.223/5.56 Reloading questions

S

skokie

CGN Regular
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Location
Windsor, Ontario
So I've recently started reloading .223/5.56 and I've encountered an odd issue. Some of my brass is picked up from the range, some once fired of mine and some once fired purchased. So far I've got about 5-8% of it that either won't accept a primer or won't allow a primer to seat all the way into the pocket. I've tried cleaning the pocket on some of the difficult ones and half the time that fixes it, the rest it doesn't.

I'm running a single stage Lee Precision with Pacesetter dies.
Am I doing something wrong? Is it the brass?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Skokie.
 
You need to get a Swage - I use a Dillon Super Swage 600. There is one available on the EE right now. Your primer pockets have been crimped and need to be "opened up". This device does that. Hope this helps!
 
Maybe crimped brass.
You can see the crimp ring on them.
You need a swager or just toss them aside.
 
That is crimped brass. If you run something along the side of the primer pocket towards the outside you will feel a lip. There are a few ways to remove it. Some use a drill bit, some a countersink, some use a deburring tool for cheap options. A few companies make handheld reamers such as Lyman and I think RCBS as well. They also open undersize pockets to minimum SAAMI diameter. But their main function is to remove the crimp and replace it with a bevel. The more expensive option is a swager. It presses a die into the pocket to reform the opening with a bevel. There are press mounted options from Hornady and RCBS, and bench mounted from Dillon, Frankford Arsenal etc.
 
I just bought an RCBS press mounted swager for this very reason. It wasn’t too pricey, around $60 ish I think. Comes with two primer pocket sizers just in case you have issues with larger calibers too.
 
I used the RCBS swager in a rock crusher press. It was like crushing rocks. Worked on some soft 308 brass with large pockets. Was a bear on 223 brass and noisy and hard on the hand and shoulder smashing the crimp back, also did not always work and had to repeat.
Went to the drill and flare method. Better results. Less strain on me. Over flared some to see the results, shot OK. Pick your poison, all a nuisance.
 
Sounds like for me I'll just toss them aside. Thanks everyone for the information, I'm just getting into this caliber and I'm more used to reloading straightwalled cartridges. If anybody is in Windsor area and wants the brass I won't use, please let me know. Cheers!
 
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