Published: January 2026 | Last updated: June 2026
Disclaimer: Specifications and pricing are drawn from manufacturer and retailer sources current at time of publication. Always verify components are properly prepared before loading. Follow published load data and primer seating guidelines for your specific caliber.
Military surplus brass is one of the best values in reloading – consistent case weights, strong construction, and often available in bulk at prices well below commercial alternatives. The complication is the primer pocket crimp. Military specifications require a ring or stab crimp around the primer pocket to prevent primers from backing out during full-auto fire. When you try to seat a fresh primer in crimped brass without removing the crimp, the primer either crushes, seats at an angle, or refuses to seat fully, leaving a high primer that is both an accuracy problem and, in semi-automatic firearms, a slam-fire risk.
The solution is either reaming or swaging. Reaming removes the crimp material by cutting it away. Swaging displaces it by pushing it back into the pocket wall with a hardened steel rod under pressure. The Dillon Precision Super Swage 600 is a dedicated bench-mounted swager – a single-purpose tool that processes crimped brass faster, more consistently, and with less metal removal than reaming. For a reloader who works through regular volumes of military surplus 223 Remington/5.56 NATO, 308 Winchester/7.62×51 NATO, or 30-06 Springfield brass, the Super Swage 600 is the tool that removes the crimped-pocket bottleneck from the pre-loading workflow.
What’s in the Box
The Dillon Precision Super Swage 600 ships with:
- Super Swage 600 bench unit with toggle-action handle and ball knob
- Small primer swage rod and backup rod (for small pistol and small rifle pockets)
- Large primer swage rod and backup rod (for large pistol and large rifle pockets)
- Mounting hardware
- Adjustment lock nut and wrench
- Printed instructions
What’s not included: bench mounting bolts through the bench surface (use Grade 8 hardware with large washers), and case lube for smooth operation.
The two rod sets – small and large – cover every standard primer pocket from small pistol (9mm Luger, 223 Remington) through large rifle (308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 338 Lapua Magnum). Switching between small and large requires swapping the rods, which takes under a minute.
Swaging vs. Reaming: Why the Distinction Matters
Before going further, the difference between swaging and reaming is worth explaining specifically, because the choice between them affects both pocket quality and brass longevity.
Reaming cuts the crimp material away with a rotating cutter. It removes brass from the pocket. A properly done reaming job produces a functional pocket, but it removes metal that was part of the pocket’s original dimension. Over-reaming – going too deep or using too large a cutter – can produce pockets that are oversized, which leads to primer fall-out and inconsistent seating.
Swaging pushes the crimp material back into the pocket wall under pressure using a hardened steel rod. No metal is removed. The pocket returns to its original dimensions with a smooth, chamfered entry. The pocket’s wall thickness is maintained, which preserves the primer’s seating resistance case after case through multiple reloads.
The practical consequence: swaged pockets maintain their dimensions longer through repeated reloading than reamed pockets, and there’s no risk of over-removing material if the swage depth is set correctly. The Super Swage 600’s design specifically produces the smooth chamfered entry that makes primer seating consistent and automatic with a hand priming tool.
Build Quality and Materials
The Super Swage 600 frame is CNC-machined 6061-T6 aluminum with blue anodizing. This material provides the rigidity to withstand the substantial force required to displace military crimp material without the weight of a cast-iron equivalent. The swage rods, backup rods, and the toggle link are hardened tool steel – significantly harder than the brass being processed, which prevents the wear that softer rod material would show after several thousand cycles.
The horizontal bench orientation is a functional design choice. Traditional press-mounted swagers require the operator to work the press handle vertically – the same motion as a full loading operation. The Super Swage 600’s horizontal handle arc means you apply force in a push-pull motion at bench height, with the brass at eye level. In sustained sessions of 500-800 cases, this orientation is noticeably less fatiguing than vertical press operation.
The dual-toggle cam-over mechanism is the mechanical feature that makes the Super Swage 600 faster than press-mounted alternatives. The toggle linkage provides a large mechanical advantage at the bottom of the stroke – exactly where the swage rod is working against the crimp material. The operator applies relatively light handle force through a short arc; the toggle converts it to the high force at the rod tip that displaces the crimp. The handle snaps through the cam-over point at the bottom of the stroke, giving tactile confirmation that the swage completed without requiring visual inspection of every case.
