Knocking out live primers?

I must give Bid Daddy a A+ for a diligent use of our search feature. Good info in this thread that answers some recent questions
 
Never had a primer go off or misfire in 48 years of reloading. I handled them 1 @a time in by old CH press and in my original Ideal Tong Tool loading 30-30's. When I had a doubt about a primer I just put the case into my gun and pulled the trigger. Later on I used, and still use, the Lee Decapping tool. I press the primer back in on my old CH press. The seating stud has a barely visible concave shape so touches primer around the edge. A seated primer is sensitized. When I use the Lee decapping die, the stud end contacts the inside surface of the anvil. Gentle pressure pushes the primer out. I then reuse the primer. As an experiment, I put on a face protection mask and gloves and reseated a number of primers I had removed. I went from light pressue to slamming them in and so far have not had one go off in the process. When fired at the range, never had an FTF. Various primers may have softer or harder metal.
The hammer cuases the firing pin to hit the primer with much greater force than you can on the bench. However DO NOT USE A PUNCH unless you want to risk a finger blown apart.

Today in modern primer manufacturing, a paper or foil disk is placed between the anvil and the explosive mixture. It protects the mixture. Concern about contamination should be minimal. LOL


Frankie B.
 
I did a very limited test once using water to soak the primers in before priming the cases just to see how senestive they were . I soaked cci primers for about 6 hrs and then loaded them into cases.I fired 5 of them without power or bullets (did not want any stuck bullets) and they seemed fine when compared to untreated cases.I then loaded 5 more with normal charges in my 6mm imp. with no change of velocity or accuracy.
However those that play with fire will at some point get burned.
Soaking cases with any type oil or lubricant cause concern to me as to how to easily remove any powder or primer killing residue before proceding with reloading.

I have found myself in the same place as you and to negate the chance of getting burned i fire the primed but empty cases in said rifle to avoid Murphy.

Davey said make sure that you are right and then go ahead.I add that if your are not sure whats right take the safe course.
NH
 
I am having problems understanding the fear of primers. Sure caution should be exercised. here is a little background on my personnal reloading experiences.Back in the mid 70's, I realized my yard mowing income could not support my cost of store bought ammo. I had a Ruger Blackhawk chambered in 30 carbine. I supplied the money and my dad picked up a Lee hammer loader. With the addition of bullets, primers and powder I began to load my ammo for said revolver in the back room of my parents house. The very act of using a Lee hammer loader is to hammer the primer into the primer pocket with a roll pin punch and a rubber hammer. Many the time I allmost pooped my pants when a primer would detonate during the priming process. It would not even push the punch from the case. Never burned my fingers. the harshest thing that would happen was when my mom would make me go outside to load because she was tired of hearing the hammer pound and the primers pop.
 
yeah i guess a primer gose off when loading the check underware light dose pop on for a second or 2.

I was talking to a guy about weather proofing shells.he owns a company that dose reload and shell for manufactures.he tells me he has done test where they put loaded shells in water for 6 weeks and they fire just fine but if they hold them over steam from boiling water they don't fire at all.

Thats for the up date on the thread i have about 80 shells primed that i would liek to retumble do to i used to much lube and they are turning colors.anyways was a newbie mistack.

Now my spelling isn't bad i just get in a hurry and miss letter or put them in the wrong place hahahah yeah my spelling suck's
 
I was loading some trap loads in a Hornady progressive
shotshell press and had a misalined Winchester 209 primer
go off 14" from my face. This is a real pants filler for
sure! ...about like a large firecracker. Wear safety
glasses and hearing protection and go slowly.
 
Quote:
If the primer gets turned upsidedown, I always put a drop of oil on it and let it sit for few minutes before I push it out. Doing that pretty much takes away any chance of the primer going off. I have heard of a few that have had primers go off while they have been punching them out....

-MP


Or better yet, just touch it with your fingers. We all know how that will invariably destroy the explosive properties of a primer /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
After 4 more years and 2-3 cases of primers, I would agree now that pushing out an upsidedown primer is no big deal if you don't use a hand punch. One BR shooter will tell you that you can get hurt if your not careful. Most shooters that use the Lee will get a primer turned once in a while and partly crush them and stick the shellholder.

Punching them out on a die base is the standard way to clear the shell holder and pop it back in, and continue. Using a standard press would be no problem at all.

-MP
 
I got a wild hair last night and tryed it.i took my rcbs neck sizer and run the decaping pit out a good bit.i deprimed 60 shells not one went off.the shells I had to do this with was a first time rloaders mistake.I had way to much lube on them and they changes colors and I didn't like it.I'm glad i pulled them.the powder that was in them had turned green and got all musshie.so I deprimed and put in tumbler and good to go now.I looked at all the primers and they all looked good.i put them in a box of there on and marked them.i will let you guys know if they shoot funny or don't shoot at all.

Thanks
 
Just punch the old unwanted ones out, even if one pops it is not a real big deal but wear eye and ear protection (you should be any how)
 
Primers are not Thermo Nuclear Devices. The most dangerous part of the operation is the little cup. I have heard of them separating. I have never SEEN any evidence to support this though.

If you are de-priming live primers and they are confined in a die and use sensible pressure techniques it's no big deal.

If you are using an old press that has the grooved ram place a deflective sheet between you and the press just in case. If the primers are upside you might want to check out the egress area where the primer cup "might" exit the ram. Should that happen you might be talking in high C for awhile. Again, a few simple steps taken by the operator will preclude any unhappy events.

I should have said earlier, even though they are not Thermo Nuclear they still should garner your respect. I didn't want to be chastised.

Best wishes, Bill
 
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