24 October 2005, 15:31
ROADHAWK7.62lake city brass .308 reaming primer hole
what is the best tool to swage military brass?
24 October 2005, 16:05
lawndartDillon.
I ream mine with a Gracey, but that costs a lot more.
LD
24 October 2005, 17:18
arkypeteI found a RCBS primer swaging die at a gun show. I had a cheap RCBS press, I think it's called 'Little Pardner' that I use for decapping rifle cases, that I use for primer pocket chores.
Works like a charm.
Jim
P.S. I use the Lee Universal decapping die for popping the military primers out.
24 October 2005, 17:39
Hot CoreHey Roadhawk, When I first started using Military Pull-Downs, we ended up taking an inexpensive Shorty screwdriver and "filed" the Tip in slightly on both sides to barely fit in the Primer Pocket and gave it a turn. We used a File to keep the "edge" relatively square and what we considered somewhat sharp for the job.

And we found that just doing about 0.1" of the Tip was better than doing the entire Tip because it left a shoulder to prevent us from pushing it in too far. I'd guess it took 3-4 screwdrivers before we got it the way we really wanted it.
And we had some that "bottomed" in the Pocket(previously over-filed) which also cleaned them of Primer Residue.
We had alot of time on our hands, so just doing it and getting them to work was part of the fun.
You can also do it with a pocket knife, but it looks like it was done "with a pocket knife".
Neither as good as a Swager, but they will get the Pocket so you can get a Primer Seated. The last time I bought Once-Fired Military cases, they had been cleaned, deprimed and swaged. And the cost was very reasonable. So, unless you are picking up your own, I can recommend that is a great way to buy them.