Key Specs
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Design | Dedicated bench-mounted swager |
| Frame Material | CNC-machined 6061-T6 aluminum, blue anodized |
| Rod Material | Hardened tool steel |
| Mechanism | Dual-toggle cam-over action |
| Handles | Small and large primer pockets (both rod sets included) |
| Weight | 2.5 lbs |
| Caliber Range | Small pistol through large rifle (NOT for 50 BMG) |
| Production Rate | 500-800 cases/hour with established rhythm |
| MPN | 20095 |
| MSRP | $135-145 |
| Street Price | ~$129-139 |
| Warranty | No B.S. Lifetime against defects under normal use |
| Origin | Dillon Precision Products, USA |
The No B.S. Lifetime Warranty applies to the Super Swage 600 – the same warranty that covers Dillon’s reloading presses. A hardened steel rod that chips or a toggle pin that wears is covered.
The 50 BMG limitation is explicit and important: the Super Swage 600’s rods and frame are sized for standard small and large primer pockets. 50 BMG uses a primer larger than large rifle standard. A dedicated heavy-duty swaging tool is required for 50 BMG brass.
Where the Super Swage 600 Fits in the Dillon Workflow
Understanding where the Super Swage 600 fits – and when you don’t need it – requires understanding the rest of the Dillon lineup.
The Dillon RL 1100 has an integrated primer pocket swager as a built-in station. The RL 1100 processes crimped brass without a separate step – the swager is part of the loading cycle. If you load on the RL 1100, the Super Swage 600 is redundant for routine use.
The Dillon CP 2000 case processor also has an integrated two-station swager with a swage checker that detects ringed cases and inverted cases automatically. For operations running the CP 2000 as a dedicated case prep station, the Super Swage 600 is similarly redundant.
The Dillon RL 550C and Dillon XL 750 do not have integrated swaging capability. For reloaders on these presses who source military surplus crimped brass – particularly 223 Remington and 308 Winchester for volume AR shooting – the Super Swage 600 is the pre-processing tool that prepares brass before it reaches the press. Fully swaged cases run through the RL 550C or XL 750’s priming station without the high primers and crushed cups that unswaged military brass causes.
The same applies to any non-Dillon progressive that doesn’t have an integrated swager – the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP, Lee Load-Master, and others. All of these benefit from pre-swaged brass when loading military surplus.
Setup and Calibration
The Super Swage 600’s setup procedure is where most users invest their time initially. Done correctly once, the calibration holds for the same brass lot until you change headstamps.
Bench mounting: Bolt the Super Swage 600 to a solid bench surface near the bench edge for full handle arc. Grade 8 hardware through all mounting holes with large washers. The tool transmits significant force into the mounting hardware during operation – secure attachment is required.
Rod selection and installation: Install the small rod set for small primer pockets (223 Remington 5.56 NATO, small pistol calibers). Install the large rod set for large primer pockets (308 Winchester/7.62×51, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Winchester Magnum, large pistol calibers). The backup rod inserts through the case mouth and provides an internal stop that limits swage rod depth.
Calibration protocol – do this for each new brass lot:
- Loosen the lock nut on the swage rod
- Turn the swage rod until it just contacts the primer pocket of a deprimed case when the handle is fully depressed – this is your starting zero
- Back the rod out 1/8 turn from zero as a starting point (less depth than you’ll need)
- Place a case on the backup rod and pull the handle through the full stroke
- Inspect the pocket: you want a slight smooth chamfer at the pocket entry, no residual crimp ring
- Attempt to seat a primer with the RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool or Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Perfect Seat Hand Priming Tool – the primer should enter with firm, consistent resistance
- If the primer still requires more force than normal or won’t seat, advance the rod inward in 1/8-turn increments and retest
- If the primer falls through or seats too easily (no resistance), the rod is too deep – back out 1/8 turn
- Once the depth is correct, tighten the lock nut and run 5 more test cases to confirm consistency before production
Lubrication during operation: A light application of Hornady One-Shot spray or similar case lube on the swage rod every 20-30 cases prevents brass galling on the rod tip and keeps operation smooth. Don’t oil the primer pockets – you’re preparing them to receive primers, and oil contamination of primer cups causes misfires.
Verify primer seating after calibration: The functional test of correct swage depth is a primer that seats smoothly and firmly with a hand priming tool. Loose primers (too much swage depth) and primers that still require excessive force (too little) are both setup problems to correct before running production.
Where the Super Swage 600 Excels
Volume processing of 5.56 NATO and 7.62×51 military surplus. This is the primary application the tool is designed for. Lake City, Winchester (WCC), Remington (REM), Federal, and foreign military headstamp 223 Remington and 308 Winchester brass all carry military crimps that require removal before loading. At 500-800 cases per hour with a calibrated Super Swage 600, processing a case of 1,000 5.56 NATO for an AR-15 loading session takes under two hours. The same task at a press-mounted kit rate – 100-150 cases per hour while cycling the full press stroke – takes six or more hours.
