Swaging

Sailsalot · July 21, 2015, 10:55 PM

I plan to start reloading rifle brass. Am I correct that I do not need to swage the primer pocket unless I am using military brass (crimped primer pocket)?

Kosh75287 · July 21, 2015, 11:17 PM

That's been MY experience. SOME (foreign) military cases don't seem to require it, tho I do not remember which.

I had a similar problem eith Federal .223 cases when I used NON-Federal primers. At the time, I had lots of other .223 brass, so I didn't pursue the matter.

burrhead · July 21, 2015, 11:17 PM

Mostly true. Some PMC has crimped primers but almost all commercially made brass isn't crimped.

Sailsalot · July 21, 2015, 11:22 PM

Thanks for the information.

jdscholer · July 21, 2015, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Am I correct that I do not need to swage the primer pocket unless I am using military brass (crimped primer pocket)?

That is pretty much correct. Any non-crimped commercial boxer primed brass is good to go. Some folks will still give them a light touch with a chamfering tool just to ease the priming process. jd

condor bravo · July 21, 2015, 11:26 PM

Ah, a real easy one that I don't think will generate much controversy. Yes, that is almost absolutely correct, in general only military primer pockets--but not all by the way--need swaging; but again in general certainly not for most commercial rifle primer pockets. But there is at least one exception. Federal has recently brought out .30-06 ammunition for usage with the Garand. The rounds are similar to military ammunition. Headstamps duplicate what you would find on similar military ammunition and the primer pockets are crimped. These are boxed under the Federal American Eagle label. I'm not aware if there are any similar .308s with crimped primers. Since you asked about military primer pockets, I presume you may be considering '06s, .308s, or .223s. Try to avoid using brass that requires primer pocket swaging, the individual results from case to case will not be consistent and you will still shear some primers during seating.

July 21, 2015, 10:55 PM	#1
Sailsalot Junior Member Join Date: July 14, 2015 Posts: 6	Swaging I plan to start reloading rifle brass. Am I correct that I do not need to swage the primer pocket unless I am using military brass (crimped primer pocket)?

July 21, 2015, 11:17 PM	#2
Kosh75287 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2007 Posts: 820	That's been MY experience. SOME (foreign) military cases don't seem to require it, tho I do not remember which. I had a similar problem eith Federal .223 cases when I used NON-Federal primers. At the time, I had lots of other .223 brass, so I didn't pursue the matter. __________________ GOD BLESS JEFF COOPER, whose instructions, consultations, and publications have probably saved more lives than can ever be reliably calculated. DVC, sir. انجلو. المسلحة. جاهزة. Carpe SCOTCH!

July 21, 2015, 11:17 PM	#3
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	Mostly true. Some PMC has crimped primers but almost all commercially made brass isn't crimped. __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

July 21, 2015, 11:22 PM	#4
Sailsalot Junior Member Join Date: July 14, 2015 Posts: 6	Swaging Thanks for the information.

July 21, 2015, 11:26 PM	#6
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	Ah, a real easy one that I don't think will generate much controversy. Yes, that is almost absolutely correct, in general only military primer pockets--but not all by the way--need swaging; but again in general certainly not for most commercial rifle primer pockets. But there is at least one exception. Federal has recently brought out .30-06 ammunition for usage with the Garand. The rounds are similar to military ammunition. Headstamps duplicate what you would find on similar military ammunition and the primer pockets are crimped. These are boxed under the Federal American Eagle label. I'm not aware if there are any similar .308s with crimped primers. Since you asked about military primer pockets, I presume you may be considering '06s, .308s, or .223s. Try to avoid using brass that requires primer pocket swaging, the individual results from case to case will not be consistent and you will still shear some primers during seating. __________________ Ouch, the dreaded "M-1 thumb", you just know it will happen eventually, so why not do it now and get it over with?? Last edited by condor bravo; July 22, 2015 at 01:49 PM.