Editing Handloading (section)

===Primer pocket tools===

[[File:Assortment of primer pocket tools..jpg|thumb|Assortment of primer pocket tools from RCBS, Hornady, Lee and Lyman with a handle.]]
Primer pocket cleaning tools are used to remove residual combustion debris remaining in the primer pocket; both brush designs and single blade designs are commonly used.  Dirty primer pockets can prevent setting primers at, or below, the cartridge head.  Primer pocket reamers or swagers are used to remove military crimps in primer pockets.<ref name=nonte_4 />

Primer pocket uniformer tools are used to achieve a uniform primer pocket depth.  These are small endmills with a fixed depth-spacing ring attached, and are mounted either in a handle for use as a handtool, or are sometimes mounted in a battery-operated screwdriver.  Some commercial cartridges (notably Sellier & Bellot) use large rifle primers that are thinner than the SAAMI standards common in the United States, and will not permit seating a Boxer primer manufactured to U.S. standards;  the use of a primer pocket uniformer tool on such brass avoids setting Boxer primers high when reloading, which would be a safety issue.  Two sizes of primer pocket uniformer tools exist, the larger one is for large rifle (0.130-inch nominal depth) primer pockets and the smaller one is used for uniforming small rifle/pistol primer pockets.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/may96circle.html |journal=Performance Shooter |author=Bryce M. Towsley |title=Winner's Circle: X-Ring 45 ACP Loads |date=May 1996 |access-date=2008-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611025034/http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/may96circle.html |archive-date=2008-06-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Primer pocket swages can be either standalone, bench-mounted, specialized presses, or, alternatively, a special swage anvil die that can be mounted into a standard "O" style loading press, along with a special shell holder insert with either a large or a small primer pocket insert swage that is then inserted into the position on the "O" press where a normal shell holder is usually clicked into position.  This way, both small and large primer pockets on different types of military cases can be properly processed to remove primer pocket crimps.  Both types of presses can be used to remove either ring crimps or stab crimps found on military cartridges when reloading them.  Reamers for removing primer pocket crimps are not associated with presses, being an alternative to using a press to remove military case primer pocket crimps.

Flash hole uniforming tools are used to remove any burrs, which are residual brass remaining from the manufacturing punching operation used in creating flash holes.  These tools resemble primer pocket uniformer tools, except being thinner, and commonly include deburring, chamfering, and uniforming functions.  The purpose of these tools is to achieve a more equal distribution of flame from the primer to ignite the powder charge, resulting in consistent ignition from case to case.<ref name=VarmintAl />