Problems with Swaging Die

[Cincinnatus]

I am having a devil of a problem with my RCBS primer pocket swager. I bought it about 40 years ago, didn't use it much until now.

The thing is, no matter what I do with it, I can't get it to swage the primer-pocket crimps. I tried it on some Lake City 45 (30-06) brass last night, and it wouldn't do anything at all. It won't even handle HXP well.

I read the instructions thoroughly, and looked at some You Tube video clips. I just can't seem to get it to swage.

Has anyone else had such problems? Is there some trick I don't know about?

 

[jepp2]

I have a lot of experience using the original RCBS swager. My tips are:
- sort your brass by headstamp and even year
- screw the rod all the way up
- adjust the die down in small increments until you get the amount of swage you need
- if you are having problems with the swaged brass releasing from the stud (I did), try polishing the stud and using a bit of Imperial case lube on it about every 5'th case.

It will not work on some presses. What are you using?

 

[Cincinnatus]

I use a Rockchucker.

I read in the comment section to a You Tube clip on the subject that one fellow uses his RCBS burring tool to remove part of the crimp. So, a few minutes ago, I tried that. I made four light passes with the tool in the pocket, then ran it through the swager, and then used a Lyman bottoming tool to square the pocket. That seemed to work pretty well. My newly-acquired Ballistic Tools swage gage went in okay with the go spud, but not with the no go. Then, to double check, I primed the brass with some expended primers I had on hand. The primers went in smoothly, and they seemed to be held in tightly. The proof in the pudding will be when I try some fully-loaded cartridges in my M-1 Garand. If they don't back out, then I think I got it.

The brass I did this on is LC 45 - brass that was manufactured 73 years ago, in wartime conditions, and still works fine.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Has anyone else had such problems? Is there some trick I don't know about?[/QUOTE]

The trick is to throw the RCBS junk away and get you a Dillon Super Swage. Presto!! No more swage problem.

 

[gary0529]

Has anyone else had such problems? Is there some trick I don't know about?

The trick is to throw the RCBS junk away and get you a Dillon Super Swage. Presto!! No more swage problem.[/QUOTE]
+1

Have both--got the RCBS first, bent a few rods now I use the Dillon exclusively.
Much better product

Gary