I have some FN brass here for the 7x57
It's from 1970, not corrosive etc

I thought that I'd had a stash of Berdan primers, but evidently not

Can anyone here steer me in the direction of some 0.217" Berdan primers?

Thanks

Hen's teeth would be a lot easier to find. Good luck.

I replied to your same question on other forum and just wondering if the spent primers have been decapped on your FN brass. Decapping Berdan primers from relatively common 7x57 brass is hardly worth the effort.
I reload Berdan primed .404J brass as this big case brass is expensive to purchase but for the hassle of decapping and finding Berdan primers I wouldn't bother for common brass.

Sorry I can't help you with .217 primers, we live way to far apart

Boxer primed 7x57 brass easier to find than Berdan primers.

It's something that I have, a few hundred primed cases, and I'll run them as they are

Since the proper primers are in current production it seems natural to seek them

I don't know if there's a current RWS importer to USA, perhaps I'll look in that direction

If they're sending anything to us over here, some supply of berdan primers shouldn't take too much space in the shipping packaging for a future order

A look through the interwebs shows others besides myself looking - maybe a call or two is in order

I believe these are .217

https://fedarm.com/product/primers-berdan-762/

Edit: tried to add to the cart and out of stock popped up.

Back in the dark ages before we could get 7.62x39, I used to convert cases to use Boxer primers.
Now, I would not bother doing that, or loading Berdan brass either. It's a waster of time and money.
Just get some Boxer brass..

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Back in the dark ages before we could get 7.62x39, I used to convert cases to use Boxer primers.
Now, I would not bother doing that, or loading Berdan brass either. It's a waster of time and money.
Just get some Boxer brass..

Have you seen large rifle primers for sale anywhere?

The other consideration with using Berdan primers is that they do not fit the standard LR primer magazine tubes or the seating ram on the reloading press. I don't use separate priming tools so do not know if they accommodate the slightly larger .217 Berdan primers either.
The .217 Berdan primers can be placed individually on the primer ram sleeve and then the ram will seat them in the case primer pockets. It's a bit of a slow process priming Berdan cases but works okay. As mentioned earlier I just wouldn't bother for common cases, just sticking to boxer primed brass.

Then of course you have the hassle of decapping to contend with.

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:
... Berdan primers do not fit the standard LR primer magazine tubes or the seating ram on the reloading press...
... the hassle of decapping ...

I don't ever bother with primer tubes when loading for boxer primers
Not an issue

Decapping is ultra simple
No water, no strange tool
Not the same as boxer, with the decapping pin of the typical dies, but super simple

It's not a process that's completely analogous to boxer, but it's not difficult

Ok, what is your technique?

No it is not technically difficult or hard to reload Berdan primed cases, just not as simple and quick as for Boxer primed.
I use a decapping pin I made from spring steel, two diameter so it will fit in a standard Lyman decapping stem with a smaller sizing spud to fit through a larger diameter case mouth, locate one of the flash holes in the case head and then knock out the spent Berdan primer. No mess and no damage to the anvil which can happen with pick type tools. You just can't decap as the case is resized as you can with Boxer brass in FL dies.

For cleaning primer pockets I use screw driver blade tips in an extension magnetic holder, #8 U tip for .217 Berdan primer pockets and #4.5 slotted blade tip for LR Boxer pockets

My Berdan primer decapper and pocket cleaner (LR Boxer pocket cleaner bit on right).

A pin punch like Eagle shows, or invert the case and hold it in a seating die with the case head up and punch them out with a chisel tip punch. One strike with a light hammer and they're out.

Seating is same as the boxer primer

It's really easy

Note here, I make cartridge cases from bar stock for old double rifles that run obsolete cartridge systems

Berdan is current technology - there's nothing to it besides getting the primers

As I illustrated above, finding large rifle primers is also difficult in today's marketplace

I have 3-400 Berdan primers. Will check size. Traveling for a few days.

Old Western Scrounger used to sell Berdan primers but I don't think they are still in business.

quote:

Originally posted by JonP:
I have 3-400 Berdan primers. Will check size. Traveling for a few days.

Thanks Jon

I'll stand by

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Michalski:
Old Western Scrounger used to sell Berdan primers but I don't think they are still in business.

Michael thanks for the comment

I have contact with the fellow who ended up with the pile of Old Western Scrounger things

I've asked him and it doesn't look like he has anything in the size I need

Appreciated

I'm glad to know a pin can be fashioned strong enough in that small diameter. I always thought it would be too weak. Would a boxer decapper pin ground to a smaller diameter work or do I need something like drill rod or the smooth end of a broken drill bit?

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:
No it is not technically difficult or hard to reload Berdan primed cases, just not as simple and quick as for Boxer primed.
I use a decapping pin I made from spring steel, two diameter so it will fit in a standard Lyman decapping stem with a smaller sizing spud to fit through a larger diameter case mouth, locate one of the flash holes in the case head and then knock out the spent Berdan primer. No mess and no damage to the anvil which can happen with pick type tools. You just can't decap as the case is resized as you can with Boxer brass in FL dies.

For cleaning primer pockets I use screw driver blade tips in an extension magnetic holder, #8 U tip for .217 Berdan primer pockets and #4.5 slotted blade tip for LR Boxer pockets

My Berdan primer decapper and pocket cleaner (LR Boxer pocket cleaner bit on right).

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bobster:
I'm glad to know a pin can be fashioned strong enough in that small diameter. I always thought it would be too weak. Would a boxer decapper pin ground to a smaller diameter work or do I need something like drill rod or the smooth end of a broken drill bit? [QUOTE]

I have tried a couple of different options to grind down a pin suitable for decapping Berdan primers but most would bend and break eventually. I just happened to come across a 3" length of steel pin material in one of my boxes of bits and pieces that appears to be spring steel i.e. it is tough but you can flex it without bending.
I cut a short piece off and in my battery drill resting the protruding pin against a hard backing, used a file to reduce the diameter down to fit one of the Berdan case flash holes. It easily knocks out Kynoch factory primers that have been sealed with lacquer. Not sure how well it would deal with any crimped military primers.

This wire that Eagle speaks of is commonly referred to as "Music Wire" and is available at most model airplane hobby stores.
You might be able to find it at a quality hardware store, like an old-style True Value Hardware store. I doubt home depot or Lowes will have it.

I wouldn't bother with modifying a factory decapping pin.

Also I doubt this pin method would work on crimped primers

quote:

Originally posted by a.tinkerer:
Also I doubt this pin method would work on crimped primers

True and the problem is because the pin is of a smaller profile than the normal boxer pin it can pierce a stubborn primer rather than decap it, despite the pin having a flat, very slightly chamfered end to try and prevent piercing.

All in all like I and others have said, reloading cases with Berdan primers can work out okay all going well but is not without hassles which for expensive and hard to find brass maybe justified but for common stuff, hardly.