RCBS Primer Pocket Swager Combo

Product #: 447022
| Manufacturer #: 9495
Status: Available
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Quickly removes primer pocket crimp from military cases. Unlike reaming, the Pocket Swager forms a perfectly round pocket correct in dimensions for American boxer-type primers. Comes with swaging heads for large and small primer pockets. Uses RCBS removable shellholders (sold separately). Not for use on progressive presses.

Technical Information

Kit Contains:

  • 2 Swager rods: (Smallest is for 223 only)
  • 1 Case stripper
  • 1 Large and 1 Small swager head (for primer pockets)
  • 1 Swager die body with locking ring that has standard 7/8"-14 threads for use with standard single stage presses.
    Notes:
  • This is a press mounted system for removing the military crimp from cases.
  • If you are using the RCBS Big Max press you will need the optional Case Stripper for the Big Max Press. (Available only through RCBS - part number 09489).
  • If you are using the RCBS Model A-2 Press, you will need the optional Case Stripper Washer for the A-2 Press. (Available only through RCBS - part number 09488).
  • Please note that this combo is not adatable for use with progressive reloading tools.

    For more information on RCBS Priming Tools and Accessories, please click the link below:
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    • Application Charts & Information

    Overall Rating:
    4.3 out of 5
    Used this Product?Rate It
    5 stars
    Anonymous Anonymous of Heflin, AL
    Date posted: 12/3/2008
    This tool beats a reamer hands down in quality of result. It takes a little experimentation to get setup correctly w/o bending the rod on 223s. Not only does it remove the crimp, but if set up right it totally removes the little ring indentation left by the crimping tool. There's no trace afterwards as with reaming. Also, you don't have to worry about getting the pocket off-center or elliptical with this tool. It's a little slower than a reamer on a cordless drill perhaps. But, no more reamers for me!
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    5 stars
    William Brown of Peterstown, WV
    Date posted: 6/19/2003
    I liked the product just fine It works well on military brass.
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    Yes |
    24 found it helpful |
    4 did not
    5 stars
    A C of Union city, NJ
    Date posted: 9/23/2008
    This is a must for any reloader. I'm new to reloading and have found out the hard way that you need to have this tool. Works great. I used this with my Lee Hand Press. Worked like a charm. Only thing is that you can’t use the case ejector due to clearance problems, but this isn't a problem all you have to do is rock the case back and forth.
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    13 found it helpful |
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    5 stars
    Daniel Jaburg of Escondido, CA
    Date posted: 1/21/2009
    Following the enclosed directions CAREFULLY, setup was a easy. Making sure to feed the brass on to the rod and seating the primer pocket on the "holder" didn't add much time, but it did ensure that I didn't bend the rod as some have mentioned. Works great and easy to use.
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    9 found it helpful |
    1 did not
    5 stars
    Brian Dunn of Las Vegas, nv
    Date posted: 6/19/2003
    Very unique tool works excelently and a great price.
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    Yes |
    32 found it helpful |
    15 did not
    5 stars
    Ed Barrett of St. Joseph, MO
    Date posted: 6/19/2003
    Works great for taking the primer crimp out of Military brass very quickly.
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    Yes |
    37 found it helpful |
    4 did not
    5 stars
    kevin m of ceres, ca
    Date posted: 12/25/2007
    Works great, it remover the primer crimp so you can reuse the brass. I have used it on .223 and 30-06, it is well worth the money.
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    18 found it helpful |
    1 did not
    5 stars
    Aaron Johnson of Wilson, NY
    Date posted: 2/11/2007
    The tool works as advertised with no problems whatsoever. I swaged well over 4000 cases so far without any issues at all. It seems well built and should last a lifetime using it on a RCBS aluminum frame single stage press
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    13 found it helpful |
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    5 stars
    Hank Bayles of Lakeside, Ca
    Date posted: 3/5/2007
    Great Product, I had the unit up and working within 5 minutes. Very good quality and price.
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    15 found it helpful |
    1 did not
    5 stars
    PAUL BLACK of AKRON, OH
    Date posted: 9/10/2008
    I have been using a deburring tool for years to rid myself of military crimps. Never again! This unit works like a charm. Just remember that you will need an "O"-style press as the case remover needs plenty of room to work properly.
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    12 found it helpful |
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    5 stars
    Jerry McMains of Williamsburg, OH
    Date posted: 6/19/2003
    I have swaged over 5000 primer pockets and the tool is still working great!
