How is military brass crimped?

[larrymac1]

I can find tons of information about how to swage the pocket. I don't have a problem with that. I just got curious about how the crimp is placed in the casing to start with. Running 2000 .223 cases through the resizer just got me to thinking. I know why they do it, but just curious about HOW.

[woolleyworm]

Welcome to TFF Larrymac1, there are two common ways in which primers are crimped. Most common is a circular ring crimp and the other is a staked crimp. The ring crimp is applied by a crimping die and the staked crimp is applied by "poking" the brass around the primer with two or three prongs that force the primer cup tightly around the primer.

[larrymac1]

Is the ring a separate piece of metal that is pressed in at the same time as the primer? I am cleaning 2000 .223 brass and I have run into both types of crimps you mentioned. Before all I had seen was the ring crimp. The 3 punch must be something a bit older. :)

[woolleyworm]

Is the ring a separate piece of metal that is pressed in at the same time as the primer? I am cleaning 2000 .223 brass and I have run into both types of crimps you mentioned. Before all I had seen was the ring crimp. The 3 punch must be something a bit older. :)

The primer is already seated in the pocket and then the crimp is applied.

There is still modern ammo (mostly foreign) that has staked primers. I'll try to find some.