Crimped primer checker?

[str8wal]

Does anybody make a tool to check to see if primer pockets are crimped or not in 5.56/223 cases? Sometimes they look like they are crimped but are in fact not and other times they look like they aren't but are.

[308Jeff]

Would be a handy tool. Primer pocket gauge.

[SWANEEDB]

We treat them all the same, do a swage on all, takes the guess work out.

[Dan Cash]

We treat them all the same, do a swage on all, takes the guess work out.

Also, it is a one time chore. Swage them all and then use them up.

[VHoward]

There is the primer pocket swage gage at Brownell's.
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/measuring-tools/case-gauges-headspace-tools/swage-gage-primer-pocket-gauge-prod71030.aspx
I have one. It works well.

[VHoward]

If you swage a primer pocket that does not need to be swaged, then you run the risk of opening that primer pocket too much, then the primer won't stay in. Been there, done that.

[jsn]

I'm not aware of a commercial available gauge, there are pin gauges that can be purchased in sets that can measure what you actually have.

[jmorris]

My 1050's run the swage arbor into the pocket of every case, crimped or not, never has hurt anything.

[slim1836]

This is what I use, works well for my applications.

http://rcbs.com/Products/Case-Preparation/Accessories/Primer-Pocket-Swager-Combo-2.aspx

Slim

[Reddirt62]

https://ballistictools.com/store/reloading-products/small-and-large-primer-pocket-gaugeshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170507/46b73334c32d760e4d669bbe41cc1d23.jpg

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[Plate plinker]

My 1050's run the swage arbor into the pocket of every case, crimped or not, never has hurt anything.

Ditto. Guess he must have been really hitting them to much.

[308Jeff]

https://ballistictools.com/store/reloading-products/small-and-large-primer-pocket-gaugeshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170507/46b73334c32d760e4d669bbe41cc1d23.jpg

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Sweeeeet.

[str8wal]

https://ballistictools.com/store/reloading-products/small-and-large-primer-pocket-gaugeshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170507/46b73334c32d760e4d669bbe41cc1d23.jpg

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Thank you!

[Reddirt62]

My pleasure.

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[WJP]

My 1050's run the swage arbor into the pocket of every case, crimped or not, never has hurt anything.

Same here. Out of the 100+ thousand or more I've done on 1050s I've never loosened a primer pocket. Even on brass that never had a crimp. Swage them all and never worry.

[fred2892]

Its not as if the swager will suddenly grow in size when it comes across a case that doesn't need swaging.

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[VHoward]

Have a whole bunch of 9mm cases that now have too large primer pockets. Went from have some crimped pockets mixed in to having the ones that were crimped being just fine to the ones that were not crimped being too large. Don't know what went wrong. Hasn't happened since as I don't swage uncrimped primer pockets any more.

[Hick]

I use the Lyman primer pocket cleaner tool. It has a cutting edge that will take out the crimp, but does not enlarge the pocket. Every "new" piece of 5.56 or 223 rem brass I pick up at the range I drop nose first into my hand drill then stick the primer pocket cleaner in the primer pocket and give the drill a few turns. After that I never have to do it again and I've never had a problem with it making the primer pockets too large

[Wayne Smith]

Lyman has two primer tools, a primer pocket cleaner and a primer pocket uniformer. The latter actually cuts the crimp off.

[1_Ogre]

I just use the Dillon Super Swager. Does a good job, never messed one up yet, and I've run literally thousands of Mil crimped brass through it. I don't even check if it's Mil or not anymore, just run them through. Most of even the commercial brass I get has primers crimped in, guess it takes too much time for the manufacturers to change dies, so they crimp them all (from my experience). Dillon Super Swager doesn't enlarge the primer pockets either, nice snug fits

[mjwcaster]

I bought the ballistics tools primer checker when I started reloading 5.56.
The nice thing is that it checks for too tight on one side and too loose on the other end of the tool.
Was really nice when I started reaming out the crimped primers as I could make them all the same.
Even with reaming with the Lyman hand tool in a drill I never made one too large.
And since I load on a progressive it was nice to check/redo all the ones that were still too tight so I didn't have problems on the press.
One of the best little tools I have bought, and a real confidence builder when reaming my first primer pockets.

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[jetinteriorguy]

I've personally never tried this, but thought I read somewhere once that loose primer pockets could be tightened up again by swaging them. I'm just curious if anyone has direct experience with this and how it worked.

[M-Tecs]

I've personally never tried this, but thought I read somewhere once that loose primer pockets could be tightened up again by swaging them. I'm just curious if anyone has direct experience with this and how it worked.

Yes they can be swaged to tighten. It works but the primer pocket will loosen again sooner than virgin brass. I only do it on hard to get brass and than the expectation is for a couple more firings.

Several methods of doing it. I have only used the Hart tool http://www.rwhart.com/store/proddetail.asp?prod=dhb-f-swage-lg

[No Blue]

Yes they can be swaged to tighten. It works but the primer pocket will loosen again sooner than virgin brass. I only do it on hard to get brass and than the expectation is for a couple more firings.

Several methods of doing it. I have only used the Hart tool http://www.rwhart.com/store/proddetail.asp?prod=dhb-f-swage-lg

Is there some kind of cup shaped anvil on the end of the rod that enters the case? I can see that combined with you wailing on another rod that goes into the primer pocket moving the brass around and making the pocket smaller...

[Carrier]

Does anyone have experience with the Hornady swager for the LNL? I'm going to start loading 223/556 and will be the same as the OP.