Reaming VS Swaging

[.429&H110]

+1 for gwpercle and 3 steps!

I have a set of 50 44 mag brass
whittled down to 21 keepers
that has been reloaded 40 times
so I retired them. Split some necks
but every 10 or so trials,
had to RCBS swage their pockets.
They tightened up nicely!
Mid range loads, 250 gr keith boolits.
Federal brass.

[fatelvis]

Which brands of brass should I be pulling aside to ream their crimped pockets? I know WCC is one of them

[charlie b]

Look for the crimp ring around the primer pocket.

[dverna]

Both... to do a complete and proper job:
1. Swage
2. Pocket reamer to remove any spring back metal .
3. Finish job with a Primer Pocket Uniformer... this makes them all the same depth .

Yes it's 3 steps but it's the right way to do a proper job.
Trust me,
Gary

That may be the right way but not for me...I am way too lazy to invest that much time in 9mm brass. My last 9mm brass purchase was $30/1000 delivered. Too cheap to waste time on. But all my 9mm is plinking and target ammunition so getting anal about it has no return for the effort. I mix all sorts of headstamps. If I was using it for Bullseye at 50 yards I would use good brass and keep it segregated. IMHO uniforming primer pockets on pistol brass adds no value at all.

The only crimped primers I have to deal with are 5.56 and 7.62. The Dillon 600 is the tool I use and it works OK. I do not ream or uniform rifle brass either but my accuracy needs are "pedestrian".

Sometimes the "right way" is not the most practical way.

[Wayne Smith]

S&B brass needs to be reamed - but I sort and only ream the S&B and anything crimped. But - I have a set of pliers with a V end and dipped in rubber designed to repair pens I make - got it from www.pennstateind.com and it works great for holding 9mm brass. The Lyman uniformer in my drill motor does the work.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I've done a lot of both and I much prefer to swage. If you have a good swage depth go/no go gauge you can get it done in one step. I use the Dillon.

3 steps may be better but I've never had trouble priming after doing it in one step.

[Cattleman406]

I know on 5.56 brass ive used a deburring tool to remove the crimp for as long as I've loaded the cartridge. 4-5 turns usually is enough.

[oley55]

an auto-eject modified Dillon Super Swage will getter done PDQ.