Has anyone tried to reload this stuff?
I understand that you can buy berdan primers. But lets assume I can�t, or don�t want to.

What could I use to make these primers?
This is more of a curiosity rather than a practical plan on actually doing this.

Thanks

Throw the stuff away and forget about it!

Boxer & Berdan primers are made opposite. The boxer primer hasthe anvil in the primer. The Berdan has the anvil in the case. The only way to get the boxer to work in a Berdan case is remove the anvil from the primer pocket by reaming. Then the primer may still not fit in the pocket, depth, diameter. It's really too much trouble. All of that & you still have to get the berdan primer out of the case, although they do makr special tools for that.

On 55 cal Boyes antitank brass, that I am making a wildcat out of I take out berdan primer, use a little end mill to
take out anvil, and deepen pocket and 50 bmg boxer
primers fit in tight..The two small Berdan flash holes I enlarge about a third, and when bmg primers are put in the anvil legs or supports are set 90 degrees away from the two
flash holes.To remove primers you can use Berdan decapper,
or hydraulic pressure with case full of water and a tight
plunger in case that you hit with a hammer.Ed.

The best system I have found to remove Berdan primers is with a sharp punch (ice pick).
Punch into the ptime a little off center to miss the anvil. A twist and it's out. If you try the "water piston "
method put on a rain coat, and start the wipers on your glasses. What a mess.
The only source for Berdan primers that I know of is the "Old Scrounger". They aren't cheap.
Good luck!

depends...

it can be done, but it doesn't work right on small and large primers.

berdan (interestingly enough, berdan is from the US, and teh US doesn't use that primer) primers are slightly larger than boxer primers, on a given "size".

say you had 7.62x54r or 7.62x39, and you bought the little kit to drill the anvil out/place a single hole in the bottom... you have to use nial polish, or something close, to make sure the primers dont fall out in your pocket or under recoil.

However, I did used to use the super cheap 7.62x54r rounds as "primed brass" by pulling them down, throwing away the powder AND the bullets, and shooting 150 and 180gr .311 speer /sierra bullets in my tokarov. It was so hard on brass (fluted chamber) that even norma brass required annealing after 2 or 3 shots

jeffe

No, no, no, no
Let�s assume you could not buy primers any more. Let�s assume you could not buy loaded ammunition any more.

I want to know how to �make� a primer. Boxer primers fall apart when I deprime them. Berdan primers appear to be reusable, if I could make a priming compound. In addition I should be able to make caps for my black powder guns.

Now, I know I will never be able to make it as consistent as factory primers.

I understand primer compound would probably be an explosive. I will have to implement safety controls.

I have reloaded some of it by popping the primers by filling a neck-sized case with water and using a Lyman 310 tool expading chamber & plug to hydraulically remove the spent primer. et the cases drty for a couple of days before repriming. This method also washes out the flash holes and primer pockets. Admittedly, it is a little more trouble to prepare Berdan-primed cases for reloading, but there's no reason not to, if you feel like it! Steel cases seem to be made from some pretty mild steel, and don't unduly strain reloading dies if you aren't reloading just scads of ammo.



Somehow, throwing away cartridge cases, even cheap ones, seems to go against my grain! I also reload Wolf brand .45 ACP cases, which have Boxer primers.





Assume you cannot buy primers any more! Priming mixture that is used by ammo manufacturers is very volatile stuff! Although there MAY be something you could safely use at home, I don't have any idea of what it might be! Commercial priming mixture is very dangerous, and most knowledgeable people would recommend that one NOT FOOL WITH IT AT HOME!! < !--color-->

i understand this can be done...

I also understand that the creation of muercury fulmanate (this is the corrosive primer, but far eaiser to make) is both illegal and IMMEDATELY hazzardous to your health.

let's assume you CAN make MF, then it's a simple excercise to place a drop into the cup.. and the LONG SWEATS to hope it does go off.. think comic/western version of nitro

jeffe

Several times I have read of American Indians reloading rim fire cases with match heads. Awhile back
Backwoodsman had an article on the subject. Start with blue tip matches. Cut the white tips off and
mix them into a paste with water. Push the mixture into the rim, and let dry.
I am many years past the age where I would try this sort of thing. If I were to try it I would certainly
only mix a little at a time. I doubt if it would ignite smokeless powder, probably a small charge of fffg would
be needed.
I do not recommend this, but the question was "can it be done".
A definite maybe.
Good Luck!

Read General Fertig's autobiography for an account of loading the 30-06 cartridge with rebuilt primers, explosives from mines,and bullets hacksawed from brass curtain rods.

It was boxer primers he reloaded at first with match heads later with homemade potassium chlorate.

Fertig was a mining engineer in the Philippines prior to WW2.He accept a commission of major in the U.S. Army then refused to surrender when the Philipines fell.He promoted himself to general and lead the guerilla movement until the Philippines were recaptured.

WC

Someone, I think CH or Forster, used to make a little tool to make home made percusion caps for BP guns. The power source were ordinary cap pistol caps. You could try a web search on percusion caps.

Rws makes most sizes of berdan primers.Ed.

RCBS does make a tool which will dig out the Berdan primers. I used RWS primers for reloading Berdan-primed cases. They come in boxes of 250.

I am kind of surprised that no one has done this. Then again, I know better than to play with fulminated mercury or potassium chlorate.

I guess I will continue to experiment with other ideas.

You might be able to use the old Lachmiller berdan decapping tool and buy primers from the Old Western Scrounger. Steel cases are not considered reloadable because the steel does not rebound or spring the way brass does. Needs one helluva lube, too. RCBS probably still makes that old decapping tool.