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    35 found it helpful |
    2 did not
    5 stars
    Ed Delgado of Pembroke Pines, FL
    Date posted: 12/22/2003
    This thing works really well. The setup is a bit confusing at first; however, once you get going it is a breeze. I had 500 rounds of LC 308 brass to swage and once I was up to speed you can easily swage several hundred per hour. Align interior rod properly and check occasionally to ensure that it is tight and you can just crank away. Get a good swing going to pop the shell off the mandrel at the bottom of your stroke and make sure you are using a sturdy O type press.
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    64 found it helpful |
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    5 stars
    GARY STEBBINS of Fort Wayne, IN
    Date posted: 12/13/2009
    This tool does exactly what it is supposed to do. Follow the instructions carefully. If you try force the case further than it needs to go you will bend the rod. The primer pocket only needs to reach the shoulder of the mandrel piece that replaces the shell holder. I used this with a Lee Challenger single-stage press and it works just fine. So far I have only used this with .30 '06 military brass. Should work fine with .308 and .223 (5.56) boxer primed brass with crimped primers.
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    5 stars
    Bill Cheek of Capon Bridge, wv
    Date posted: 12/2/2009
    I have read most of the reviews that rate it less than 5 stars. I read the instructions and had no problems at all. Rule #1. sort the brass by head stamp. I did a mix of 1,000+ cases US Military, Czech and Norinco .223 with great results. I'm using an Aluminum RCBS press. Rule #1A, don't force anything. If you do, you are doing something wrong and will break anything. One minor suggestion is to deprime the cases without sizing. On occasion a sized neck would hold the case slightly off center and the swag would shear off a small part of the primer pocket shoulder. I learned to never lock the die down tight. I would screw it up or down as needed depending on "Feel" as the swag went home.
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    5 stars
    Dan Dantzler of Burnsville, MN
    Date posted: 1/13/2010
    A very simple tool that performed exactly as it should. Many reviewers complained about bending the rod. I suspect this is caused by not reading the simple directions. The rod must be screwed all the way into the body at all times. If this is done, I think it is nearly impossible to bend the rod. Adjustment is made by lowering the die body, not by moving the rod. Operation is dead simple; shove the case (223 in my example) into the die body, raise the ram (it will self-center on the button), lower the ram and strip the case off the sizing button. I did 100 cases in about 15 minutes after the die was adjusted. I then primed these cases to make sure all was well. The cases primed like new commercial brass. Nice and tight. I then processed 800 more cases in about an hour and a half. I did use a little Imperial Sizing wax on the swaging button on about every tenth case; these made removal of the case from the button easier. In the past, I have cut the crimp from military brass on my RCBS case prep machine; this is a better way. No material is removed, the edge is nicely radiused and it is faster.
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    5 stars
    Glenn Viveiros of McDonough, GA
    Date posted: 2/1/2010
    Works exactly as advertised. I had dirt in one of my cases so it bent the small rod, got it as straight as I could and it sill works just fine. Called RCBS and they have a new rod in route to me free of charge.
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    5 stars
    James Pierce of Danville, IL
    Date posted: 1/24/2010
    Reviews from various sources claim the rods on this die bend easily. Although the instructions could be written better for folks who are new to reloading, if you have it set up correctly the swager works great! Make sure the rod is all the way up in the body, tighten the rod lock nut to the top of the rod so the rod stays in place on the die body. I have found that after about 500 or so it still likes to loosen up if you have a press that will over cam so keep an eye on it. To adjust the amount the case get pressed onto the swaging button adjust the entire die body by 1/8 to 1/4 turn increments not the rod. I have a Lyman Spartan and Lee O frame. The case extractor does not work on either press so I have to rock the shells off the swaging button which is a little more work, especially for cases with large primer pockets but it's still much faster than cutting.
