Swaging crimped brass

[tires2burn]

I have been swaging as the last prep step. It seems that all the brass should be decapped, sized, trimmed, and cleaned before swaging. I think if the brass is all different lengths the swage would change from case to case. Correct?

[freakshow10mm]

Case length doesn't affect primer crimp. The support for crimp swaging is inside the case and has nothing to do with the case mouth.

[tires2burn]

Yes you are right. I think I had a brain fart when I posted. Thanks

[ToddKS]

Headstamp does make a difference however as some brands have a thicker base than others. I have swaged mixed headstamp by feeling my way through it. I don't like to over swage. I am hand priming so I do just enough to get the primer in. I don't want to loosen the primer pocket more than I have to.

[bigedp51]

I swage first and then check the primer pocket with pin gauges, "WHY" do all the prep work to only find out you have oversize primer pockets and scrap the case.

Below is my scrap brass bucket with mainly .223/5.56 cases with oversized primer pockets.

I also test any suspect cases using a Lee decapping tool, if I can push the primer out with just finger pressure the case is scrapped.

The alternative is below from a AR15 forum.

[Mike Morcillo]

I ream the primer pocket, just enough to chamfer the edge of the pocket and remove any crimp. Have found oversized primer pockets when reloading, but not from reaming.

Also have found variation in primer pocket/primer dimension. Where one primer will not seat in one piece of brass, it will fit another.

Never had so many out of spec primer pockets.

Edited September 18, 2014 by Mike Morcillo