RCBS Military Crimp Remover

protectedbyglock · March 19, 2009, 02:21 PM

Well, I had about 2.5k cases to prep and decided that the RCBS Military crimp remover would be a good idea.
After about 250 cases, the blade got so dull it didn't want to cut anymore without some pretty extreme pressure.
Took the thing apart, and it is nothing more than a chamfer tool with a sleeve that acts as a stop.
Not real happy with it, especially for $20. I sent an email to RCBS, but haven't heard anything back.
Does anybody have any experience with this? It was a nice tool for a couple hundred cases, but...
Has anybody attempted to sharpen it or anything?
I used to use a Lyman hand reamer, but have worn it our several times. I actually reweld small beads across the blades of the lyman and then use a dremel to cut the extra steel back into a cutting blade. Works better than I expected.

However, I thought this RCBS tool would be a significant upgrade. Apparently not. Any ideas?

robfromga · March 19, 2009, 03:00 PM

The super swage is the way to go! I know, I know....its almost a 100 bucks its so worth it.

Tell you what send me your brass and Ill swage it all in exchange for....say 1000 small rifle primers?

j/k

Seriously, you would be amazed at how fast that thing is. Sorry I didnt even address your post

I think with all the reamers they are about the same. with 2.5k you'll go nuts reaming them. Plus you dont remove any of the brass. Ream too much and the case is useless. Drive to SC and borrow mine!

.22lr · March 19, 2009, 03:12 PM

robfromsc,
I have used:

1) Wilson Reamer (sounds similar to what you describe, but I think mine has lasted several hundred cases thus far) It was okay, but slow and tiring when a major batch needs to be done.

2) RCBS bench mounted crimp removal die. Faster, but I found myself bending the support rodrather often. In addition, the system was slower than I wanted and was finicky at times (brass would sometimes need to be oiled to release from the die, and was the cleaned)

3) Dilon Super Swage. Excellent. Search youtube for it and there are some videos showing its use. I will never go back, but I wish i had started with the Dillon.

Just a note, most of the rest of my reloading equipment is RCBS / Hornady, so I'm not a "blue groupie"

protectedbyglock · March 19, 2009, 03:39 PM

Yep, I looked at getting the dillon swager, too.
However, I already have the RCBS Trim Mate now, and figured the logical thing to do was to get the crimp remover head.
Maybe not.
I'm curious to see what RCBS says. If they respond.

protectedbyglock · March 19, 2009, 06:18 PM

BTW, rob...
Very nice of you... well, the second part anyway.

Although, I could throw you a FEW primers...no problem.
Considering how bad I'd like to get this other couple thousand rounds finished, It's almost worth the drive. Almost.
I have my dremel on the charger at the moment (one of those lithium deals), and when it's done I think I'm gonna do some major fabrication to this POS. RCBS will probably disown me, but they aren't even talking to me at the moment (apparently).

robfromga · March 19, 2009, 09:40 PM

Dylan, I loaded up some more test charges tonight, trying out some different mixes....anyway its the 1st of the cases that were swaged, what a HUGE difference on how the primer seats. Its very smooth. With the reamers it felt like the primers kinda crunched in, they just slide in now.

I guess I'm just trying to say that with your 2k+....I still think it has to be better on the brass, but I'm just talking out of my arse on that.

protectedbyglock · March 20, 2009, 12:58 PM

10-4
I think you need to box up that swager and send it on up to PA.

Last night I took my other chamfer tool and replaced the one in the crimp remover with it.
The dull one that came out of the crimp remover is now being used to chamfer since it's only dull on the very tip. I got about 300 more cases fully prepped last night. (Cleaned, sized, deprimed, measured, primer crimps removed, pockets cleaned, and chamfered)
I just wish RCBS would email me back. It's been several days now.

AlaskaMike · March 20, 2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

I just wish RCBS would email me back. It's been several days now.

I'd give them a call at this point. They're probably just one of those companies that doesn't know how to do email. Hodgdon is like that, and I'm sure many others too. It's a shame because it's extremely frustrating to their customers. The few times I've called RCBS they've bent over backwards to help me.

Mike

protectedbyglock · March 20, 2009, 05:25 PM

Darnit, they're closed on Fridays! Bunch of slackers.

Good idea, Mike.

(Seriously...good idea. I'll try to call on monday and see what they say)

btefft · March 21, 2009, 12:50 AM

I recently picked up a Dillon 600 Super Swager.

Great tool. Someone, somewherea recommended that I uniform the primer pockets before swaging, but I haven't tried it yet.

I'm gonna fired off some .223s this weekend and will try that method on them.