Pre-processing for RL 550C and XL 750 users. For Dillon progressive press users whose press doesn’t have integrated swaging, batch-swaging brass on the Super Swage 600 before a loading session means the loading press runs without interruption. High primers, crushed primer cups, and primer feed failures from unswaged military brass are the most common cause of progressive press production stoppages on crimped brass. Eliminating the problem at the source is worth more than the bench time spent pre-processing.
AR-15 match preparation. For 223 Remington competition loads using CCI No. 41 military-spec small rifle primers (the correct choice for semi-auto applications where the harder cup prevents slam-fires), the swaged pocket’s consistent geometry produces uniform primer seating depth from case to case. Primer seating depth variation is a source of ES variation in sensitive calibers at long range.
Mixed military surplus in any caliber. 7.62x39mm surplus, 30-06 Springfield military surplus, 6.5 Creedmoor formed from crimped parent brass – any crimped pocket regardless of caliber runs through the Super Swage 600 with the appropriate rod set.
Realistic Limitations
Not for 50 BMG. The Super Swage 600’s rod diameter and frame are sized for standard small and large primer pockets. 50 BMG uses a larger primer that requires a dedicated tool. Attempting to force 50 BMG brass on the Super Swage 600 will damage the rods and potentially the frame.
Headstamp sensitivity. Different manufacturers produce military brass with different internal web thicknesses. Lake City 5.56 NATO and CBC (Brazilian) 5.56 NATO may have measurably different web depths that require different backup rod depth settings. Processing mixed headstamps without re-calibrating can produce inconsistent swage depth – some pockets over-swaged, some under-swaged. Sort brass by headstamp before processing or accept that the calibration may need adjustment when the headstamp changes.
Dedicated bench space required. The Super Swage 600 occupies permanent bench space. It’s not a tool you store between sessions and re-mount for each use – the mounting and calibration investment makes it a permanent bench station. For a small bench where every inch matters, this is a real consideration.
Over-swaging damages the pocket permanently. A pocket that’s been swaged too deep – where the swage rod went further into the pocket than the original pocket depth – creates a case where the primer contact surface is deformed. This produces loose primers that fall through the pocket, and the brass must be discarded. The calibration procedure must be done carefully, in small 1/8-turn increments, to avoid this. The cam-over mechanism’s tactile snap can mask over-swaging if the rod isn’t properly calibrated.
Competitors – What to Compare It Against
Press-Mounted Swage Kits (RCBS, Lee)
Press-mounted swage kits mount in a standard 7/8-14 die station and use the reloading press’s ram and stroke to drive the swage rod. They’re significantly less expensive than the Super Swage 600 – RCBS swage kits run around $40-50, Lee’s Ram Swage is under $40. The tradeoff is production rate: a press-mounted kit cycles one case per full press stroke, which is physically the same as loading a round. Over 500 cases, cycling a full press stroke for swaging is tiring and keeps the press occupied with a prep function rather than loading. At moderate volumes (under 500 cases per session), a press-mounted kit is a reasonable solution. At higher volumes where swaging is a regular workflow step, the Super Swage 600’s horizontal cam-over mechanism is noticeably faster and less fatiguing.
Choose the Super Swage 600 if: you process 500+ crimped cases per session regularly and want dedicated swaging throughput without tying up your loading press. Choose a press-mounted kit if: crimped brass is occasional rather than routine, and the price difference isn’t justified by your processing volume.
Hand Reamers (Lyman, Sinclair, others)
Hand reamers are the least expensive crimp removal solution – some models under $15 – and require no bench mounting. They remove the crimp material by cutting. The disadvantages: they remove metal rather than displacing it (which can over-ream if the operator isn’t careful), the hand operation is slow for volume processing (under 100 cases per hour even with practice), and the chamfered entry they produce is less consistent case-to-case than a calibrated swage operation. For occasional use on small batches – a box of 20 military surplus rifle rounds to try a new load – hand reamers are adequate. For any volume beyond that, they’re the wrong tool.
Choose the Super Swage 600 if: you process crimped brass regularly at any meaningful volume. Choose a hand reamer if: you encounter crimped brass only occasionally and the batch size is small enough that hand reaming is practical.
Dillon CP 2000
The Dillon CP 2000 is the high-volume dedicated case processing machine with a two-station integrated swager at 2,000-3,000 cases per hour. It’s in a fundamentally different cost and capability category from the Super Swage 600. The CP 2000 is for commercial or near-commercial operations where case prep volume justifies a dedicated machine at that investment level. The Super Swage 600 is for serious hobbyists and moderate-high competition reloaders who process volumes in the hundreds to few thousands per session without needing the CP 2000’s full production architecture.
