucket that are tossed as once fired by those that don't bother with crimped cases.