Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Removing the crimp?

Recently I was given a small crate of once fired Lake City 5.56/223 brass. I've never fooled with surplus brass before so it's my first time dealing with the "crimp".
Which method do you fellas prefer? Stage, cut, or drill?
I only load on a single stage press so the RCBS set up looks like a good option if I go the swage route.
Thanks

Swage. I use the RCBS unit. It may not be as fast as Dillon but it only has to be done once, and I'm lookin' outside at over 2ft. of snow so I've got time to waste.

Thank you sir.

I've been using the Dillon and really like how easy it is. I had been using a deburring tool to chamfer them, but it just got to be a chore. Money well spent and if I ever decide to sell it, I'll get a good return.

I've been using the RCBS tool. $20 and slow, but works fine. Especially while watching the Olympics....

I have drilled but the swage is better.
I have the RCBS dies as well as a Dillon.
They Dillon seems better if doing a large amount of 5.56 brass.
Also works on 45,9mm brass as well.

Clamp a drill motor in your vise, put about a 3/8" drill bit in it and lightly remove any crimp. You can run through 1000 in just about no time at all. Cheap and easy.

[bleep] the swage. I use a drill with a VLD chamfer, I can run through a pile in no time. Swage is for old dudes.

Hey now, I'm younger than you!

Here is how I'm set up.

Guess I'm busted.

I've been using the chamfer that came on my rcbs case prep center. It works pretty good, but I will try a vld.

I've always set up a drill press for case batches.
First, FL deprime/size everything.
Second, Trim and chamfer necks with two drill press setups.
Third, use countersink on crimp. I use a 45 degree asymmetrical CS because it chatters less.

That said, I've thought about Dillon's swager but been too cheap to actually spend the moolah -- and since I'm doing the trim in the press anyway, the final crimp countersink step is actually faster than Dillonizing, and WAY faster than the RCBS press-swager.

Nothin but net, looks like almost fun. G

It almost is. I've used a VLD chamfer tool chucked up in a drill. Works good, but my problem is fatigue. By the time I've trimmed with the Possum Hollow and chamfered/deburred my hands and fingers are wore out. I bought the Dillon because when I have to remove the crimp on brass, it's a large batch. Usually in excess of 1,000. The Dillon makes it easier on my hands and retains it's resale if I ever decide to sell it. Not a bad deal in my book.

They cost a C-note. This time last year they were selling for $200.

Some lots of LC brass can be primed on a Lee hand prime without removing the crimp. You just have to go a bit slower. I have a friend who loads his 3-gun ammo that way, as he doesn't typically pick that up.

I use the RCBS deburing tool. One quick twist and done.

I chucked mine into my drill press. I just push the bottom of the case up to the tool and watch one long sliver of brass peel away and it's done. Takes about 2 or 3 seconds per piece of brass. kwg

swage - Lee
Never tried anything else ran threw many thousands of 223, but also 308 and 30-06

Swage.....Dillon.....left side of my 5.56 setup