Hi All, I am searching for suggestions on decapping double struck Kynoch cases.
I load for a number of odd Westley Richard calibers and these .425 cases are almost feeling like they have "cold welded" together.
I have tried the two small punch method, I end up with two holes in the primer.
I tried the RCBS awl, not luck, leaves the primer in the case, and a ripped case head.
Tried the hydro method, just got wet, after ten or more strikes.

Any suggestions???

Thanks,
Dennis

I've run into the same issues with Berdan primed 404 brass.
The hydraulic method worked for me but, yes, is a bit messy and there are drawbacks with setup, meaning I had to make the tools and use a FLS die to keep the case from bulging from the pressure.

Other than that, I haven't found a fool proof method either. It is too bad that they cannot be converted to shotgun primed cases as can be done with lower pressure black powder cartridges.

Here's what I made - the bottom part is hollow to allow the primer and water to blast out.



Here's the bulging I first encountered.
This can be ironed out with a FLS - sometimes.



THIS cannot...

Some have had luck by running the brass into a FLR die (w/o expander) enough to partially size the neck. Then install a rod type expander. Fill the case with water and press into the die.

Thank you for the ideas, I will give them another go!!...

Case bulging is a problem with hydraulic decapping as the case is unsupported and many of the old Kynoch cases can be rather thin brass at the shoulder and neck area. Remember old Kynoch did not make ammunition to be reloaded so their brass only had to be good for the first firing.

I decap my old Berdan primed Kynoch 404 brass easy enough using a two diameter spring steel pin held in a standard RSBS decapping rod (a lesser calibre one than .423). The pin fits one flash hole and has a flat end to prevent piercing the Berdan primer. The Kynoch primers are sealed in the pocket with a purple shellac of some sort but this doesn't seem to prevent them being decapped. Case is held in the press shell holder with handle down and case up through turret. The knurled adjuster on the decapping stem is set so it is just inside the mouth of the case and held in fingers while stem end is tapped with small hammer. All easy peasy really.


My Berdan primer decapper with spare length of tough spring steel from which I made up the two diameter pin. Has never bent or broken and never failed to decap factory primers or reloads with Berdan primers (Kynoch #81 for the 404 cases).

Hi Eagle27, Thank you for the idea...That slow push might be the ticket...