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    5 stars
    Tom G of VaBeach, VA
    Date posted: 11/1/2009
    Works great. I have done a 5 gal bucket of 9mm and about 1K .308 so far. I have a Redding T7 Turret and the RAM doesn't retract enough to pop off the brass. Just place a body style washer with a 1/4 to 9/32 hole on top of the extractor cup and done deal. The cup is the round squared off object below the die in the photo and it fits over the ram/shellholder fitting. Most any washer would work as long as the swager fits through the hole. Make sure it placed on top the cup. You may think placing it inside is the same, but that doesn't make the cup taller, and it’s the cup that pops off the shell. Setup is easy, place the swage insert in the ram (replaces the shell holder). Place the case extractor (the cup like object) over the swager/ram and the washer on top. Assemble the die by threading the adjusting pin in the die all the way up and put on the stop jam nut. Screw the die in till it almost touches the cup and lock the die down. It’s the length of the adjusting pin in the center of the die that controls the amount of primer pocket swage not the die itself so don't make it harder by putting the die body too low. The die just centers the case. Insert a case into the die and raise the ram to catch it so it doesn't fall out and complete the ram stroke. Then screw in the adjusting rod till it contacts the inside shell case web. Slightly lower the ram, turn the rod in another 1/4 to 1/2 turn and check results. Tighten the jam nut and get to work. Small adjustments for variations in manufacturers web thickness are done by screwing in (or out) an additional ¼ turn One word of caution. If you get too ambitious with the depth of the rod it will eventually bend, almost to the point that cases begin to bind entering the die. If this happens, disassemble and straighten the rod. This tool is great; I have done better than 5000 shells so far and no signs of wear.
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    5 stars
    BRIAN SERAFINI of Lexington, KY
    Date posted: 9/14/2009
    Great product for the money. Lots of 5.56 brass that I could not reuse without a swager. Several hundred pieces of brass though so far... no problems. Using on a Lee Hand press (can't use the bottom brass removal piece... it won't fit... but not bad to remove the brass by hand.) Upgraded to a RCBS O-Shape press and it's awesome.
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    5 stars
    Dennis Thompson of Troy, IL
    Date posted: 6/19/2003
    It works, it easy to use, and that's all I ask of it. I just sorry I sold my original set.
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    17 found it helpful |
    3 did not
    5 stars
    Paul Volovski of Jim Thorpe, PA
    Date posted: 6/19/2003
    Easy to use and doesn't remove material from pocket. Well constructed and will last a lifetime.
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    19 found it helpful |
    2 did not
    5 stars
    Sammy Snead of Stantonsburg, NC
    Date posted: 10/14/2009
    Quick to setup. Worked great.
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    5 stars
    mark mccoy of charleston , wv
    Date posted: 4/16/2009
    Fella's if you've been cutting the crimps out with your chamfer tool or even the "military crimp removal" tool that goes on the RCBS case prep center, you've been wasting your time just like me. Adjusted right, this baby does a real good job. Looks like a factory "non crimped" case. Just remember, don't mash the crap out of it. Go slow. About 1/8 turn at a time, until you get the crimp out......no farther, and, separate your cases too.
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    4 stars
    Gary Distefano of Greece, NY
    Date posted: 3/8/2006
    This die is made for RCBS presses. It's not necessarily compatible with other makes. The diameter of your ram must not be bigger than RCBS's, and the ram must retract into the frame as far as RCBS's. If not, the case remover will not fit or work properly. The case remover pops the swager pin out of the swaged pocket. If the remover is not used, it's very difficult to remove the case from the pin after swaging. This tool requires a very strong press. Progressive presses are not strong enough, and turret presses aren't, either, I found. I wouldn't try it with any aluminum press, either.
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    4 stars
    Bruce Layne of Lexington, KY
    Date posted: 2/23/2007
    There was confusion about whether this RCBS Primer Pocket Swager would work with the popular Lee Classic Cast Press. It does, for the most part. The case stripper does not work with the Classic Cast press because the press ram diameter is too large and the ram doesn't travel far enough down into the press. It doesn't seem practical to modify the case stripper to work with the Classic Cast press, but it wouldn't be difficult to make a new case stripper that did work. It should be a little taller and a little larger in diameter. But so far, I'm not having any trouble using it without the case stripper. I roll the top of the .223 cases around to free them from the swaging head that's mounted on top of the press ram. It's a lot easier than using a primer pocket tool like the very nice version from Hornady that does chamfer the primer pocket, and it does a better and more uniform job too. In practice, I use the button on top of the swaging head as a gage to see if the pocket needs to be swaged. If it doesn't fit into the primer pocket, I lift the case up onto the case rod (mounted in the swager body on the top of the press) and raise the swaging head to swage the primer pocket and then lower swaging head with the case pressed onto it, and then roll the case off the swaging button. It's not that difficult. I didn't knock off a star because it doesn't work 100% with the Lee press. I deducted a star for the instructions. The large instruction sheet is a multi-purpose document used with several different priming tools and accessories, so less space could be devoted to the pocket swager. There were a few pictures that were decent, but the text managed to complicate a simple process. One decent line drawing or an exploded view of the assembly would have made everything immediately obvious. You'd do better looking at the parts and guessing how they work, or randomly trying to assemble the parts in different arrangements, rather than reading the misleading directions. But the device itself is well made and works well. Midway should state which presses are compatible with the RCBS Primer Pocket Swager so we don't need to guess.
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    4 stars
    Earl M of Centreville, VA
    Date posted: 6/20/2003
    The RCBS primer pocket swager works well but the die must must be precisely aligned to ensure that primer pockets are properly swaged without bending the ram rod within the swaging die. I bent a rod and RCBS promply replaced it at no charge.
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    4 stars
    Bruce Baloh of Alpharetta, GA
    Date posted: 6/19/2003
    It was relatively simple to setup, but it took reading the instructions twice, they are not explicit in some steps, assumptions are made, once I got it was very easy to knock out my batch of mil brass and the true test was that the commercial primer was a correct fit.
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    4 stars
    N AC of Central , TX
    Date posted: 4/10/2008
    Typical RCBS quality. May not be the fastest system but it works and you only have to do it once to the case! When all else fails read directions. I'm using it on a 30 yr old Rock chucker and it works fine. Keep the rod aligned and as high in the die body as possible, use whole die body to adjust to proper swag depth, as per direction. Thanks RCBS for a cost effective way to solve this problem!
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    4 stars
    Raymond Lauffer of Oklahoma city, OK
    Date posted: 1/24/2008
    I like this. It's easy to use, except for the upstroke to remove the case. I have a Lee Classic Cast Press and I called RCBS about the larger ram on it. They sent me a new popper off thing to fit the LEE press, NO CHARGE, and everything works great !!!
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    4 stars
    CHRIS BELL of BUCHANAN, GA
    Date posted: 5/24/2009
    Let me start by saying this is by far the best method I've used to date. I haven't experienced any of the bent rods or any other malfunctions. I've used it on nickel .223 cases with fair results. It doesn't open the pocket enough on many cases. I suspect the nickel may be too hard for the unit to be entirely effective. That said, I would still buy it again without hesitation.
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    4 stars
    Andrew Nakaishi of Rancho cordova, CA
    Date posted: 1/12/2009
    An incredibly useful tool for reloading crimped brass. Creates a very nice primer pocket when set up properly. My only drawback is trying to use this on a Lee Classic Turret press is difficult - the washer will not pop the case off the swager when the ram is lowered. This is due to how far the ram retracts into the base. On a different press with a smaller diameter ram, I have had excellent results.
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    4 stars
    T Anderson of Douglas, AZ
    Date posted: 9/30/2007
    This single stage tool works well. It's not very complicated in set up, and is easy to use. The extractor cap is one size only and is made to have a "loose" fit on the ram. Removing primer crimp is a one time only need for Military/LEO brass cases. Giving the price and ease of use this tool is a better choice. Shop around for it.
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    4 stars
    Chad G of LP, AZ
    Date posted: 5/4/2007
    It works but it is slow, took me well over 6 hours to 1500 .223 cases. You have to stick the case on the rod prior to raising the ram, the rod is not centered perfectly and does slow down progress quite a bit. Once you have the swager set for the particular caliber the task will role well. Be sure you have a sturdy bench/mounting point, in order to strip the case off the head you have to slam the handle forward, the larger the case the more force is required, maybe attaching the bench to the wall can solve the problem. It was a good buy and the out of pocket cost is low, when compared to other methods that are more complicated.
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    4 stars
    Mark J of Oceanside, CA
    Date posted: 11/15/2009
    Be careful not to bend the rod, if you do it’s your fault not RCBS's. Make sure that the rod is as high up as it can go and the locking nut is tight and it gives it the most support. When/If you bend the rod it’s not hard to beat it back into shape with a wooden block and a mallet. Makes seating CCI# 41 primers a lot easier in mil-surp lake city brass, and a lot cleaner looking than doing it with a de-burring tool!!
