Removing Unused Primers

12 February 2005, 06:18

Winny1

Quick question,

A friend was moving and found about 100 rounds of .308 that he had for some time (5+ yrs.) and no longer has a .308. He gave me the rounds and told me that "a buddy" made them for him. There is no load data listed with the rounds and I'm sure not going to take any chances. The brass is Lke City match and I would like to use it. I know to pull the round and dump the powder, but how do I remove the un-used primer short of making it go "bang?"

12 February 2005, 06:20

ShopCartRacing

Everyone has had to do this at least once in their lives.
I just run it through the decapping/sizing die really really slow.

However, because you have alot of them, I would just suggest that the next time you go to the range, take the primered brass with you and pop them off.

-Spencer

12 February 2005, 06:28

Papershredder

I just pop them off.Primers are cheap!!

12 February 2005, 07:35

Puncher

Winny,
A coupla' years back, I gotta hold of a coupla' hunnerd rounds of 1940's vintage Lake City ammo. I pulled the bullets, dumped the powder and deprimed by running the cases through a universal decapping die SLOWLY. Only one detonated. The dog took a dim view of this, as he was on the futon nearby, but no damage or injury resulted.

13 February 2005, 06:31

TBF

I too have poked alot of unfired primers out of brass, never had one go bang, yet...

Make sure the bench is cleared of loose powder ( DUH ! ) and make sure the wife is at the store or something too, just in case.

Travis F.

13 February 2005, 09:33

Skidly

..... and make sure the cartridge is NOT 50BMG!!

13 February 2005, 13:06

mho

If you decide to decap them, wear eyeprotection. (Stating the obvious here

)

If you want to pop them, you can also do so inside your garage, or in your yard. Just put the muzzle against a balled up rag. It is a pretty noisy and dirty operation, but the rag cuts down on both noise and gunk. You'll still need to clean the bore afterwards, though.
- mike

13 February 2005, 15:17

Sanman

I remove live primers by using my Lee Challenger press and a Lee Universal Decapping die. I place a heavy towel over the press while decapping the case to contain the primer should it decide to pop. The Lee press has a hollow ram with the exit hole for spent primers being on the backside of the ram. If it should pop, it would exit the ram away from me. So far, I've never had one to go off, and I recently deprimed 50 rounds of 45ACP.

Rick

13 February 2005, 20:10

El Deguello

quote:
Originally posted by Winny1:
Quick question,

A friend was moving and found about 100 rounds of .308 that he had for some time (5+ yrs.) and no longer has a .308. He gave me the rounds and told me that "a buddy" made them for him. There is no load data listed with the rounds and I'm sure not going to take any chances. The brass is Lke City match and I would like to use it. I know to pull the round and dump the powder, but how do I remove the un-used primer short of making it go "bang?"

I have been decapping live primers for about 40+ years, with never a "pop"! However, ONLY UNCRIMPED-IN PRIMERS! U.S. Match cases never were crimped, so yours should be OK. I use a Lyman 310 tool decapping die, and PUSH slowly!!

14 February 2005, 06:49

JAL

quote:
Originally posted by Winny1:
Quick question,

A friend was moving and found about 100 rounds of .308 that he had for some time (5+ yrs.) and no longer has a .308. He gave me the rounds and told me that "a buddy" made them for him. There is no load data listed with the rounds and I'm sure not going to take any chances. The brass is Lke City match and I would like to use it. I know to pull the round and dump the powder, but how do I remove the un-used primer short of making it go "bang?"

I'm not sure why you would want to deprime them
anyway, usually any half wit reloader can get
the primers in OK.
But I've removed hundreds of primers the usual
way, even mil crimp ones, none have gone off,
but eye protection is minium, and a rag in the
way as you do each one doesn't take much effort
either.
JL

14 February 2005, 10:07

CDH

Primers can get loud, especially in a closed room. It may sound silly, but as one who has been there, I might suggest ear plugs too!

I just thought that primer was a dud and after pulling the bullet to check for missing powder, I popped it in the pistol...quite loud!

16 February 2005, 05:22

Dwight

I have punched a few out over the years without a problem but I am more safety aware now and prefer to pop them in the garage when the need arises. You will need to do a good barrel cleaning afterwards. Popping primers will really get it scuzzed up.

16 February 2005, 19:07

Cal Sibley

I usually take them in the garage and shoot them off, after removing the bullet and powder. I have driven them back out slowly with my sizing die and decapping pin. I've never had one go off on me but still don't feel comfortable doing it.
Primers are not very expensive so there's no big loss by shooting them off. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal