Is one better than the other? What are some pros/cons of each?
Both are fine. Cheaper and faster to chuck a cutter in a drill and do them by hand. Trade off is your hands will get tired holding the brass fairly quickly. I do them this way in batches
swage can be slower and more by feel. The RCBS die really needs to be setup for one kind of brass at a time or you’ll probably end up bending the rod. Also typically done on a single stage press. Won’t work on my 650
dillon tool. Supposed to be much faster and better. No experience but there is supposed to be a rubber band mod to aid in faster ejection.
mod for Dillon 650. By feel also. Hit or miss reviews. Dillon says it will void your warranty. I own the tool but have never installed it
the big Dillon machine has one built in. Probably the fastest / best option if you can justify the cost of the machine
swage can be slower and more by feel. The RCBS die really needs to be setup for one kind of brass at a time or you’ll probably end up bending the rod. Also typically done on a single stage press. Won’t work on my 650
dillon tool. Supposed to be much faster and better. No experience but there is supposed to be a rubber band mod to aid in faster ejection.
mod for Dillon 650. By feel also. Hit or miss reviews. Dillon says it will void your warranty. I own the tool but have never installed it
the big Dillon machine has one built in. Probably the fastest / best option if you can justify the cost of the machine
I purchased a New RCBS swager and it did not work for my lake city 308 cases and barely worked for .223/5.56 cases
I had to cut all the primer pockets on the .308 or destroy primers.
I was using CCI 200 primers.
many of the .223 cases would destroy primers or the primer would cut the pocket and I would have a sliver of brass left in the primer seater.
This was done on a cast iron single stage press.
I cut all my primer pockets now with this VLD tool for my .223/5.56 I sold the swager and do not miss it.
I had to cut all the primer pockets on the .308 or destroy primers.
I was using CCI 200 primers.
many of the .223 cases would destroy primers or the primer would cut the pocket and I would have a sliver of brass left in the primer seater.
This was done on a cast iron single stage press.
I cut all my primer pockets now with this VLD tool for my .223/5.56 I sold the swager and do not miss it.
I have both the RCBS pocket swager and the primer pocket cutter sets.
I prefer swager at this point it seems faster for me and with no mess i like it more.
I've Probably only have done a couple thousand of each so limited experience for me.
I prefer swager at this point it seems faster for me and with no mess i like it more.
I've Probably only have done a couple thousand of each so limited experience for me.
Swaging doesnt remove brass which is very good. Cutting removes brass which can be bad. The RCBS swaging takes some tedious setup and can be hard to get right but it is the best way. Its just not the fastest way.
The Lee APP has a swage setup that I hear works well.
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Yep, the Dillon super swage is great. Cutting by hand is tiresome and imprecise. The Dillon swages every pocket the same. Like Mr T said, never looking back.
