After using a Dillon Super Swage to get the crimp out of military 5.56 brass primer pockets, and becoming increasingly frustrated with it, I ordered a Hornady Primer Pocket Reamer at the suggestion of some folks here.
I kinda wish I had one of these before putting some $$$ on the Dillon.
What I like about the Hornady Pocket Reamer: It’s cheap. $10 for the small primer pocket tool, and extra cutting heads can be had for slightly less. It takes 2-3 turns to remove the crimp - and you’re done. You need to do this over a bucket because of the brass shavings.
What’s pissing me off with the Dillon Super Swage 600 It’s becoming increasingly apparent that it’s not worth the $100 I spent on it. If you do a lot of reloading, the swage rod only lasts about 1,000 rounds before it gets worn down and has to be replaced (a $20 part). Well before that, I found myself having to swage the same pocket multiple times and then having to fiddle with the case locator rod to get the case closer to the swage rod. Worse, the locator rod can “bell” the neck of the case, which sucks if you’ve already resized your brass. Lastly, the thing has to be mounted to a sturdy bench.
I guess you live and learn … if you ask me, I think the Hornady Pocket Reamer is the better tool (cheaper, more efficient). Only question is … how many cases can you decrimp before the cutters get dull?
I’ve got thousands of rounds done on my super swage. Guess would be 5-6k ? Hell my son, 9, likes to remove the crimps with it. The only reloading he can do so far… I’ve never had to replace a thing. ??? Its a way better product than any hand reamer, a reamer is way too easy to remove too much brass and the case is toast.
I did exactly the opposite and purchased the Hornady reamer first. It simply would not do the job for me. Next, I tried the RCBS swagger and it did the job but was very slow. With buckets of brass to go through I needed something faster. That is when I decided to try the Dillon super swage. It was a little frustrating at first but once you get it adjusted it works great. I have done about 1500 cases so far.
Chuck the cutter in a hand drill and I can fly through brass just as fast as I could with the swager, but NO ruined primer pockets.
The nice thing is you can sell the Swager and get your money out of it.
In 10s of thousands of rounds, I’ve never ruined a single case with the reamer. (specifically the Hornady) It bottoms out in the pocket. If I’m asleep at the wheel, I can cut a pocket crooked… but it’s not ruined.
I agree that the Hornady reamer can be just as fast or faster. Mine seemed like it bottomed out too soon and it was very difficult to seat primers. Even with my hand primer. If I could get the Hornady reamer to work for me I’d sell the super swager in a heart beat but it has been the only that has worked with one pass. I’m all about learning new ways.
With the Hornady tool in a drill, I’ve intentionally rocked cases left and right, front and back and couldn’t open the pocket enough to be ruined.
I initially did a few thousand cases with the tool as I received it but I found out that when seating primers in reamed cases, there was some resistance. The primer would slide in with a clunk and I’d find a crescent moon sliver of brass in my press’s primer cup. I ground a few thousandths off the tip of the reamer so it could cut a little deeper. Now it puts a generous chamfer on the primer pocket and primers slide in beautifully.
You’re a SICK MAN! But that’s good to know. I’ve never tried to go nuts with the cutter.
To give a sliver of credit to the Swagers types… you do get the benefit of additional work hardening of the case head by swaging. Don’t let it go to your “head” though.
I have both as well. I use the SS to do bulk lots of brass, like 5k at a time. I keep the pocket reamer on my bench just in case I run into a pocket that needs a touch up.
My daughter has been happily filling primer tubes since she was five. I don’t want her close to anything that might expose her to lead, and that means no fired brass. I might let her run the Dillon swager some day, but it’ll be a long time before I let her work near a power drill (one point for Dillon).
I’m asking Santa for the Dillon “Super Swager” for X-mas. I looks sooo easy when the guys do it on YouTube! Are you guys saying that the Hornady is even better?
Had my SS600 from when they first came out,works like a champ.I dont see how the metal swaging rods could wear out in 1k rounds.Mine has to be from the late eighties and swaged untold amounts of brass.They are pricey,yes,doubled in price.
But that’s good to know. I’ve never tried to go nuts with the cutter.