OK the story is I just had to pull 50 rounds for reasons I don't need to go into. Anyway the primers are all unfired and were removed so I could re-size the brass. Now I'm wondering if I can re-use the primers??
Funny thing is I've been re-loading for about 15+ years and never had this situation come up so figured I'd ask!!

Sarge

I do it all the time....
They will go in like they are loose in the case, but they are not....

When I screw up loads like that, I will pull the decapping pin out of the die, and then partially new size them after they are tumbled, so I don't punch out the primer... but expand the neck...

If you have never had to do this before, then you are better than a lot of us, or don't reload as often as we do....

I screw up all the time and have to disassemble brass... or just change my mind on something...

cheers
seafire

quote:

Originally posted by SargeRN:
the primers are all unfired and were removed so I could re-size the brass. Now I'm wondering if I can re-use the primers??

Sarge, by adding the highlighted line, you circumvented the usual discussion "is pulling a life primer a dangerous operation ?" which generally yields a great variety of opinions and procedures :-).

quote:

Originally posted by waitaminit:

quote:

Originally posted by SargeRN:
the primers are all unfired and were removed so I could re-size the brass. Now I'm wondering if I can re-use the primers??

Sarge, by adding the highlighted line, you circumvented the usual discussion "is pulling a life primer a dangerous operation ?" which generally yields a great variety of opinions and procedures :-).

Wow. Glad you did not blow anything up removing those live primers. Not that I have seen it firsthand, somefolks in here talk about primers like they are handling a shot glass of nitro in a room full of rat traps barefoot(that was a kickass analogy, came up with that one on the fly!!). Anyhow, you can keep the primers in the brass, just back out the expander enough so the decapping pin doesnt touch the primer at all. But wait, you were asking if you can re seat those old primers. They might not seat as tight as the first time cause the brass might have resized them a pinch, or they might go in without any problems. If those primers do not have any visible deformities, I would seat a couple and get a feel to see if they go in looser than using "unseated" primers. If they are deformed in any way, I would steer clear of them. Then again too, you could play it safe and chuck em, and start fresh. I mean, they are only $20 for 1,000.

Yeah, well unless you're one of those anal retentive automatrons, you'll end up disasembling loads one way or another

I would be hesitant using those primers for loads you'd have to trust your life or a hunt of a lifetime on, as more handling means more chance of contaminating them with oil, or perahps damaging the anvil. That said, I'd have absolutely no hesitance to use them at the range.

Reloading is about shooting more, and 50 extra caps means 50 more rounds downrange

I would safely dispose of them. Especially if I were loading hunting loads.

I've also "deprimed" a few using a universal primer with no problem. but I keep my face away and wear glasses.

A reseated primer will have been slightly undersized by the primer cup and may blow out when the round is fired. Most lkely not a problem in a bolt gun but can be a royal pain in the tushie in an AR-15. It stops 'em right up; it happened to me.

SargeRN
Just a suggestion about what to do when this happens..
If you remove the decaping pin from the sizer die, then you can size away and the primer will stay in place so you don't have to go through all that.. Just be sure that you don't get any lube material near or into the live primer, and wipe down the cases immediately.

If you MUST remove live primers do it slowly and carefully and be sure to have good eye protection. Even though primers are designed to go off with a hard deliberate blow to the anvil, ya never know.. I have never had a mishap doing this but it always makes me nervous..

Guys THANKS for all the advice!!
Sarge

quote:

Originally posted by gixxer:
...Glad you did not blow anything up removing those live primers. Not that I have seen it firsthand, somefolks in here talk about primers like they are handling a shot glass of nitro in a room full of rat traps barefoot(that was a kickass analogy, came up with that one on the fly!!). ...

Hey Gixxer, I'd say Sarge DID NOT use "denton's method" known colloquially as "The World's Most Ignorant Reloading Suggestion".

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:

quote:

Originally posted by gixxer:
...Glad you did not blow anything up removing those live primers. Not that I have seen it firsthand, somefolks in here talk about primers like they are handling a shot glass of nitro in a room full of rat traps barefoot(that was a kickass analogy, came up with that one on the fly!!). ...

Hey Gixxer, I'd say Sarge DID NOT use "denton's method" known colloquially as "The World's Most Ignorant Reloading Suggestion".

Dude! I totally forgot about that thread!! That is about as redneck as filling upside down empty beer cans with butane and lighting em with a regular cigarette lighter!! My wife would kick my ass the first time I shot an allen wrench through the garage wall into the kitchen!

That reminds me of that other guy here in the forum who's quote at the bottom of their post is "Oh nothing mom, just pounding live primers with a HAMMER"!!!! Too funny.