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Posted: 6/15/2015 9:38:37 AM EDT
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I picked up about 100 pieces of once fired .223 brass from a firm that advertises here. This is the brass used after testing every build. I pressed out the primers, wet tumbled, and dried them.
Headstamp is GECO and a few LC. Pockets were crimped so I set up a Dillon Super Swage to re-form the edge. For the next step, the Dillon 650 is configured to size, prime and trim. After sizing is primer insertion. The new CCI primers went in far to easily, no force required at all. After 20 pieces I stopped. I believe that I over swaged the brass resulting in over-sizing the primer pocket. I (very carefully) de-primed the brass and the new primers nearly fell out. Then the brass went to the scrap bin. Be careful out there.... |
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Quoted:
I picked up about 100 pieces of once fired .223 brass from a firm that advertises here. This is the brass used after testing every build. I pressed out the primers, wet tumbled, and dried them. Headstamp is GECO and a few LC. Pockets were crimped so I set up a Dillon Super Swage to re-form the edge. For the next step, the Dillon 650 is configured to size, prime and trim. After sizing is primer insertion. The new CCI primers went in far to easily, no force required at all. After 20 pieces I stopped. I believe that I over swaged the brass resulting in over-sizing the primer pocket. I (very carefully) de-primed the brass and the new primers nearly fell out. Then the brass went to the scrap bin. Be careful out there.... This is why I use an RCBS cutter to remove crimps. Not knocking the Super Swage, but I want somethign that is error proof. |
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Primer crimps are the devil!
Came to that conclusion last night after battling some 1960s Lake City M80 7.62 cases. I literally had to CUT the crimps out the pockets with a utility knife (slow and tedious). Even then, it was a major battle trying to seat hard CCI BR primers into those cases. On top of that, most of the Lake City flash holes were off center. In this case, I am glad they don't make stuff like they used to! |
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I don't understand.
If the swaging rod is a set diameter, how can that cause some pockets to be wider than others? I can see how one might be able to (possibly) make the pocket deeper or even crush / mangle the case, but the diameter thing is escaping me. I have one of the RCBS on-press swaging setups (new to me), and would like to know more before I get started with it. (I'm assuming that the same issue can be applied to the RCBS, but I really don't know much about it...) |
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Quoted:
I don't understand. If the swaging rod is a set diameter, how can that cause some pockets to be wider than others? I can see how one might be able to (possibly) make the pocket deeper or even crush / mangle the case, but the diameter thing is escaping me. I have one of the RCBS on-press swaging setups (new to me), and would like to know more before I get started with it. (I'm assuming that the same issue can be applied to the RCBS, but I really don't know much about it...) The rods on the super swage are tapered, so they can be set up to swage too much. |
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Quoted:
I don't understand. If the swaging rod is a set diameter, how can that cause some pockets to be wider than others? I can see how one might be able to (possibly) make the pocket deeper or even crush / mangle the case, but the diameter thing is escaping me. I have one of the RCBS on-press swaging setups (new to me), and would like to know more before I get started with it. (I'm assuming that the same issue can be applied to the RCBS, but I really don't know much about it...) The on-press RCBS is very near idiot proof, possibly why it's not as user friendly. They give warnings about different web thicknesses, but if you're not putting your full weight on the handle you won't bend the stem that goes down into the case which is all that can really happen, in .308 and .223 anyway. The spud is straight and then has a rather short radius it can be obnoxious to get it to roll enough of the crimp, and brass can require spirited handle manipulation to pop off, primers will still seat fine. |
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Tried the RCBS on press primer and that was painful to my carpal tunnel due to the spirited handle manipulation to release the brass.
I then bought the Dillon swage tool. Was not impressed. Inconsistent primer seating effort after swaging. Tried sorting by head stamp and year but it made little difference. I now use the Hornady reamer and it work terrific. I am working on prepping a 5 gallon pail of brass. Luckily with reaming I only have to do it once as that is the slowest operation in the process. I mark all my reloads so I only have to ream the new cases. |
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Quoted: The only issue I have with the hornady reamer... its easy to go in at a slight angle and cut one side of the brass more than the other. With a little practice it's easy to insert cases squarely and get good results with this reamer. It's possible to misuse almost any tool. |
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