Swaging or Reaming Crimped Primer Pockets?

[Spotcheck_Billy]

I have several thousand rounds of Lake City 5.56 M193 and 7.62 M80 ammo and would like to reload the brass. I know that I'll have to remove the GI crimp from the primer pockets, but what method is best - swaging or reaming? Who makes the best tools?

TIA

 

[techshooter]

Dillon Precision makes a spiffy swager. It works fast, clean, and on both calibers. Got my vote...

Cheers,

 

[Asa_Yam]

Dillon Precision makes a spiffy swager.

Which swager?

- The Super Swage 600 is nice, but somewhat slow - especially if you're dealing with several thousand pieces of brass.

- The Super 1050 press is much faster, but a lot more expensive.

www.dillonprecision.com

 

[Rustystud]

If you don't have a lathe. Take an electric drill. put it in a vice with a ID deburring tool chucked up. Just kiss the primer pocket up against the rotating deburring tool. It will take out the swage cleanly and taper the pocket shoulder. It is fast and effective.
Rustystud

 

[ChuckMiller]

Being a slow learner about every couple of years I get the urge to buy crimped military 223 brass, get out my RCBS swaging tool and get after it. After 100 rounds and the mixed success I stop. I don't own the Dillon Tool and I guess the close to 100.00 price with shipping is the reason. I've toyed with the idea of buying it, using it and selling it. Then I found Southern Bell Brass, Winchester or Rem once fired for 40.00/1000. Bought 2K of the Winchester for 80.00 and put the LC up for sale on Ebay. It brought more than 55.00/1000 at aucton. I've seen the light.

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

I bought 3K each of M193 and M80 GI ball ammo for my gas guns and would like to make use of the brass as I use the ammo up. I probably would not have bought fired GI brass just to reload, but at the price that I paid for the ammo I look at the brass as a gift

I'm retired and really don't mind the extra work required to remove the primer crimps. Just something else to do when it's raining and I can't go to the range.

Some shooters tell me that swaging is better because it doesn't remove material from the primer pocket, while others tell me that reaming is better because it's faster and you stand less of a chance to mess up. I suppose that I'll have to figure it out!

 

[techshooter]

I was referring to the Dillon 600 model. It is fast compared to the 7/8 X 14 die type that you use in a single stage press. The 1050 is amazing, but more than I need. I like Nat's idea as well.

Cheers,