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Thread: Crimped primer checker?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Crimped primer checker?

    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.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master 308Jeff's Avatar
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    Would be a handy tool. Primer pocket gauge.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master


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

  4. #4
    Boolit Master Dan Cash's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SWANEEDB View Post
    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.
    To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, the trouble with many shooting experts is not that they're ignorant; its just that they know so much that isn't so.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master VHoward's Avatar
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    There is the primer pocket swage gage at Brownell's.
    http://www.brownells.com/reloading/m...prod71030.aspx
    I have one. It works well.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master VHoward's Avatar
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    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.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    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.

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master jmorris's Avatar
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    My 1050's run the swage arbor into the pocket of every case, crimped or not, never has hurt anything.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master slim1836's Avatar
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    This is what I use, works well for my applications.

    http://rcbs.com/Products/Case-Prepar...r-Combo-2.aspx

    Slim
    JUST GOTTA LOVE THIS JOINT.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    https://ballistictools.com/store/rel...-pocket-gauges

    Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

  11. #11
    Boolit Master

    Plate plinker's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jmorris View Post
    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.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master 308Jeff's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reddirt62 View Post
    https://ballistictools.com/store/rel...-pocket-gauges

    Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
    Sweeeeet.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reddirt62 View Post
    https://ballistictools.com/store/rel...-pocket-gauges

    Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
    Thank you!

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    My pleasure.

    Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by jmorris View Post
    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.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy fred2892's Avatar
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    Its not as if the swager will suddenly grow in size when it comes across a case that doesn't need swaging.

    Sent from my Galaxy Tab 2 using Tapatalk

  17. #17
    Boolit Master VHoward's Avatar
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    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.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
    Hick's Avatar
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    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
    Hick: Iron sights!

  19. #19
    Boolit Grand Master

    Wayne Smith's Avatar
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    Lyman has two primer tools, a primer pocket cleaner and a primer pocket uniformer. The latter actually cuts the crimp off.
    Wayne the Shrink

    There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!

  20. #20
    Boolit Master




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    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
    Gun Control means hitting what you aim at!

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check