Crimped Primer Pockets? - The Firearms Forum

Snakedriver · 07-23-2009, 11:20 AM

I'm getting ready to reload a bunch of .223 brass that I have stored up and it's a mixed batch. Does anyone know which brands have crimped primer pockets? Is it just the ones from Government aresenals like Lake City? Much of what I have is also Remington UMC and PMC brass, what about those brands? Any help you can offer will be appreciated.

THX!!

Alpo · 07-23-2009, 11:27 AM

UMC is Remington. I don't know if they are crimped. PMC is crimped.

Why not take one of all your different brands and deprime them. Then attempt to prime them. If it goes in easy, there is no crimp. If it fights, and usually destroys the primer, there a crimp. Easy.

It's usually pretty obvious which ones are crimped, especially when you get the old primer out. Once you've looked at a few, crimped and non-crimped, you can pretty easily tell the difference.

Snakedriver · 07-23-2009, 11:44 AM

Good idea I'll do that, thanks

GW1 · 07-23-2009, 11:55 AM

If you have any "speer", it is crimped as well. I just finished removing the crimps on a bunch of speer .223 a few minutes ago and it is now tumbling. If you don't have the rcbs primer pocket swager combo.... you need to get it. It only costs about $27 bucks, depending on where you get it, and it will make life oh so much easier on you in removing the military crimp. I have done at least a thousand and the swager is still going strong. Good luck.

Snakedriver · 07-23-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GW1

If you don't have the rcbs primer pocket swager combo.... you need to get it. It only costs about $27 bucks, depending on where you get it, and it will make life oh so much easier on you in removing the military crimp. I have done at least a thousand and the swager is still going strong. Good luck.

I have the RCBS primer pocket swager AND the Lyman primer pocket reamer for my Lyman case trimmer. For some reason the swager method never seemed to work for me. Is there special secret to getting the thing to work?

Thanks for your input.

GW1 · 07-23-2009, 03:50 PM

For some reason the swager method never seemed to work for me. Is there special secret to getting the thing to work?

Thanks for your input.

[/QUOTE]

What kinds of problems are you having with it? All I do is give it a quick jerk as the nipple works into the primer pocket and that opens it up just fine for me. I have only had one primer destroyed while re-priming them in about a thousand rounds.

Snakedriver · 07-23-2009, 07:16 PM

I've tried the RCBS primer pocket swager device on both military 5.56mm and 9mm cartridges without success. It doesn't seem to open the pocket up enough to allow the primer to be seated without crushing it. Using the Lyman primer pocket reamer on the trimmer removes the crimped brass material from the pocket and makes seating the primer a cinch. This method is more time consuming than the swager though and that's why I wish I could get the swager to work right. Luckily the de-crimping only has to be done one time.

gandog56 · 07-24-2009, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakedriver

I've tried the RCBS primer pocket swager device on both military 5.56mm and 9mm cartridges without success. It doesn't seem to open the pocket up enough to allow the primer to be seated without crushing it. Using the Lyman primer pocket reamer on the trimmer removes the crimped brass material from the pocket and makes seating the primer a cinch. This method is more time consuming than the swager though and that's why I wish I could get the swager to work right. Luckily the de-crimping only has to be done one time.

Ummm, stupid question. Are you using the right size swage and/or decapping pin? There are two sizes. I can't tell you how many .223/5.56 I've swaged with no problems.

Time consuming and I hate doing it...but no problems

Snakedriver · 07-24-2009, 07:27 AM

Well, the other pieces that come with the RCBS primer pocket swager are for large primers, I assume for something like crimped 7.62/.308 and .45 military cases, so I don't think they would work very well on 5.56 and 9mm cases.

I'm using the pieces that are for the small primers on 5.56 and 9mm.

army mp · 07-24-2009, 02:08 PM

I use the swag and it works great, something that may help, I use the RCBS primer pocket brush to clean the pockets before I swag. If there is carbon built up in the pocket it may not let the swag do its job.

Snakedriver · 07-24-2009, 06:39 PM

I used my Lyman trimmer with the primer pocket reamer attachment to prepare 200-5.56 cases today and it took just over an hour to have them done. It cleans and uniforms the primer pocket at the same time it is removing the crimp ring. It makes priming really easy after this is done. Using my Lee Auto-Prime tool it only took about 15-20 minutes to insert my 200 primers and I didn't crush or ruin a single one. These days they are too precious to waste.

paradox998 · 07-26-2009, 01:32 PM

If you are going to need to decrimp on a regular basis consider a Dillion Super Swage 600. It comes with two decrimping pins and will last a lifetime. About $95 new

army mp · 07-26-2009, 03:50 PM

I don’t know what type Rifle you will be shooting the brass in. It may be wrong. but I was always told that for ARs and Mini 30s you should only swag the pockets, that the ream type pocket informers can remove too much parent material. And cause slam fire from primers backing out.

medalguy · 07-31-2009, 01:34 PM

+1 on Paradox. I also use the Dillon super swager and it's great, fast, easy, simple.... what else can I add? It's the best. Also if you need to trim a quantity of brass I highly recommend the Dillon power trimmer, trims and sizes as fast as you can run the brass into the die. Tumble off the lube and deburrr at the same time. Great tools for any serious reloader.