Hack

March 19, 2009, 02:21 PM	#1
protectedbyglock Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2006 Location: PA Posts: 470	RCBS Military Crimp Remover Well, I had about 2.5k cases to prep and decided that the RCBS Military crimp remover would be a good idea. After about 250 cases, the blade got so dull it didn't want to cut anymore without some pretty extreme pressure. Took the thing apart, and it is nothing more than a chamfer tool with a sleeve that acts as a stop. Not real happy with it, especially for $20. I sent an email to RCBS, but haven't heard anything back. Does anybody have any experience with this? It was a nice tool for a couple hundred cases, but... Has anybody attempted to sharpen it or anything? I used to use a Lyman hand reamer, but have worn it our several times. I actually reweld small beads across the blades of the lyman and then use a dremel to cut the extra steel back into a cutting blade. Works better than I expected. However, I thought this RCBS tool would be a significant upgrade. Apparently not. Any ideas?

March 19, 2009, 03:00 PM	#2
robfromga Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2009 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 240	The super swage is the way to go! I know, I know....its almost a 100 bucks its so worth it. Tell you what send me your brass and Ill swage it all in exchange for....say 1000 small rifle primers? j/k Seriously, you would be amazed at how fast that thing is. Sorry I didnt even address your post I think with all the reamers they are about the same. with 2.5k you'll go nuts reaming them. Plus you dont remove any of the brass. Ream too much and the case is useless. Drive to SC and borrow mine!

March 19, 2009, 03:12 PM	#3
.22lr Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2007 Posts: 245	robfromsc, I have used: 1) Wilson Reamer (sounds similar to what you describe, but I think mine has lasted several hundred cases thus far) It was okay, but slow and tiring when a major batch needs to be done. 2) RCBS bench mounted crimp removal die. Faster, but I found myself bending the support rodrather often. In addition, the system was slower than I wanted and was finicky at times (brass would sometimes need to be oiled to release from the die, and was the cleaned) 3) Dilon Super Swage. Excellent. Search youtube for it and there are some videos showing its use. I will never go back, but I wish i had started with the Dillon. Just a note, most of the rest of my reloading equipment is RCBS / Hornady, so I'm not a "blue groupie"

March 19, 2009, 03:39 PM	#4
protectedbyglock Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2006 Location: PA Posts: 470	Yep, I looked at getting the dillon swager, too. However, I already have the RCBS Trim Mate now, and figured the logical thing to do was to get the crimp remover head. Maybe not. I'm curious to see what RCBS says. If they respond.

March 19, 2009, 06:18 PM	#5
protectedbyglock Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2006 Location: PA Posts: 470	BTW, rob... Very nice of you... well, the second part anyway. Although, I could throw you a FEW primers...no problem. Considering how bad I'd like to get this other couple thousand rounds finished, It's almost worth the drive. Almost. I have my dremel on the charger at the moment (one of those lithium deals), and when it's done I think I'm gonna do some major fabrication to this POS. RCBS will probably disown me, but they aren't even talking to me at the moment (apparently).

March 19, 2009, 09:40 PM	#6
robfromga Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2009 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 240	Dylan, I loaded up some more test charges tonight, trying out some different mixes....anyway its the 1st of the cases that were swaged, what a HUGE difference on how the primer seats. Its very smooth. With the reamers it felt like the primers kinda crunched in, they just slide in now. I guess I'm just trying to say that with your 2k+....I still think it has to be better on the brass, but I'm just talking out of my arse on that.

March 20, 2009, 12:58 PM	#7
protectedbyglock Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2006 Location: PA Posts: 470	10-4 I think you need to box up that swager and send it on up to PA. Last night I took my other chamfer tool and replaced the one in the crimp remover with it. The dull one that came out of the crimp remover is now being used to chamfer since it's only dull on the very tip. I got about 300 more cases fully prepped last night. (Cleaned, sized, deprimed, measured, primer crimps removed, pockets cleaned, and chamfered) I just wish RCBS would email me back. It's been several days now.

March 20, 2009, 05:25 PM	#9
protectedbyglock Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2006 Location: PA Posts: 470	Darnit, they're closed on Fridays! Bunch of slackers. Good idea, Mike. (Seriously...good idea. I'll try to call on monday and see what they say)

March 21, 2009, 12:50 AM	#10
btefft Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2008 Posts: 181	I recently picked up a Dillon 600 Super Swager. Great tool. Someone, somewherea recommended that I uniform the primer pockets before swaging, but I haven't tried it yet. I'm gonna fired off some .223s this weekend and will try that method on them. Hack