Swage press to tighten primer pockets

[DanConzo]

It would be nice if someone or some company came out with a swage of some sort to tighten primer pockets that become loose after repeated firings. Something that can be mounted on a regular reloading bench. Good quality brass is expensive, and once you get some that shoots the primer pockets become loose. Something better than punching a burr or using a ball pein hammer or a production punch press. I think this would be a welcomed tool. Thanks

 

[FroggyOne2]

Just buy Tula SRM or LRM primers and when they won't fit anymore, well it is pass time to get rid of the brass!

 

[Hopkins]

Check with R W Hart, they make a primer pocket swager designed to tighten loose pockets.

 

[DanConzo]

hopkins--In case they came out with something new, their tool is punching a burr.

froggy--I want to use cci or federal primers to repeat performance and sometimes "quality" brass is very hard to find and the price just keeps getting higher.

 

[FroggyOne2]

I have been using "Wolf" and now "Tula" primers for years and I feel I have gotten the best, most consistant performance out of these primers than any other primer made out there. Now I have never tried RWS, though, I feel that I will not need anytime soon either.

 

[jlow]

FroggyOne2 - are you saying that Wolf/Tula primers are larger? Can you confirm diameter?

Thanks for your help ahead of time.

 

[DanConzo]

froggy
wolfe primers=misfires. Wolfe 22 ammo I also have had many misfires. I'm trying to inspire someone to think about making a swage to tighten primer pockets. I'm glad you use these primers and have good results with them, I also have used different primers that seemed to be larger in diameter that didn't compare with cci and federal for consistency and reliability and give me the results I want, I have glued primers and sealed primers, and I know when to get new brass. I just happen to think that we have very good equipment today for reloading (some new and some old) in all the other phases of the loading process but this particular tool is needed. I've modified and made a number of reloading tools and I figured if someone with a hankering thinks about this maybe some ideas will surface.

 

[Keith Hansley in NC]

PM inbound

 

[hogan]

Seem to recall a member on this forum announced he had produced a swaging tool that would restore primer pocket tension and stated the design was an improvement over others then in the product realm. Cost was about $100, IIRC.

Might want to do a search on this 2011 Q4 to 2012 Q1 if memory serves.

 

[tunered]

Come on guys, I have a rcbs primer pocket swagger made like a reloading die, and the shell holder, that is made for large and small primers, ive had since 1976, and its for sale. ed

 

[mikecr]

Come on guys, I have a rcbs primer pocket swagger made like a reloading die, and the shell holder, that is made for large and small primers

This is to squash out the crimp from military brass, and not to tighten expanded pockets.

OP would need something like a hydraulic casehead/extraction groove compression collet system type of thing.
Basically undoing what was done to it.
I say hydraulic because I doubt any manual reloading press is strong enough to do it.

 

[Steve Blair]

Right, Mike. OP could also stick to loads that don't blow out the pockets. LR pockets seem to go faster than SR. My Lapua 6BR and .308 Palma brass have great longevity. Lapua .308 LR pockets are only so-so. [br]
I also wonder what moving the head metal around would do to case head squareness.

 

[DanConzo]

mike - I think I remember seeing two halves of steel that the case head set in while being squeezed. Probably works. Mike has a good idea also. I was thinking about the MEC shotshell Super Sizer that restores the base of a shotshell with collets and has plenty of leverage modified to rifle cases, if the squeeze is in the extractor groove and only about .0005" is needed, it probably won't affect the head being flat, you can always measure that. Also look at the new dies for sizing the 10mm pistol round, the case goes right thru the die. Maybe something will surface yet.

 

[watercam]

The Hart tool works well - it forms a ring around the upper part of the pocket. I have used it for PRVI brass that had loose pockets from the get-go in a 9.3x62 Mauser I have. ONe turn on the tool and the pockets have been tight for several loadings now. Just be careful not to punch too hard - it is easy to over do it.
Other than that the only way would be to compress the base itself a bit I think.

 

[DanConzo]

I meant to say keith has a good idea too.

 

[Steve Blair]

it probably won't affect the head being flat, you can always measure that.

[br]
Not flatness, Dan. Case head squareness to the case body centerline. Creighton Audette showed the importance of this some years ago. This can be measured with the Neco tool. [br]
It would be great to get more life from a case. But, if the brass is moving, it is because pressure has pushed the case material into plastic deformation. It could be the case head is too soft or that pressure is too high. Either way, something to which attention is warranted.

 

[aJR]

Hi All , I made one in 1999 because the 6.5 rem mag brass was really weak and the primer pocket went in just one firing .. Still use it today .. JR.. Jeff Rogers.. pic included

 

[DanConzo]

sleepgator--you are right, but would you think that pushing the extractor groove in 1/4 thousands on a side would make the whole head move out of the centerline? the brass on most cases is pretty hard for about 1/2". I guess the only way to find out is try it.

 

[Steve Blair]

If it was centered in a die and constrained, it might be fine. As you say, try it and see. I switched away from standard Lapua .308 cases to Palma cases to get a little more pocket life. If the pockets could be fixed and not FUBAR the brass, I'd be all for it.

 

[Lesloan]

froggy
wolfe primers=misfires. Wolfe 22 ammo I also have had many misfires. I'm trying to inspire someone to think about making a swage to tighten primer pockets. I'm glad you use these primers and have good results with them, I also have used different primers that seemed to be larger in diameter that didn't compare with cci and federal for consistency and reliability and give me the results I want, I have glued primers and sealed primers, and I know when to get new brass. I just happen to think that we have very good equipment today for reloading (some new and some old) in all the other phases of the loading process but this particular tool is needed. I've modified and made a number of reloading tools and I figured if someone with a hankering thinks about this maybe some ideas will surface.

FWIW, Wolf primers and CF ammo are made by Tula. Wolf .22LR is made by Lapua, and is the same as SK Jagt; made on the same production lines. The only thing they (CF & RF) have in common is the name "Wolf." I haven't used the primers yet, but have 5000 on order, based on the recommendation of a good friend who is a dedicated (and very successful) F-class shooter. He uses them all the time, sez they're the best. I doubt he'd use them if misfires were a problem. RE the rimfire ammo, I've fired several 5000-round cases without a single misfire that I can recall.

Maybe you should look elsewhere for the source of your misfires.