Primer Pocket Crimp Removal Tools

[Cold_Bore_88]

I am going to start reloading 5.56 using LC brass. I need to remove the crimp from the primer pocket but I don’t want to swage. I would rather lightly trim the crimp out and give it a good bevel. I see 3 good options out there.

1. 21st century innovation adjustable depth uniformer

2. Burstfire crimp removal tool, I like this one because the cutter geometry seems to be a little more refined vs the other 2 options.

3. K&M uniformer. This comes preset but is adjustable.

 

[supercorndogs]

Swaging on the Frankfort arsenal swager is way easier than any cutter I have used.

 

[WasNH4X]

The RCBS crimp remover / cutter works for me......no complaints. Chuck it up in a drill and have at it

 

[99mpower]

on press reamer.. i sell full processed LC or i can process your brass

 

[CoryT]

I'm using the Burstfire in a Frankford case trimmer station, seems to work fine.

 

[tekmann2377]

Why don't you want to swage? The RCBS pocket swaging die works very well and is quite quick. As a byproduct it seems to work harden the case head which in theory should make primer pockets last longer.

I have used the reamers but have experienced more variability in the pockets in the final product.

 

[FLIGHT762]

The RCBS crimp remover / cutter works for me......no complaints. Chuck it up in a drill and have at it

O/P, you are listing two different types of tools. One is a primer pocket uniforming tool. That tool WILL NOT remove the primer crimp, it will only uniform the bottom of the primer pocket.

A primer crimp removal tool will Only remove the primer crimp, it will NOT uniform the bottom of the primer pocket.

For removing primer crimps, I will second the RCBS crimp removing tool. I also chuck it into a variable speed drill that can set to slow speed and put it in a padded vice. Works like a champ. Two seconds a case and drop the case into a bucket. Very quick this way.

I've been reloading crimped cases since the mid 1970's. I've tried just about every crimp removal tool. The currently made RCBS tool had been re-designed to a much better cutter. I had the old design, which was not perfect. I upgraded to the newer tool in both large & small and they work perfectly.

For a primer pocket uniforming tool I use the Sinclair and the RCBS pocket uniformer. They work for me.

For the two Pocket uniformers you listed, the K&M is reasonably priced. The 21st Century uniformer is nice, but is 3 X the cost of the K&M.

The Burstfire crimp cutting tools look very similar to the Hornady crimp cutters. I have the Hornady crimp cutters and they don't work as well as the RCBS primer crimp cutter.

 

[WeR0206]

The RCBS crimp remover / cutter works for me......no complaints. Chuck it up in a drill and have at it

+1 on the RCBS cutter. I screw it into one of these:

https://a.co/d/6uMiql8

then chuck in drill.

 

[supercorndogs]

I have the rcbs crimp cutter. It on my prep station. Just to add context to my statement.

Swaging on the Frankfort arsenal swager is way easier than any cutter I have used.

 

[918v]

Why don't you want to swage? The RCBS pocket swaging die works very well and is quite quick. As a byproduct it seems to work harden the case head which in theory should make primer pockets last longer.

I have used the reamers but have experienced more variability in the pockets in the final product.

Because swaging deforms the casehead. Cutting out the crimp using the right cutter is way easier and doesn’t deform the case.

 

[KYAggie]

Is this the newer RCBS tool you all are recommending? I must have an older one, probably 10-12 years old, as mine sucks, but sounds like they got the new one right.

Amazon.com

 

[WeR0206]

Is this the newer RCBS tool you all are recommending? I must have an older one, probably 10-12 years old, as mine sucks, but sounds like they got the new one right.

Amazon.com

Yep, 90386 is the one Ive been using.

 

[918v]

Is this the newer RCBS tool you all are recommending? I must have an older one, probably 10-12 years old, as mine sucks, but sounds like they got the new one right.

Amazon.com

Yeah the new one that cuts a compound angle.

 

[918v]

I chuck the case in the drill rather than the other way around. Better results. Also, the slower the cutting speed the better.

 

[salks]

The RCBS swaging tool works great for me.

 

[elfster1234]

if you're doing 200pcs or less... especially 100pcs, then i like to cut mine out with RCBS crimp pocket trimmers rather than swaging.. if doing huge batches then yes, ill bust out my super 600 and swage but doesn't produce anything like cutting it out... ill decap, cut the crimp out, and then wet stainless (with southern shine media) in that order.. why? the stainless media will produce an even more superior and smooth cut so when you seat the new primer its perfect.

 

[918v]

^^^ truth

 

[99mpower]

why i cement mixer tumble brass after processing… all the banging/moving around, really cleans everything up.. works great, and no damage to brass.. without using media

 

[Cascade Hemi]

Super Swage. Ifs it's crimped I don't care all that much if the case head is deformed some small amount.

 

[BurstfireGDC]

The Burstfire doesn’t create a crater like other prep tools. It cuts just the slight bit from the inside wall where the crimp is and that’s it. Minimal effort, minimal material removed, fast and efficient.

 

[Cold_Bore_88]

O/P, you are listing two different types of tools. One is a primer pocket uniforming tool. That tool WILL NOT remove the primer crimp, it will only uniform the bottom of the primer pocket.

A primer crimp removal tool will Only remove the primer crimp, it will NOT uniform the bottom of the primer pocket.

For removing primer crimps, I will second the RCBS crimp removing tool. I also chuck it into a variable speed drill that can set to slow speed and put it in a padded vice. Works like a champ. Two seconds a case and drop the case into a bucket. Very quick this way.

I've been reloading crimped cases since the mid 1970's. I've tried just about every crimp removal tool. The currently made RCBS tool had been re-designed to a much better cutter. I had the old design, which was not perfect. I upgraded to the newer tool in both large & small and they work perfectly.

For a primer pocket uniforming tool I use the Sinclair and the RCBS pocket uniformer. They work for me.

For the two Pocket uniformers you listed, the K&M is reasonably priced. The 21st Century uniformer is nice, but is 3 X the cost of the K&M.

The Burstfire crimp cutting tools look very similar to the Hornady crimp cutters. I have the Hornady crimp cutters and they don't work as well as the RCBS primer crimp cutter.

Thanks for the insight. I may just give swaging a try given all the feedback here. All of the “uniformers” above advertise they can be used for removing military crimp so I figured they were worth considering.

 

[Cold_Bore_88]

Because swaging deforms the casehead. Cutting out the crimp using the right cutter is way easier and doesn’t deform the case.

This was my concern with swaging.

 

[tekmann2377]

Whether or not this deformation is actually an issue depends on exact what happens to the primer pocket and case head with a cutter vs swage. The question I would ask about this is what case head deformation happened with the original crimping process?

I don't have tools of adequate accuracy to assess this but will say I have experienced no difference in accuracy between cutting vs swaging with otherwise identical loads (the caveat being that this was shot in a reasonably accurate AR with a realistic accuracy potential of 0.75 MOA, not a more accurate bolt gun).