Does anyone have a proven method for deactivating shotshell primers? I know I can cut a hole just above the base and shake the powder out but I don't know a good way to deactivate the primers without shooting them.

When I used to do this I used a few drops of oil into the primer. Apparently primers don't like oil at all!

To deactivate the shells themselves I would undo the crimp and pour out the shot. Then use a corkscrew or a gimlet to remove the wads.

After tipping out the powder I would "oil" the primer and fill the empty powder space with...tea leaves!

I guess in the USA you could use bone dry old coffee grounds that can be had for free.

I would then reseat the wads, put back in the shot and finally close back the crimp.

I have watched this for a while waiting to see the answers. Why do you want to do this? I would think it would destroy any collector value of the cartridges.
Just curious.
C.G.B.

Some countries have laws that prevent ownership or display (say on the wall of a "den") of live cartridges. Or the buyer themselves may not want this "fire risk" hanging on their living room wall!

So when I used to make and sell cartridge boards leinerting the cartridges from live meant that there were no safety liability (and/or ability to legally display for sale) issues!

As many "arms and armour" auction houses were happy to sell cartridge boards with inert cartridges but not to sell live (seen as a potential fire hazard by their insurers and the fire authorities) cartridges.

Is it correct that in the UK you have to have a permit to buy any live cartridges at all?

Yes. WE have TWO permits in force:

1) A Firearm Certificate. Required for ANY rifled arm and for any smoothbore arm that either has a magazine capacity of more than two shots (think traditional Remington pump action or self-loading shot gun) or any smoothbore arm that has a detachable magazine.

2) A Shot Gun Certificate. Basically ONLY traditional single barrel or double barrel side-by-side or over and under shot guns UNLESS a pump action or self-loading where the magazine is permanently attached and modified so as to be incapable of holding more than two rounds.

If buying shot gun cartridges a Certificate has to be produced. If buying from a shipper in bulk the shipper must have either a photocopy or a faxed copy sent to them.

So, unless they are blank cartridges, no permit = no sale!

Umm, you show that you live in the US, so the first question I have is WHY?
We have no laws that require you to inert cartridges/shells for display purposes.
The only "inerting requirement" is that the rounds don't contain more than 1/4oz of high explosives (no worries for those that collect items under 20mm cannon shells). Want/have a live 75mm AP round, perfectly legal, but a 75mm HE loading will need to have the projectile and fuse inerted.

quote:

Umm, you show that you live in the US, so the first question I have is WHY?
We have no laws that require you to inert cartridges/shells for display purposes.

Maybe, as also here in UK over and above permit requirements, something to do with FIRE INSURANCE?

I've never heard of any insurance company (here) having a problem with ammo. Unless your talking about a "Con-ex" container stuffed to the gills with ammo (where the pressure is unable to vent off), ammo in a fire is safer than just about everything else that is normally stored in a house (look at the chemicals your wife has both in the bathroom and under the sink).

Side note, my friends that are on the local fire department have no issues with going into a house where ammo is at. In fact, they store most of their own ammo in their bedroom closets, right next to their rifles/shotguns.

The NFPA does not list small arms ammunition as a fire hazard. In fact they clearly state any projectile from burning ammunition will not pierce a fireman’s outer most garment. And they don’t consider ammunition any more dangerous than an aerosol can.
It would surprise me if any insurance company or even city were to impose stricter regulations than the NFPA here in the US.