Choose the Super Swage 600 if: your volume is in the serious hobbyist to moderate competition range (up to a few thousand cases per session) and the CP 2000’s investment and bench footprint aren’t justified. Choose the CP 2000 if: you’re running at commercial or high-competition volume (5,000+ cases per session regularly) and case prep running in parallel with your loading press is the efficiency goal.
Hornady Case Prep Center (Motorized Swaging)
The Hornady Lock-N-Load Case Prep Center is a motorized multi-station case prep tool. Some configurations include a power swaging station. The Hornady offers motorized automation but introduces a motor to maintain and a power supply requirement. The Super Swage 600’s purely mechanical cam-over design has no motor to burn out and no power required. For a reloader who wants the simplest possible mechanical tool without electrical components, the Super Swage 600’s manual cam-over mechanism is the cleaner solution.
Choose the Super Swage 600 if: simple mechanical operation without motors is preferred, or you want a dedicated swaging station without the multi-function complexity of a motorized case prep center. Choose the Hornady Case Prep Center if: motorized trimming, deburring, and case prep functions alongside swaging in a single motorized platform are the priority.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Dillon Super Swage 600 | Press-Mounted Kit | Hand Reamer | Dillon CP 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation | Manual cam-over | Press-integrated | Hand-held | Electric motor + manual |
| Metal Removal | No (displaces) | No (displaces) | Yes (cuts) | No (displaces) |
| Production Rate | 500-800 cases/hr | 100-150 cases/hr | Under 100 cases/hr | 2,000-3,000 cases/hr |
| Headstamp Sensitivity | Moderate | Moderate | Low | High (swage checker) |
| Press Required | No | Yes | No | No |
| Power Required | No | No | No | Yes (electric) |
| Bench Footprint | Small (dedicated) | None (uses press) | None | Large (dedicated) |
| Warranty | No B.S. Lifetime | RCBS/Lee limited | N/A | 2-year limited |
| Price Range | $$$ | $ | $ | $$$$$ |
| Best For | Serious hobbyist/comp volume | Occasional use | Very occasional | Commercial/high-comp |
Troubleshooting
Cases sticking on the swage rod. The swage rod is adjusted too deep – the brass is flowing around the rod tip rather than just the crimp being displaced. Back the rod out 1/4 turn and apply a light film of case lube to the rod tip every 20-30 cases. If a case is firmly stuck on the rod, do not force it off – work it loose by slowly cycling the handle back and forth, which typically releases the case on the upstroke. Contact Dillon if sticking persists after depth correction.
Inconsistent swage depth case-to-case in the same batch. Mixed headstamps with different internal web thicknesses are the primary cause. Sort by headstamp before processing. Secondary causes: the lock nut loosened during operation (retighten and re-verify calibration), or the backup rod depth shifted (check backup rod seating after 100 cycles).
High primers after swaging. The swage rod is adjusted too shallow – the crimp was partially but not fully displaced. Advance the rod 1/8 turn clockwise and retest with 3-5 cases before running production.
Handle binding or gritty feel. Brass shavings or primer compound have entered the toggle linkage. Clear with compressed air and apply a drop of machine oil to the toggle pivot pins. Clean after any session where dirty brass was processed without depriming and tumbling first – running very dirty brass accelerates debris accumulation in the linkage.
Primers seating too loosely after swaging. Over-swaging – the swage rod went too deep into the pocket. Back out 1/4 turn and retest. If the problem is consistent across a batch, cases with loose primer pockets must be discarded. This is the most important reason to calibrate carefully in 1/8-turn increments and verify primer seating resistance before running production.
What to Buy with It
Hand priming tool for verification. The RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool and Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Perfect Seat Hand Priming Tool are the most commonly cited companion tools for post-swage primer seating verification. The K-M Primer Deluxe hand priming tool is the precision benchrest alternative that gives maximum seating depth sensitivity.
Universal decapping die. Military brass should be deprimed before swaging so the primer pocket is clean and accessible. The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Hand Depriming Tool or a universal decapping die on your single-stage press handles this step. The Harvey Deprimer is the bench-mounted dedicated depriming solution. Deprime first, tumble to clean primer pockets and case body, then swage.
Case lube. Hornady One-Shot or similar spray lube for the swage rod tip during production. Light application prevents brass galling without contaminating primer pockets.
