.223/5.56 Brass Swaging

[M4Carbine503]

I know this topic has been hashed over many times before, but I have a little spin on it. I just upgraded my old single stage press to a Hornady Lock-N-Load AP press and I love it!! I am also in the process of aquiring the gear needed to reload .223/5.56 . I have 2,000 pieces of Lake City brass that need swaging. And before too many people start saying to ream out the primer crimps, I want to swage them out. So here's my question:

Which swager do I get? I have done months of research on this subject and everyone says to get a Dillon Super Swage 600. There are countless reviews on multiple forums endorsing the Dillon product. So I was set on purchasing one, and then several months back Hornady announced their Lock-N-Load AP Swaging Tool. I have been patiently sitting on my hands waiting for someone, ANYONE to come out with a review of the Hornady swager. But so far nothing! No one! It was a mixed bag of opinions when it was first introduced back last October as a future 2015 Shot Show release item from people on multiple forums. Those that were on the nay side were saying they already had a swaging system, (usually the Dillon Super Swage 600) and didn't see a point to buy something else when their Dillon already works great. OK, I can definitely see the logic in that. In fact I would agree if that was my situation. But I have yet to buy ANY swaging tool. The Dillon still looks like s definite contender, but the Hornady looks like a great system, IF it works as well as it appears. Does anyone have anything either positive or negative to say about the Hornady? I have waited this long to read a review and no one has said anything and I don't want to wait any longer. Summer is just about here and I am itching to get some quality trigger time in

 

[Jesse Heywood]

If you read this thread, the CH4D gets high marks.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=781332

 

[rcmodel]

My problem with the CH4D is that it has no internal case support.

Swaging pockets takes a lot of force.

And that applies a lot of force to the case rims.

Perhaps enough to bend them slightly if you get heavy on the press handle???

I have had good luck with the RCBS swagger die set for going on 45 years.

I couldn't even guess how many 30-06, .308. and .223 I have done with it over the years.

rc

 

[9mmepiphany]

I really want one and can't find anything either. The best price I've found so far is $95.

My reasoning is the same as yours. Since I don't have one, I'm not looking for it to be better than what I have...as I don't have anything.

Going in from a blank page/empty bench, the Hornady is less expensive and more automated...plus it is cooler in how it pops the cases back up into your hand. If I don't get the LNL Swaging Tool, I'd likely get the CH 4D and mount it on my single stage

 

[M4Carbine503]

I found the Hornady on sale for $86 a month or so back on Optics Planet. I almost pulled the trigger on it, but there weren't any reviews yet. And if I would have done a review on one of their products I previously purchased they'd throw in a 5% discount. So I could have picked it up for roughly $82. Kinda kicking myself now for not getting it then.

 

[JO JO]

I use the RCBS swagger works great

 

[345 DeSoto]

The RCBS swager works great for me.

 

[jmorris]

Looks like you'll have to take one for the team and be the first to post a review of the LNL system.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Get the Dillon. You install a rubber band or spring to that Dillon and you handle the case ONCE, its called the auto eject mode. That Hornady system you handle the brass twice. Plus if you want to swage 308 don't you need to buy a whole other unit, I believe you do.

 

[thump_rrr]

Get the Dillon. You install a rubber band or spring to that Dillon and you handle the case ONCE, its called the auto eject mode. That Hornady system you handle the brass twice. Plus if you want to swage 308 don't you need to buy a whole other unit, I believe you do.

Or 50BMG for that matter.

I have the Hornady LnL AP Progressive with all the bells and whistles and I still bought the Dillon Super Swage.

A dedicated tool means you don't need to screw around with your press setup just to swage some brass.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

I'd spend my money on the Dillon. I have a Hornady LNL and love it but their swager seems inferior to Dillon's in just about every way. And at roughly the same price....I'd go with blue.

 

[medalguy]

Look at it this way: The Dillon swager has been around for many years and I don't think you will find many bad reviews for it. Why mess with what works? It's faster and better than any other swager I tried, and I tried a lot of them.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Why mess with what works?

That is the same question that was asked when progressive presses (Dillon 450) were introduced to the home consumer market

 

[cheygriz]

I've been using the Dillon Super Swage for at least 15 years. One of the best reloading investments I ever made.

I've swaged two thousand 9MM cases in an evening.

(Now in the interest of full disclosure, I will admit that after swaging 2000 primer pockets non stop, three fingers of Scotch in a glass was definitely in order!)

 

[maple flats]

You won't ever regret getting the Dillon Super Swage. If I remember correctly, each size primer pocket needs a different swage. I have a small and a large. I don't know about doing 50 BMG on one. Never had to find out.

 

[edfardos]

Rcbs now makes a bench swager similar to the Dillon model. Works perfectly, and is the only option for progressive press users which cannot use the die/base swagers.