Process for crimp removal

[headednorth]

Question regarding crimped primer pockets. Do you run every case through your decrimping process or do you comb through looking for only the cases that have been crimped?

I've been using one of those weldon bits to ream out the crimp. If I run a whole batch through without culling the non crimped cases, am I weakening cases with no crimp by reaming the pocket?

 

[mac1911]

you will be fine, just take a peak if theres no crimp toss it in the bin if there is run it on the bit.

 

[WanMan99]

I run them all through a Dillon 600 Swager tool. You get a feel for each cartridge and each time you physically handle them you have a chance to identify any flaws or defects in a cartridge so you can cull them from the batch.
Processing rifle brass for me is a multi step process.
Clean - tumble.
Lube, re-size, de-prime
Swage primer pocket
Trim case neck to size
reload
When I do this, I normally do 5k or so and it takes weeks of starting and stopping as time allows. This gives me enough ammo to last until I have forgotten what a pain in the a$$ it was and I do it again.

 

[greencobra]

i only need to do it with military 5.56. i don't bother with a swager tool, i do have a rcbs. i just give them a couple twists with a primer deburring tool. i'm not looking for competition quality brass, just range stuff. all i want to do is seat a primer. i've done tens of thousands of pieces with my little tool over the years.

 

[headednorth]

I'm just looking to keep the process streamlined. That and the eyes aren't what they used to be so squinting at 1k cases to determine if they are crimped or not is something id like to avoid if possible.

For instance, I don't bother to measure cases to see if they need to be trimmed or not. I run every one through the trimmer. If it needs to get trimmed, it gets trimmed. If not, I feel it immediately and move on. No harm done. Just wasn't sure if reaming the primer pockets of cases that were never crimped would cause an issue or not.

 

[greencobra]

That and the eyes aren't what they used to be so squinting at 1k cases to determine if they are crimped or not is something id like to avoid if possible.

what caliber? i know military 5.56 use copper colored primers, easy to spot and are crimped. silver primers = reloaded already. this rule of thumb is only for u.s. military cases. i have no clue what those foreign manufacturers do, don't use them

 

[headednorth]

what caliber? i know military 5.56 use copper colored primers, easy to spot and are crimped. silver primers = reloaded already. this rule of thumb is only for u.s. military cases. i have no clue what those foreign manufacturers do, don't use them

223

 

[greencobra]

223

military? if they are, they're 5.56. not aware of any 223 military. there may be, i've never seen it....yet.

 

[Arto]

sometimes 223 commercial is crimped too these days...
The RCBS Primer Pocket swager works great (& you're work-hardening brass instead of removing metal in a pressurized area)
is comes with a tool for large & small primer pockets

Buy Primer Pocket Swager Combo-2 and More | RCBS

Shopping for the Primer Pocket Swager Combo-2 - Learn more about the latest Accessories and other hunting or shooting gear at RCBS.

www.rcbs.com

 

[headednorth]

military? if they are, they're 5.56. not aware of any 223 military. there may be, i've never seen it....yet.

A lot of 223 is crimped. I'm sure there's plenty of 556 in there as well. Lots of LC for sure. I just load them all up

 

[greencobra]

I just load them all up

me too. it's not going to matter until you start loading to 5.56 specs and continually shoot in a barrel marked 223 rem.. do you have civillian market u.s. manufactured .223 that has crimped in primers? any lake city ammo i've seen is military contract and it's loaded 5.56 nato pressures. haven't seen military in 223. i doubt the military would contract 2 loadings for issue, 223 & 5.56. if they do it's an education for me. transparency disclaimer: never been in the military so dunno???? maybe there's 223 made special for the marksmanship unit. be interesting to hear from folks with more knowledge than i, never too old to learn.

 

[headednorth]

I'm pretty sure Wolf Gold is crimped 223. I always assumed LC is 556.

 

[dw617]

I'm just looking to keep the process streamlined. That and the eyes aren't what they used to be so squinting at 1k cases to determine if they are crimped or not is something id like to avoid if possible.

I don't get it. LC (and others...) is crimped. You remove the crimp during the first time it's processed then never have to do it again. Are you keeping track of your brass?

 

[headednorth]

I've got a million range pickups

 

[greencobra]

Wolf Gold is crimped 223

is that u.s. made?

i have no clue what those foreign manufacturers do, don't use them

to expand never used foreign 223 ammo.

this was a good conversation...lot of info

 

[mac1911]

sometimes 223 commercial is crimped too these days...
The RCBS Primer Pocket swager works great (& you're work-hardening brass instead of removing metal in a pressurized area)
is comes with a tool for large & small primer pockets

Buy Primer Pocket Swager Combo-2 and More | RCBS

Shopping for the Primer Pocket Swager Combo-2 - Learn more about the latest Accessories and other hunting or shooting gear at RCBS.

www.rcbs.com

this tool is ok but sometimes you will come across brass with a thicker web and distort the brass or bend the tool.

 

[mac1911]

is that u.s. made?

to expand never used foreign 223 ammo.

this was a good conversation...lot of info

wolf gold is made in Taiwan at the moment , good ammo and Wolf is a US company that finds manufsctures to stuff ammo in thier boxes.
Wolf match extra is made by eley at the moment.

 

[headednorth]

is that u.s. made?

Sorry, no. Taiwan iirc

 

[EddieCoyle]

Question regarding crimped primer pockets. Do you run every case through your decrimping process or do you comb through looking for only the cases that have been crimped?

I've been using one of those weldon bits to ream out the crimp. If I run a whole batch through without culling the non crimped cases, am I weakening cases with no crimp by reaming the pocket?

I sort by headstamp and remove the crimp when necessary using a Weldon deburring bit in a drill press. The cases end up being much easier to prime than if you're swaging them, and it's faster than adjusting a swaging tool for different headstamps.

I love getting them because I know they're once fired.