CCI No. 41 small rifle primers for AR-15 223 Remington loads from swaged military brass. The harder primer cup of the No. 41 is the correct choice for semi-automatic applications where slam-fire prevention matters.
Frankford Arsenal Vibra-Prime for tube filling when loading swaged brass on a progressive press. The Vibra-Prime safely fills primer tubes for the Dillon RL 550C or XL 750 priming system without direct primer handling.
FAQ
Can I use the Super Swage 600 for small-pocket 45 ACP brass?
Yes. Some 45 ACP brass – particularly from certain manufacturers – uses a small primer pocket rather than the standard large pistol pocket. Install the small swage rod set and calibrate for the small pocket depth. The tool handles this well, and sorting out the small-pocket brass from range pickups is a common secondary application.
Do I need to lubricate primer pockets before swaging?
Not the pockets – you’re preparing them to receive primers, and any oil residue in the pocket contaminates the primer cup. Lube the swage rod tip lightly every 20-30 cases to prevent brass galling on the rod surface.
How does swaging compare to using a reamer on a case prep center?
Reaming removes metal, swaging displaces it. A properly calibrated swage produces a more consistent pocket geometry and maintains the pocket’s original wall thickness. Over-reaming reduces pocket dimensions and can produce loose primers after several reloads. The Super Swage 600’s tactile cam-over confirmation makes over-processing harder to do accidentally than with a power reamer. Most precision reloaders with regular access to military surplus brass prefer swaging for these reasons.
How many cases can I process per session before operator fatigue matters?
With the horizontal cam-over mechanism, 500-800 cases per hour is a comfortable sustained rate. Most users find 1,000-1,500 cases per session is practical before a break, after which the rhythm resumes. Compare this to press-mounted swaging where 200-300 cases per session is more typical before the vertical press cycling becomes tiring.
What happens if I mix Lake City and other headstamps without re-calibrating?
If the internal web thicknesses are different between the lots, the backup rod presents cases at different depths to the swage rod. Cases with thinner webs may be swaged correctly; cases with thicker webs may be under-swaged. Test primer seating resistance when headstamps change. If the resistance is still higher than normal commercial brass, adjust the backup rod or swage rod and retest.
Does this replace the need for a Dillon CP 2000?
For most hobbyist and competition reloaders, yes. The CP 2000 is for commercial or near-commercial volume – 3,000+ cases per session with parallel operation to a loading press. For a reloader processing 500-2,000 cases in a pre-session prep run, the Super Swage 600 covers the need at a fraction of the CP 2000’s cost and footprint. The case prep essentials guide covers the full workflow.
Conclusion
The Dillon Precision Super Swage 600 does one thing and does it well. It removes the primer pocket crimp from military surplus brass faster, more consistently, and with better pocket quality than any press-mounted or hand-held alternative in its class. The cam-over toggle mechanism provides the mechanical advantage to displace military crimps easily without fatiguing the operator, and the horizontal orientation makes sustained sessions of 500-800 cases per hour practical.
The limitations are clearly defined: it doesn’t handle 50 BMG, requires headstamp sorting for consistent calibration, and needs dedicated bench space. Within those limits, it’s what Dillon users cite when someone asks how to handle military surplus at volume without disrupting their loading press workflow.
For a reloader running a Dillon RL 550C or XL 750 with regular access to military surplus 5.56 NATO or 7.62×51 brass, the Super Swage 600 is the tool that makes that brass practical at the same throughput as commercial brass. Dillon’s No B.S. lifetime warranty makes it a one-time purchase.
Choose the Super Swage 600 if you load 223 Remington or 308 Winchester from military surplus regularly on a Dillon RL 550C or XL 750 (or any progressive without integrated swaging), process 500+ crimped cases per session, and want a dedicated mechanical swager backed by Dillon’s lifetime warranty.
Choose a press-mounted swage kit instead if crimped brass is occasional, batches are under 200 cases per session, and you can’t justify the Super Swage 600’s price and bench space for that volume.
Choose the Dillon CP 2000 instead if you’re at commercial or high-competition volume – 3,000+ cases per session – and need parallel case prep operation alongside your loading press.
Editorial note: Originally published January 2026, revised June 2026. The revision expanded all sections from list-format to full prose, added the swaging vs. reaming distinction with practical consequences for pocket longevity, corrected the competitor comparisons (original compared the swager to unrelated priming tools), added the specific Dillon workflow context explaining when the Super Swage 600 is needed vs. when RL 1100 or CP 2000 integrated swaging makes it redundant, expanded the troubleshooting section with the over-swaging damage scenario and recovery, and added full internal linking throughout.
