Military Crimp Removal on 223 brass Questions?

[teddy12b]

I'm thinking about buying some more 223 brass and I usually buy once fired winchester 223 brass online.  I know there are a lot of crimp removal tools out there but it is really needed?  I've reloaded some winchester crimped 223 brass before without fooling around with a crimp removal tool and am just curious about how needed these tools are.

What do the experts have to say?

[R.W.Dale]

I've found that the right size Phillips screwdriver bit in a cordless drill makes an EXCELLENT crimp removing tool for small primed cases

[INresponse]

If the crimp is still there, your primers may be difficult, or near impossible, to press in place.

It can be a pain, but you will be happy you removed the crimp. 

[Casull]

I'm not sure about .223, but I had a 100 rounds of PMC ball ammo that I originally bought when I bought my Savage 30-06 about 25 years ago that had the crimped primer pockets.  I didn't bother with removing the crimp, but just primed them with the Lee hand primer.  Made my thumb sore, but after 3 or 4 loadings they began seating much easier.   

[cwlongshot]

The best way to handle crimped primer pockets is to swage them back into shape. This way no brass is lost or removed weakening the case. Both RCBS and DILLON make excellent tools to swage the pockets.

Yes you can carefully remove the crimp with a "space ship" deburring tool Or a phillips bit as krochus suggested. But if your not careful you can damage the case.

CW

[Savage]

Well, you can gorilla them in if you like. I find it much easier to remove the crimp. A swagging die is inexpensive, and will insure primers are seated properly in the pocket. The force required to prime without removing the crimp frequently deforms primers. Some to the extent of causing misfires. Not a good reloading practice in my opinion.
Savage

[Graybeard]

CW I just had to remove the sewage from your post cuz it got to smelling bad. 

I agree tho the swaging tools are fast and best. Mine is an RCBS. And yeah the really should be removed.

[cwlongshot]

CW I just had to remove the sewage from your post cuz it got to smelling bad. 

I agree tho the swaging tools are fast and best. Mine is an RCBS. And yeah the really should be removed.

 LOL Thanks Bill.    Guess my google spell checker don't like that word. 

[hillbill]

ive reloaded a lot of crimped primer shells by just deburring the pockets with a "spaceship" tool.occasiaonally yu will get a loose pocket but have never had any primers back out or anything. am i doing it wrong?

[Savage]

ive reloaded a lot of crimped primer shells by just deburring the pockets with a "spaceship" tool.occasiaonally yu will get a loose pocket but have never had any primers back out or anything. am i doing it wrong?

Back when I first started reloading, I used a pocket knife to remove the crimp. Still have the scars to show for it. Bottom line, it worked ok. That is, I was able to prime the cases. Some loose, some so tight I crushed a few primers. The swagging die from RCBS is inexpensive, easy, does a good job, and prevents a lot of bleeding. Your choice.
Savage

[bilmac]

Another tool that will cut out the crimp are most case mouth deburring tools. Cutting out the crimp will cause some cases to hit the wastebasket sooner though. I eventually bought an RCBS swager and it does a nice job, but when doing large rifle primer pockets I think the force required can be pretty hard on your press.

[charles p]

I did it 30 years ago with a small flat head screw driver.  Don't recall any problems.

[billy_56081]

I just use my LEE case mouth chamfer tool.

[Lloyd Smale]

i use a dillon swadger. Ive done the lee thing without removing it in the past but found my accuracy did suffer a bit. I think what happens is you crush the priming charge and it losses its consistancy.

[cwlongshot]

Another tool that will cut out the crimp are most case mouth deburring tools. Cutting out the crimp will cause some cases to hit the wastebasket sooner though. I eventually bought an RCBS swager and it does a nice job, but when doing large rifle primer pockets I think the force required can be pretty hard on your press.

Not a quality press. 

CW

[gypsyman]

I've used both my deburring tool, and a Dillion swadger. Both seem to work, although the deburring tool is what I use the most, as I can take it with me to shows, and when I'm in a motel room with nothing but the idiot box on, I can work on brass.  gypsyman

[Tn Jim]

I've used a RCBS swager tool for several years now. It has removed the primer crimp on several thousand military 223 cases with a old Lee Challenger press. IMHO it was $20 well spent. I've never had the first problem with it.