Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading Primer pocket swager?

I'm trying to decide on a primer pocket swager.


I've read and watched and still don't know what the best way to go is.



Years ago, a PD was using my local range...Noone wanted bulk 9-40-45-223 back then. Kinda funny looking back. Hardly worth bending over for. If only we would have predicted 2021 huh?


Anyways. I have a 5 gallon bucket full. Never touched it. Never even opened the bucket. Then 2021 came along.


The stuff was mixed and pretty grimy.

I've been sorting, popping primers and cleaning it....



Now, I've realized the 223 and 40s&w are crimped. And I've already deprimed and cleaned over 1500 pieces. Sort of invested at this point.

Clean n green PD shooting NT. Lol.


Can't decide what way to go for swaging the pockets.


If you had a few thousand cases to get through....what is your pick?

I like my Dillion 600 Super Swage. I used to do the case chamfer thing and the RCBS ram mounted swager; but the Dillion is the best for large amount of brass.

I use the RCBS version by hand (not chucked) for better cleaning of the primer pocket without altering pocket dimensions.

Added layers of tape to allow thumb/index finger rolling.

I've used the RCBS Press mounted for yrs. then a friend of mine asked if I'd like to try his Dillon.Super Swage. I did all my 7.62 brass then switched over to the sm primer swage and did over 1k 556 brass and never broke a sweat. When I get another big batch of brass collected I'll borrow that Dillon again or buy my own. I know RCBS now makes a bench mounted similar to the Dillon but no experience with it.

Thanx guys! That's what I was looking for...didn't know if the bench mounted unit was easier/faster than the die for a single stage.


I don't mind the extra time/work...especially these days...I've just gone progressive and loading 223 and pistol ammo in bulk. Rather spend the money on a swager than buy all new brass when I have a bucket full of free brass...


Especially now that I've already deprimed and cleaned a good bunch of it. By weight, I have around 1200 223 cases and 750 40s&w cases ready. They must have mostly shot 40s&w....easily another 1500+ in the bucket. Not much 9mm or 45acp acp. 500 or so of each.


Will give me a supply till I hit the range at the right time again. Tough times for scrounging brass...lol.

Be gentle with a hole that never heals.

I have used the RCBS press mounted primer pocket swager for thousands and thousands of brass Buy the Dillon 600 and never look back. You could buy a new one for $100.00, but not now. Used ones was selling for about $80.00. Guys were buying new, swaging then sale to recoup costs. The dillon is set up all the time ready to go.

Just remembered if doing pistol ammo 45,40 9mm etc you will need the other stems and parts. Still worth while investment.
https://www.dillonprecision.com/super-swage-600-parts_8_8_25290.html

The Dillon bench mount works good. My only snag was mixed headstamp brass, sometimes the case web is thicker or thinner causing not enough swage or to too much depending on the case.
Sort them and adjust the stem. Works much better. Look for videos of guys with rubber bands and springs wrapped around the lever making them self unload.

Thanx guys! Gunna get a dillon ordered.

I did come across various videos to make them self eject...seems like a good idea to speed the process.



Last evening I was cleaning up the benches and moved my cleaned 40s&w brass. Realized a good bit of it was not crimped. So I got them loaded up.

98% of the 223 brass is though so still need it.

Having a supply of 40s&w around isn't a bad thing. The 357sig and 40s&w sure seem to be fading off into the sunset. I love them all equally. Lol.

Just from a cost perspective, I will primarily load and shoot 9mm. Perks of having the same or similar platforms in different chamberings.

Mauser06, thanks for asking the questions. I've also benefitted from the advice and got Dillon Super Swager ordered. Remember to add the swager adapter 9mm / .38 Special ( Stock # 62168) + $17.99.

Good call! Looks like I will need one for the 40s&w stuff too. If I ever wanna use that brass. I have enough non crimped 40s&w for the time being.

The quickest and easiest way I've found to remove primer pocket crimps is to cut them out with a countersink drill bit. One only costs a couple of bucks, I chuck one in my drill press, turn the drill on and hold a re-prime case against the bit for a second or two....and crimp is gone. I can trim about 20 cases a minute this way.

Please show a picture of a crimped 40 S&W case? I've been reloading 40's since they came out in 1989 and I've NEVER encountered a crimped in primer from any manufacturer.

As someone who owned a Dillon, its a complete waste of money. Buy a set of small and large primer pocket reamers, they are significantly faster and do not require any sort of set up or adjustment. I use them in an RCBS case prep center, but you can also chuck them up in a small drill.

Case prep is probably my least favorite part of reloading, I'll never waste my time again swaging out primer crimps.

Sure looks crimed. Sure acts crimped. But I have no idea. Until now, I've only loaded rifle and bought new brass for them. Best I can tell though, those are crimped primers.



I tried Google searching and found a few older threads on various forums saying non-toxic stuff is usually crimped for whatever reason..including 40s&w. I have no idea.

Used this RCBS bench mount swagger to begin with when I first started loading .223 and had a bunch of mixed range brass, mostly crimped. Got it because my bro n law had one. Works fine.

https://www.rcbs.com/case-processing/accessories/primer-pocket-swager---bench-tool/16-9474.html


Then got this Lyman case prep center that has pocket uniformers, pocket cutters, pocket cleaners, chamfering and deburring, all mounted and turning. Pick up a trimmed and deprimed case and run thru everything else you need to do to it before you put it back down.

What about longevity of the primer pocket; swagged vs cut? Does cutting take out enough metal to matter? And does swagging get the case head off level or out of square that you can really tell?


https://www.lymanproducts.com/case-prep-center-xpress

I figured out how to use my RCBS case trimmer to ream primer pockets with a Lyman reamer tool. Works good. Last time I timed myself, I went through about two hundred an hour. And with no blisters on my thumb.