Author Topic: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets  (Read 888 times)

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Offline 358jdj

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223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« on: April 10, 2007, 05:34:44 AM »
I have several hundred once fired 223 cases cleaned up and ready to go.  The only problem is the primer pockets seem to have some sort of crimp which prevents the seating of new primers.  the headstamp on the cases is *F C*, 223 REM.  Is there an easy and cheap way to work the primer pockets to accept new primers?  Or did I just waste a bunch of time sizing and cleaning this brass?

Offline Blackhawk44

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2007, 07:03:08 AM »
There are two approaches.  Either buy a crimp removal tool from either RCBS or Dillon, or take your case mouth deburring tool and gently give it a twirl or two in the primer pocket.  Only remove the crimp around the mouth of the pocket.  Do not remove large amounts of metal as that will leave the primer too loose and ruin the case.

Offline stimpylu32

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2007, 07:04:10 AM »
358

3 things that you can do at this point ,

#1 is to take your chamfer tool that you use on the case necks and use it to ream out the crimp = cheap way , down side , it puts a tapper to the mouth of the primer pocket .

#2 is to spend $25 and get a RCBS primer pocket swedge tool = better , more uniform pockets and no tapper .

#3 give or sell them to someone that wants to take the time or money to do the work amd buy some without the crimp .

Best that i can tell you at this point , over the years i have done all 3 and all 3 will work .

stimpy
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Offline The Sodbuster

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2007, 12:39:40 PM »
I bought Hornday's crimp removin' tool.  I've used it on Federal .223 cases and it works fine.  I think it only cost about $6.50.

Offline Val

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2007, 01:39:33 PM »
What you evidently have is military berdan primed brass. Just be aware that military brass typically have thicker brass than commercial brass. The same recipe for a load will produce higher pressures in the military brass and could cause a problem on load recipes near max powder charges. Don't intermix the military and commercial brass.
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Offline stimpylu32

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2007, 02:06:45 AM »
Val

Ya there is a real good chance that they are Mil. cases and you are right about them being thicker brass , how ever thet are not Berdan primers , the Berdan uses 2 flash holes and he would have never been able to de-prime them with a standard die .

What he has is just a crimped in Boxer primer .

stimpy
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Offline beemanbeme

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2007, 07:29:17 AM »
If they were military cases would they have a "FC .223 Rem" head stamp??  Or is FC something other than Federal. 
I have the little reamer like sodbuster does.  I remove the crimps whilst watching TV. It only has to be done once and then you have some really good brass.   

Offline gary0529

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #7 on: April 11, 2007, 08:43:09 AM »
sure thing, have picked up many a Federal Corp. FC marked NATO brass that needs to be de-crimped.
As stated above, easy to remove with either method.

Offline GregP42

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2007, 10:13:30 AM »

I once picked up about 500 FC cases from a police range, every last one of them was crimped in. Friend back home that shot military all the time had the Dillon pocket crimp tool, it was fast and easy, but they are not cheap.

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Offline Mr335

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2007, 04:57:35 PM »
+1 for the Dillon Super Swage.
It is pricey, but, comes with large and small primer hardware. Will last several lifetimes and comes backed with Dillon's warranty which cannot be beat.
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Offline ihuntbucks

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #10 on: April 11, 2007, 10:45:12 PM »
If you are going to use a lot of this type of brass;I vote also for the Dillon 600 Super Swage.I have the one by RCBS also.For me it was a waste of about 30 bucks.Removed crimp fine;but I had a hard time getting brass of of it.It would not strip itself.After I cussed it for about 2 weeks I bought the Dillon.....Rick
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Offline Tn Jim

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2007, 04:54:07 AM »
I've been using the RCBS tool for awhile on Lake City military brass and haven't had the first problem. It works just fine.
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Offline Wingman26

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #12 on: April 13, 2007, 06:17:53 AM »
Almost all 223 and 5.56 ammo uses crimped primers, Remington is really the only exception from that.  Crimps are a pain in the butt, I used an RCBS swaging tool for 20+ years, it was a very poor tool for the purpose, after hearing many recommendations for the Dillon Super Swage I finally broke down and bought one, I was extremely uspet with myself, I'd been cussing that RCBS tool for years and now found one that really worked, the Dillon!  RCBS products are generally first class products, but their swaging tool sucks!


 
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Offline iiranger

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#1)., #2). #3).
« Reply #13 on: April 13, 2007, 06:48:45 AM »
#1). You can do this with a pocket knife... Couple hundred... your fingers will get tired, the knife will need sharpening, but... to prevent primer backing out and messing up in a full auto, the military has the ammo maker squeeze the brass into a small lip over the primer and even if the load fires "hot" it stays in... Little use among civilians.
#2). As indicated, there are no shortage, by all the major machine tool makers, of devices that force something in to "un squeeze" this lip... CH, I think, has one that screws into the top of the press for much greater ease of access. Busy work, but you only have to do it once and then you have some pretty good brass...
#3). You can use the "neck reaming" tool, as a rule. I have used the Lee tool enough to have gotten my fingers raw... No fun but works.
#4).  If you are a hardware salesperson or a wood worker or ??? There is a bit for drills that cuts a taper (counter sink?)  for flat headed screws, so the screw is "flush" with the surface. I don't recall the number(s) but there is one bit number for large primer pockets and another bit number for small primers. Chuck it in a spinner, drill, lathe, whatever... and with it spinning, touch the primer pocket to the cutter and the lip is cut away and a neat taper is cut, depending on your finger skill, to guide in the next primer... Many options. Dillion most expensive, probably good deal. For a few militarys, the pocket knife is plenty. Repeat, FEW... luck.

Offline Blackhawk44

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Re: 223 cases with crimped primer pockets
« Reply #14 on: April 13, 2007, 11:44:44 AM »
Beemanbeme, Federal Cartridge has been contracted to operate the Lake City arsenal for our government for some time.