Removing "live" primers ?

[fast*eddie]

I used the SEARCH and also went back as far as August of 2010 to see if there was any posts about removing live primers safely and found nothing . I have been told in the past that it is SAFE to use the decapping die to remove them . Has anyone done this ? Is it safe ?
I have some 44 mag brass that are primed . I used some older Winchester primers that I had . When I did some reloads for my son , some of them didn't fire the 1st time but fired on a 2nd or 3rd try . They wouldn't be good for hunting .
I considered putting the primed brass in my pistol and firing them but not sure how smart ( or dumb ) that woul be ........

[PowPow]

I have had questionable primers before.
Not worth the cost of the other stuff to try it.
Shoot them in the gun without powder and bullets.
Its not as loud as a starters pistol.
Wear ear plugs.

[jasonprox700]

I have used the decapping die to remove live primers without any problems.  I'm sure the chance is there, but I've never had a problem.  To be on the safe side, you could throw all of the brass and live primers in a bucket of water and let them soak for awhile.  That would probably be the smart thing to do.  Even with that, I would wear ear plugs and safety glasses just in case.  Taking just a few moments to put on proper PPE can save your sight and hearing for the rest of your life.  If you're still really insure, maybe try some leather gloves or something too.

[longwinters]

I've read about guys soaking them in oil etc etc....I had to do a few once and as previously mentioned just wore ear plugs and safety goggles.  Then just went slow with the deprimer.  No problems for me.

Long

[mechanic]

You can soak them in oil, water or whatever you want, and they will still go bang.  You shouldn't have a problem with the decapping, just wear gloves and a face shield just in case.

Someone reported, I think on this forum a while back about soaking primers in various substances, and for the most part it didn't affect them.

If you are fearful of the process, just pop them in a gun then deprime.

Ben

[necchi]

+1 to mechanic, safety glasses and go slow, no problem.

[Smokin Joe]

You can soak them in oil, water or whatever you want, and they will still go bang

Nope, a shot of WD-40 and 30 seconds later they're dead as hell.

[Flynmoose]

I have used my universal decapping die, took it slow and put a heavy towel over
the press. I did not have any go off so I will do it again if I have any questionable
primers again.
FM

[zacharoo]

How long will primed brass stay potent. I have some 308 win. brass that  I have stored away that was primed with new cci primers about 8 to 10 years ago. They are in a sealed military ammo box. Will they last as long as regular primers that are in a dry place?

Zacharoo

[zeke08]

Yes the primed brass will last as long as just primers. My uncle-n-law passed away and he was a avid re-loader and during the cleaning up process we found primed brass from the 60's they all worked (fired) as designed when shot in the 308 rifle they were primed for.

[srussell]

if they are bad dont wast the time just pop then in the gun. your not going to use them again

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive decapped hundreds without a single incedence. Mechanic is correct though. I wanted some cut off case heads with primers for grip medalions for a ruger once and fooled around with trying to deaden primers. It became almost an obsession to see what would deaden them. What i found is nothing including penetrating oil did it a 100 percent of the time. You could soak them and the next day they were dead and take the same primers a month later and find they were live again.

[jlchucker]

You can soak them in oil, water or whatever you want, and they will still go bang

Nope, a shot of WD-40 and 30 seconds later they're dead as hell.

I have to agree.  When I worked at the Winchester ammo plant in New Haven they were making ammo on govt contracts.  They made the cases, bullets, and primers right there.  The accepted factory method at that time (1969-1971) for disabling live primers was to expose them to oil.  This is also consistent with statements made in some reloading manuals, where they caution you to not touch live primers with case lube on your fingers.  I've got a 38 spl case with a primer stuck in it upside down (my error).  After reading this thread I'll push that one out with my resizing die, but I'll put some oil on it before I do.  Firing an upside-down primed case in a handgun might be worth a try but I wonder if the firing pin would reach out far enough against the primer anvil to set it off. Those anvils are not flat.

[huntducks]

Primers were made to go off in one direction you need something like 20lb striking force to set off a primer.

I truely don't know what the fear is of primers but it seems over 1/2 of the reloader are scared of them, ever drop loaded ammo did it go off ever drop a primer did it go off take a primer throw it aginst something hard it won't go off.

Some how I think the primer and ammo mfg figured these things out along the way.

Try this it's safe I have done this before put a primer in a vice and squash it won't go off hit the vice with a hammer bang.

[quickdtoo]

You can soak them in oil, water or whatever you want, and they will still go bang

Nope, a shot of WD-40 and 30 seconds later they're dead as hell.

Don't rely on that!!

Tim

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/killprimers.shtml

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/PrimerTest.htm

[mechanic]

I've never been too concerned with killing a primer, but I did read an article about it.  Reference below:

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/killprimers.shtml


Ben

[mechanic]

Looks like Tim got in just ahead of me......

[quickdtoo]

 

[fast*eddie]

Thanks for the replies . I am heading for Florida soon . When I get back , I think I will punch them out weraing safety glasses and a heavy glove .........