Dillon can mail my check to......

07-23-2009, 11:20 AM	#1
Snakedriver Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW. Florida Posts: 1,219	Crimped Primer Pockets? I'm getting ready to reload a bunch of .223 brass that I have stored up and it's a mixed batch. Does anyone know which brands have crimped primer pockets? Is it just the ones from Government aresenals like Lake City? Much of what I have is also Remington UMC and PMC brass, what about those brands? Any help you can offer will be appreciated. THX!! __________________ Fear is a reaction..........Courage is a decision -->

07-23-2009, 11:27 AM	#2
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: Crimped Primer Pockets? UMC is Remington. I don't know if they are crimped. PMC is crimped. Why not take one of all your different brands and deprime them. Then attempt to prime them. If it goes in easy, there is no crimp. If it fights, and usually destroys the primer, there a crimp. Easy. It's usually pretty obvious which ones are crimped, especially when you get the old primer out. Once you've looked at a few, crimped and non-crimped, you can pretty easily tell the difference. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

07-23-2009, 11:44 AM	#3
Snakedriver Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW. Florida Posts: 1,219	Re: Crimped Primer Pockets? Good idea I'll do that, thanks __________________ Fear is a reaction..........Courage is a decision

07-23-2009, 11:55 AM	#4
GW1 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 39	Re: Crimped Primer Pockets? If you have any "speer", it is crimped as well. I just finished removing the crimps on a bunch of speer .223 a few minutes ago and it is now tumbling. If you don't have the rcbs primer pocket swager combo.... you need to get it. It only costs about $27 bucks, depending on where you get it, and it will make life oh so much easier on you in removing the military crimp. I have done at least a thousand and the swager is still going strong. Good luck.

07-23-2009, 03:50 PM	#6
GW1 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 39	Re: Crimped Primer Pockets? For some reason the swager method never seemed to work for me. Is there special secret to getting the thing to work? Thanks for your input.[/QUOTE] What kinds of problems are you having with it? All I do is give it a quick jerk as the nipple works into the primer pocket and that opens it up just fine for me. I have only had one primer destroyed while re-priming them in about a thousand rounds.

07-23-2009, 07:16 PM	#7
Snakedriver Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW. Florida Posts: 1,219	Re: Crimped Primer Pockets? I've tried the RCBS primer pocket swager device on both military 5.56mm and 9mm cartridges without success. It doesn't seem to open the pocket up enough to allow the primer to be seated without crushing it. Using the Lyman primer pocket reamer on the trimmer removes the crimped brass material from the pocket and makes seating the primer a cinch. This method is more time consuming than the swager though and that's why I wish I could get the swager to work right. Luckily the de-crimping only has to be done one time. __________________ Fear is a reaction..........Courage is a decision

07-24-2009, 07:27 AM	#9
Snakedriver Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW. Florida Posts: 1,219	Re: Crimped Primer Pockets? Well, the other pieces that come with the RCBS primer pocket swager are for large primers, I assume for something like crimped 7.62/.308 and .45 military cases, so I don't think they would work very well on 5.56 and 9mm cases. I'm using the pieces that are for the small primers on 5.56 and 9mm. __________________ Fear is a reaction..........Courage is a decision

07-24-2009, 02:08 PM	#10
army mp V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: western Pa, Posts: 479	Re: Crimped Primer Pockets? I use the swag and it works great, something that may help, I use the RCBS primer pocket brush to clean the pockets before I swag. If there is carbon built up in the pocket it may not let the swag do its job.

07-24-2009, 06:39 PM	#11
Snakedriver Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW. Florida Posts: 1,219	Re: Crimped Primer Pockets? I used my Lyman trimmer with the primer pocket reamer attachment to prepare 200-5.56 cases today and it took just over an hour to have them done. It cleans and uniforms the primer pocket at the same time it is removing the crimp ring. It makes priming really easy after this is done. Using my Lee Auto-Prime tool it only took about 15-20 minutes to insert my 200 primers and I didn't crush or ruin a single one. These days they are too precious to waste. __________________ Fear is a reaction..........Courage is a decision

07-26-2009, 01:32 PM	#12
paradox998 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 36	Re: Crimped Primer Pockets? If you are going to need to decrimp on a regular basis consider a Dillion Super Swage 600. It comes with two decrimping pins and will last a lifetime. About $95 new

07-26-2009, 03:50 PM	#13
army mp V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: western Pa, Posts: 479	Re: Crimped Primer Pockets? I don’t know what type Rifle you will be shooting the brass in. It may be wrong. but I was always told that for ARs and Mini 30s you should only swag the pockets, that the ream type pocket informers can remove too much parent material. And cause slam fire from primers backing out.

07-31-2009, 01:34 PM	#14
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 585	Re: Crimped Primer Pockets? +1 on Paradox. I also use the Dillon super swager and it's great, fast, easy, simple.... what else can I add? It's the best. Also if you need to trim a quantity of brass I highly recommend the Dillon power trimmer, trims and sizes as fast as you can run the brass into the die. Tumble off the lube and deburrr at the same time. Great tools for any serious reloader. Dillon can mail my check to......