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    4 stars
    Gregory Gauvin of Branford, CT
    Date posted: 10/1/2007
    Upon receiving this item, I noted that I was shipped a bent (possible used? swager rod (.223 rem). I was upset at first, having such great service with Midway. I contacted the customer service and within 2 minutes recieved an email showing that not only did Midway place another order for me at no cost, not even shipping, but sent me an entirely new combo set - not just the swager rod. Thumbs up to Midway! The combo set worked flawlessly for me swaging several .30-06 cases. The set-up directions are not highly detailed. I use this die with the cheapo lee press, and have had no trouble. The cast press does not take nearly a beating with this die as reforming 30-06 to 7.7 Jap, and has not shown any indications of breakage. I have not yet primed any .223 cases to see if it correctly sizes the primer pockets. Be sure to set up the die correctly!!! I have personally witnessed a friend bend his swager rod - and it can be done easily. Otherwise, great product and SUPERB customer service.
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    3 stars
    Patrick Mccune of Meadowview, VA
    Date posted: 9/25/2008
    I read the rather vague instructions and thought I had it set up correctly but after 20 cases the rod bent. I may have been overdoing it but there's no way of telling how much pressure is needed to swage the primer pocket. The end of the rod also got smashed so that I had to grind it down to fit into the .223 cases. I straightened the rod in a vice and managed to get my 80+/- cases done with two that will need to be redone. It's a real pain guiding each case up onto the rod and guiding the case down onto the swager head. In retrospect I would have minimally swaged a case then tested for primer fit and repeated with a little more effort if needed. I'm sure RCBS will replace the rod. Also the brass set screw would not tighten the lock ring and I stripped it out. I'm not very found of RCBS lock ring system.
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    3 stars
    Bill Brown of Gainesville, GA
    Date posted: 6/19/2003
    The swager works well but is a bit difficult to set up and once it is I wasn't sure that it was doing what it was supposed to until I loaded some rounds and felt how the primer seated. It was worth buying, as I had 1500 rounds of cases to swage. I could swage around 300 per hour, but caught my fingers between the swage and the press a couple times. You learn reall quick where to keep your fingers.
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    3 stars
    Harley Hartl of crystal, mn
    Date posted: 12/27/2007
    I used it on 223 military cases. After about 300 the rod would not fit in the case. When I took it out the rod was bent.
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    3 stars
    PHILIP VAN of BH, FL
    Date posted: 9/7/2009
    I used this die to swage about 100 brass but then realized it wasn't swaging enough so I adjusted it a bit and apparently it was too much because the guide rod bent. It seems there's very little middle ground between "no swage", "perfect swage" and "break the thing". The directions are utterly worthless, they seem to think you can magically adjust it on your own with no indicators. Here's a few tips for anyone trying to use this: Don't set the lock ring until its 100% set. Put the guide pin all the way in (so its sticking out the top as much as possible and leave it in this position). Then set the bottom of the die about 1/4" above the swag "shell holder". Run a case through, check the crimp, screw the die in 1/4 turn, do it again, repeat this until you see signs of it starting to swage, then proceed to do 1/8 turn adjustments until the crimp ring around the primer pocket is beveled in. Then STOP. If you go any farther the guide pin will bend. I just emailed RCBS about my dead pin and I hope they replace it. In the mean time I will try straightening out the bent pin using a vise and possibly hardening it (flame till red hot then into can of used motor oil).
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    2 stars
    Steve W of Omaha, NE
    Date posted: 6/2/2008
    Moderately efficient. Makes crimped cases prime-able again, however the metal shell stripper bottoms out on the threaded die holder on my RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Press, making cam-over action impossible. This led to the bending of the small swage rod from all of the non-linear forces required to press the button into the primer pocket, I must say until I can machine the threaded die holder nut I'm not impressed.
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    2 stars
    Gene Petruska of Gaylord, Mi
    Date posted: 5/3/2007
    The die doesn't open the primer pocket enough. I swaged 1,000 LC 05 once fired easily. The primers seated hard with deformities every 20-25 that had to be recapped. The primers that did seat were stressed with edge deformities. I used the RCBS strip primer system that has worked flawlessly otherwise with commercial brass.
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    2 stars
    Ivan Ohara of North hollywood, CA
    Date posted: 12/29/2008
    I have to say that this tool will work. However, it is very difficult to get it just right. I swaged a little over 100 LC 05 brass before the rod bent. RCBS was kind enough and send me another rod under warranty, but that one bent shortly after another 50 LC brass. It seems that I am not the only one bending the rod, just read other reviews. Furthermore, the primer pocket is a tight fit with my Federal Gold primers. It may be inexpensive but be prepared for problems down the road.
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