How do you remove crimps from military primer pockets?

Question:
How do you remove crimps from military brass?

Choices:
Reamer
Swage
There's no difference

 

Having tried both, I believe swageing is faster with better results.

I have a Dillon swage tool

It is fast but sometimes opens up the pocket too much

Still the fastest way IMO and I've tried all the others

I used both and both are a PITA I just don't use military brass any more.

Before the current scare I sold a bunch at junk brass prices.

Then I sold a bunch during the scare.

If some one needs some Mil 30-06 once fired brass I could be talked out of it.

I have used both but now prefer the Hornady cutting tool because the tool is inexpensive and precise, cutting open each pocket to the same size. When I am watching TV I will do a batch.

Dillon Swage
Military brass will take a beating out of recoil and gas operated guns due to the thicker walls much better than commercial brass.
A Dillon Swage or a press mounted swage is very fast to use and you never remove brass from the casing. It also reforms/shapes the primer pocket which will stop "primer shaving" of the pocket walls by just cutting out the crimp ring.

I sit down to watch TV with a bowl full of milsup brass, an empty bowl and my little reamer. Next thing I know, I'm done.

For many years I used a reamer. Then swages started coming on the market. I've tried a bundle of both hand reamers, power reamers, and swages.

When all is said and done, I've settled on a Dillon Swage, which I've used for the last 15 years or so. The Dillon can deform the primer pocket if not adjusted correctly. But, set up right, It works great at about 3 or 4 times the speed of a hand reamer and about twice as fast as a powered reamer. I don't find it any great effort to swage 1,000 cases with the Dillon in one session, but I'll damned sure never ream another 1,000 cases by hand at one sitting except in the most dire of straits.

I have reamed a bunch.
And swaged a bunch more,both with the RCBS and a Dillion.

The Dillion was faster and once I got the hang of it,it was smooth as well.

Worth the money.

I've been using a reamer, and it sucks huge @#$%s! I want to get a swager, but they are not cheap!

nothin is cheap. I had no idea that I would spend this kind of money when I started this. Just ordered a new progressive press today. I am graduating from RockChucker only to Dillon RL 550B and the old Rockchucker. Lots of shooting to do and better ammo plus more interesting

i do both but my favorite is is to take a carbide burr of the right dimension & chuck it into a drill press . this will ream pockets as fast and neat as you can move your fingers

Dillon swage tool mounted on a board that I clamp to one of my reloading benches when swag time comes. You only have to do it once if you use civilian primers. Subsequent reloads don't need re-swaging.

I'll swag a few, then place new primers. If they are to tight or to loose, I'll adjust the swage tool accordingly.

My big complaint with military brass, it is a lot thicker and really takes more effort to size the first time. Stay away from machine gun brass.

This is my Dillon Swager set up. Works like a charm:

Dillon 600 deswager is the easiest way I've used. I started with a hand trimmer, never tried it in a drill.

I remove the reamer from the handle and put it in my lathe. gets a bunch done quick. never tried the Dillon as I don't use much military brass.