How to remove Berdan primers?

[Bigboar]

How to remove live Berdan primers?  I have been given a quanity of Berdan primed breass, does any one know how to remove a live<corrosive, Berdan primer?


bigboar

[Castaway]

One way is to fill the case with water and then run the case through a die with the decapping pin removed (probably could leave it on).  I'm curious, why would you want to remove live primers?

[Bigboar]

To use the brass without contaminating with the corrosive primimg.

bigboar

[PA-Joe]

If you leave the decapping pin in it will bottom out at the bottom of the case or bend. You cannot use boxer primers in a  Berdan case. Are you buying new Berdan primers? Better off just shooting them as is and then celaning your gun after wards!

[jack19512]

How to remove live Berdan primers?  I have been given a quanity of Berdan primed breass, does any one know how to remove a live<corrosive, Berdan primer?


bigboar

Sure, it's easy.  Just curious what caliber?  I reload the Swiss 7.5X55 Berdan primed mil-surplus ammo.  A lot of people will tell you that it is hard to reload Berdan primed brass but it isn't.  A lot of those people that say this haven't even reloaded any Berdan primed brass.  They are just passing on what they have been told or what they have read.

The tool to remove Berdan primers can be costly or it can be extremely simple.  I like to stick with the simple when I can.  Here is a pic of my Berdan primer decapping tool.  It didn't cost me anything.


This tool works extremely well.  I generally decap around 100 cases while I watch TV.  This tool, a shell holder for the caliber you are working with, a hammer, and some water is all you need.  I use this old cutting board as a work area when I do mine.  But I will tell you, it is easier to decap these than find a reliable source for Berdan primers.  Unless you know something I don't.

[Waldog]

Berdan primers are more trouble than they are worth. If you do decide to proceed you need to deactivate the primers first.  Water is OK, but a small drop of oil kills primers instantly.  Then they would be safe to decap.  A much easier course is to pitch the case and buy new boxer primed cases.  There are several companies that make brass for just about anything ever invented.  Do a web search and you should be able to find new cases without the headache of berdan primers.

[Questor]

I would use oil to deactivate the primer, then wear hand, eye, and ear protection while doing it.

[Don Fischer]

I'm with Waldog. Much easier to get boxer primed cases and not fool with it. But jack 19512's idea seems like a way to spend some time if you enjoy that. Probally be kinda neat to sit around and tell people you do Berdans and be able to show them. That's why I have my 6.5-06, nobody else around here does and I can talk about mystery's they don't understand, a 280 would do just as well maybe better.

[jack19512]

I'm with Waldog. Much easier to get boxer primed cases and not fool with it. But jack 19512's idea seems like a way to spend some time if you enjoy that.

The reason I started reloading the Swiss 7.5X55 Berdan primed brass was...
1.  At the time I didn't have any trouble getting the Berdan primers.
2.  I thought the Swiss brass was very good quality brass and just couldn't justify buying Boxer primed brass when I had so much of the Swiss brass on hand.

Now, having said that.  I can't seem to find a reliable source for the Berdan primers now and having read so many testimonials about how easy and how well the Winchester 284 brass works out for the Swiss 7.5X55 I have ordered 200 of them.  Basically out of fear that the supply of them might dry up or whatever.

If I had a source for the Berdan primers I wouldn't fool with buying the Boxer primed brass for the Swiss 7.5X55 as I am completely satisfied reloading the Berdan primed Swiss brass.  I also have some 8mm Berdan primed brass that I wanted to reload but my supply of the Berdan primers are dwindling and I wanted to save what Berdan primers I have left in case I find the need for them in the future for whatever reason.

I enjoyed reloading the Berdan primed brass but I would be lying if I said it wasn't more work or trouble but never the less I enjoyed doing it.  Unlike a lot of people that reload I reload for the enjoyment of reloading.  Not just to reload a bunch of ammo and then go shoot it up.  I take my time and strive for quality not quantity.  I found it very easy to reload the Berdan primed brass but others feel differently and that is OK.   

[jack19512]

I should add that one of the reasons my opinions about reloading differ from some is because I think I am very lucky not needing to reload 1000 rounds at a time or needing the best equipment money can buy because I try to make up for whatever shortcomings my equipment might have.

I hand measure(trickle charge) every powder charge of every round I reload and I get the scale pointer right on the money, if it goes over I start over.  I enjoy doing this and wouldn't have it any other way.  I guess it just depends on what you want out of it when it comes to reloading.

[Don Fischer]

Right on Jack, I also do it because I like it. Now tell me, I see the drill bit, I guess you drill out the primers. Do you use a drill with a stop or what? Think I'm gonna start a new thred on home made gadgets for reloading.

[ajj]

Whoa! Do NOT assume that oil will "kill primers instantly." People who have tested this say that some boxer primers will pop for days or weeks after having been soaked in oil. That primer cake is hard. Some are coated or covered with foil. Most are highly resistant to oil and even more so to water. Primers are always dangerous. Be careful.

[jack19512]

Now tell me, I see the drill bit, I guess you drill out the primers. Do you use a drill with a stop or what?

No, you do not drill out the primers.     You fill the case with water and then stick the drill bit into the case mouth and then whack with a hammer.  The primer pops right out most of the time on the first whack.

You put the case in the appropriate shell holder for the caliber you are reloading so if the primer was active it should never go off because the drill bit, or whatever you want to use never comes in contact with the primer, if it does you are not doing something right.

Some say it is messy but it isn't for me.  You have a mess or some may have water squirt on them but I never have.  The secret to doing it this way is to have a good fit between your tool and case mouth.  Snug fit between tool and case mouth = no mess.  Loose fit between tool and case mouth = mess.

Not to mention that in order to get the hydraulic action you are after you have to have a good fit between tool and case mouth.  In all of the Swiss 7.5X55 ammo I have reloaded so far I havn't had a misfire or any other problem yet.

[Don Fischer]

Jack, that is intresting. I have seen the berdan primer remover and I have heard of removing them with hydrolics, never had it explained tho. Makes sense that it would work. I'd assumed that there was some kind of tool that hydrolically did it.