Primer problem

DocCoyote

New member
I accidentally pressed a primer into a shell upside down, anybody ever tried to remove these to salvage a shell? The primer remover on my dies looks frighteningly similar to a firing pin and I'm a little nervous to go pressing on the primer face with it. I know primers require an impact to go off, but I'm not sure if the force of removing the primer is a dangerous thing. Any experience with a goof like this? Thanks for your help.

Doc Coyote
 
Yes , I have had primers turn on me . Simply clear your work area around your press , EYE PROTECTION , place a shield between the press and handle , and remove the primer. After soak the primer with oil to destroy it to avoid using it again . A small pail with news print should work sufficiant as a shield over your press . I use a Lee priming tool now , I have found it simple to use and pretty much foolproof on primer mishaps .
 
My eyes and hands are worth more than one piece of brass, soak in oil and dispose of, why risk it for a single piece of brass!
 
Gary,
What you are saying about the WD-40 is not always true. I also have been loading for 30 yrs and I can assure you that WD-40 can not always be assured to "deaden" a primer.

How do I know? I done the test. I filled a primed case 1/8" with WD-40 and let it sit for 12 hrs or more, drined it and stuck it in the rifle....pulled tiggger and guess what, it went bang! NOT ALL PRIMERS ARE CREATED EQUAL.

If the primer is "upside down" and if I really needed to save the case, I would just lay it in container with water for a couple days and then slowly and gently push it out with the die. If done slowly it should be ok.....at least it has worked for me!
You could also stick the case in the freezer for several hours and then knock the primer out quickly. The primer should slip out a little easier at this temp.
 
I started loading in 1972 and load for more than 30 different cal's. Removing the primer you are talking about is no big deal . Just wear some safety glasses and press it out slow and easy. Primers are not that easy to fire or you couldn't even carry a loaded round in your pocket. Just think about the jolt they take when you fire a 45 Auto and the slide strips the case from the mag and then slams it home. It pays to be safe but you are worrying about nothing. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
When I was a kid I put an empty primed shotgun shell in a vice, put some on ear plugs and safety glasses and hit the primer with a punch and a hammer. The primer went off like an M80! Lucky for me, a dumb kid, I didn't lose function of any body parts. I'm assuming that's the worst that would happen with a rifle primer. But I think I agree with the majority here that the shell is not worth it. I'm just a frugal student and have been known to pinch a penny in two.

Doc Coyote
 
Decapping live primers isn't a problem if you work the press slowly. It's an abrupt strike that sets a primer off. You can crush them in pliers and they wont pop, but set them on the curb and smack em' with a hammer and you've got some redneck firecrackers.
 


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