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Author Topic: Berden Primed Brass  (Read 837 times)

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Offline Dixie Dude

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Berden Primed Brass
« on: April 09, 2013, 09:36:59 AM »
I have a bunch of brass, berden primed.  223, 7.62x39, 8mm mauser, and 7.62x54.  Is there anyway to remove the primer, clean the pocket and reload with boxer primers and still work?  Can a small drill bit breaking it so it might could be pulled out with needle nosed pliers?  Shame to waste the brass.  I thought about using a drill press and drilling through the middle of the primer and a new hole through the brass.  Just wondering if anyone has tried it. 
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Offline bigvarmnt

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Re: Berden Primed Brass
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2013, 09:52:06 AM »
You might want to ask in the hand loading section. Think this is for selling/trading.
Tim will prolly move it for you ;)
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Offline Bigeasy

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Re: Berden Primed Brass
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2013, 11:05:59 AM »
1st thing I would do is measure the width and depth of  the primer pocket of a Berdan primed case to see if a Boxer primer would even properly fit.  The flash hole modifications are a whole nother matter, and I don't remember hearing of  anyone doing so successfully, but I could be wrong..
Larry
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Offline tom548

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Re: Berden Primed Brass
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2013, 12:29:15 PM »
I did some many years ago just to see if it could be done. Drilled primer and pryed it out with a finesh nail. Then drilled center hole and installed primer. It worked, I only did a couple and loaded then very light in 38 caliber. I seem to remember the primer were not at as tight and normal, could have just been the cases I used.
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Offline Gun Runner

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Re: Berden Primed Brass
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2013, 10:07:34 PM »
RCBS makes a tool for decaping them.

Gun Runner
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Offline Dixie Dude

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Re: Berden Primed Brass
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2013, 01:15:58 AM »
I did see the RCBS tool.  It is $59.  Probably not worth it.  Also, one can order Berden primers from Tula Ammo.  However all have to be hand loaded, because too much pressure could damage them.  I suppose if one did light loads it might work.  These are 223.  I could use the lightest load possible, and they might work if I drill them out. 
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Offline Ranch13

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Re: Berden Primed Brass
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2013, 03:28:16 AM »
Berdan primers are generally a bit larger than boxers, they use multiple flash holes and the anvil is built into the case instead of the primer.
Best to either twist off and buy the proper tools to handle those berdans , or scrap those cases and make life simple with boxer primed cases.
Need to be careful as a lot of the berdan primed cases available today are steel.
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Offline Dixie Dude

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Re: Berden Primed Brass
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2013, 10:40:29 AM »
Yes, I know, I throw the steel away.  Has anyone ever thought why they don't sell reloading equipment for reloading steel cases?  I know it would have to be stronger and have more leverage for sizing, but hey, if they are a lot cheaper than brass, why not, especially the 7.62x39 and 7.62x54 which are angled more for easier extraction of of the weapons.  Often also wondered why aircraft aluminum wasn't used for cases.  It could easily be worked with existing equipment, but might have to be thicker for strength, which might affect capacity.  Brass is just getting so expensive, I just though of not wasting the berden primed cases if they could be converted to boxer primed. 
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Offline Ranger99

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Re: Berden Primed Brass
« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2013, 11:23:03 AM »
as far as i know, berdan primed cases
have the primer anvil built into the case
as opposed to the primer anvil being an
integral part of a boxer type primer.
again, i've not tried it, but i would think
it would be dangerous to try to seat
boxer type primers into a berdan type case.
i can't see to where it'd be worth all
the trouble to mess with and have to
purchase extra tooling for loading.
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Offline YRUpunting?

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Re: Berden Primed Brass
« Reply #9 on: April 10, 2013, 11:37:30 AM »
Quote from: Dixie Dude on April 10, 2013, 10:40:29 AM
Yes, I know, I throw the steel away.  Has anyone ever thought why they don't sell reloading equipment for reloading steel cases?  I know it would have to be stronger and have more leverage for sizing, but hey, if they are a lot cheaper than brass, why not, especially the 7.62x39 and 7.62x54 which are angled more for easier extraction of of the weapons.  Often also wondered why aircraft aluminum wasn't used for cases.  It could easily be worked with existing equipment, but might have to be thicker for strength, which might affect capacity.  Brass is just getting so expensive, I just though of not wasting the berden primed cases if they could be converted to boxer primed.

You'll have to do a search using google at the bottom of the main page but reloading steel cases (boxer primed) has been discussed before and there was a lengthy test as well.  I've never had a need to try it but as I recall you use the same equipment you have now but you have to find a method keep the empties from rusting.  If you load them hot they won't last very long (maybe 1 reload), but at mid levels they have been reloaded 8-9 times. 
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Offline wolverine_1

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Re: Berden Primed Brass
« Reply #10 on: April 10, 2013, 02:56:59 PM »
Years ago, my dad reloaded some .43 Spanish Berdan cases by filling them with water, putting a wood dowel in the neck and poping it with his hand.  Out came the primer; he then dried the cases completely, put in new berdan primers, powder, and round balls and we were good to go.
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Gene

Offline geezerbiker

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Re: Berden Primed Brass
« Reply #11 on: April 10, 2013, 03:39:21 PM »
Considering brass isn't that hard to get yet, I'd recycle these and buy ones I could reload.  I sill find good cases on the ground from time to time...

Tony
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