Berdan primed brass

lockedcj7 · February 22, 2007, 08:33 AM

I discovered yesterday that Berdan-primed brass and decapping pins are a bad mix.

I was resizing/de-capping 30-06 brass and didn't realize there was some 8x57 Berdan-primed brass mixed in. I thought it was taking more force than usual and when I pulled the ram back down, the de-capping pin was bent in a perfect "L". The stupid thing is that I knew the brass was different and I kept going anyway.

Note to self - verify correct caliber before sizing!

Windwalker · February 22, 2007, 04:49 PM

Been there done that many times, they seem to slip in with the regular brass despite my best intentions. Not as often as they used too, but they do.

Berdan should be pronounced "Bur-Damn" The only thing you can do is be more vigilant and before long you'll recognize "Berdan" w/o looking into the case.

WW

**Mike Irwin** · February 22, 2007, 10:17 PM

That's why I love Lee reloading dies. You hit a berdan primed case and the stem pops up. I've never lost a decapping pin yet.

happy7 · February 22, 2007, 10:48 PM

Plus Lee dies are so easy to ajust, especially seating and crimp dies. Of course they are also priced right.

Windwalker · February 22, 2007, 11:27 PM

Yes, I'll agree the Lee dies are the thing to have. I should have mentioned them earlier. If I have to replace my current dies that's the direction I'm headed. I don't have much of a problem with the berdan, but it does happen once in a while. If I wasn't so tight with a nickel I'd replace my FL/decap dies with Lee's but mine are working fine for now.

Rico567 · February 23, 2007, 06:38 AM

Yep- the Lee decapping system is the best, when you run into a Berdan case. But long before my first set of Lee dies, I used Lyman and RCBS, and I learned to keep a spare stem and a pack of decapping pins in my spare parts. It's all part of life's rich pageant when you're a reloader....

cheygriz · February 23, 2007, 12:44 PM

Since some of the world's finest ammo has been loaded in Berdan cases, it's a damn shame there isn't a quick easy way to salvage that brass and reload them.

Years ago, someone made a berdan decapping tool thast used a boxer primer in a jig that was inserted into the case mouth, and pushed down until it hit the web. The force of the new primer knocked out the berdan primer and you were ready to reload. Unfortunately, it never caught on commercially.

If the guy that invented that contraption is reading this forum, perhaps it's time to bring it back. I'll buy the first one off the line!

February 22, 2007, 08:33 AM	#1
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	Berdan primed brass I discovered yesterday that Berdan-primed brass and decapping pins are a bad mix. I was resizing/de-capping 30-06 brass and didn't realize there was some 8x57 Berdan-primed brass mixed in. I thought it was taking more force than usual and when I pulled the ram back down, the de-capping pin was bent in a perfect "L". The stupid thing is that I knew the brass was different and I kept going anyway. Note to self - verify correct caliber before sizing!

February 22, 2007, 04:49 PM	#2
Windwalker Member Join Date: December 26, 2006 Location: Utah, dead center Posts: 19	Been there done that many times, they seem to slip in with the regular brass despite my best intentions. Not as often as they used too, but they do. Berdan should be pronounced "Bur-Damn" The only thing you can do is be more vigilant and before long you'll recognize "Berdan" w/o looking into the case. WW __________________ "Life sucks when making a living gets in the way of living."

February 22, 2007, 10:17 PM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	That's why I love Lee reloading dies. You hit a berdan primed case and the stem pops up. I've never lost a decapping pin yet. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 22, 2007, 11:27 PM	#5
Windwalker Member Join Date: December 26, 2006 Location: Utah, dead center Posts: 19	Yes, I'll agree the Lee dies are the thing to have. I should have mentioned them earlier. If I have to replace my current dies that's the direction I'm headed. I don't have much of a problem with the berdan, but it does happen once in a while. If I wasn't so tight with a nickel I'd replace my FL/decap dies with Lee's but mine are working fine for now. __________________ "Life sucks when making a living gets in the way of living."

February 23, 2007, 06:38 AM	#6
Rico567 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Posts: 162	Yep- the Lee decapping system is the best, when you run into a Berdan case. But long before my first set of Lee dies, I used Lyman and RCBS, and I learned to keep a spare stem and a pack of decapping pins in my spare parts. It's all part of life's rich pageant when you're a reloader.... __________________ "Dear reader, suppose you are a member of Congress. Now, further suppose you are an idiot. But I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

February 22, 2007, 10:48 PM	#4
happy7 Junior Member Join Date: January 21, 2007 Posts: 8	Plus Lee dies are so easy to ajust, especially seating and crimp dies. Of course they are also priced right.

February 23, 2007, 12:44 PM	#7
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	Since some of the world's finest ammo has been loaded in Berdan cases, it's a damn shame there isn't a quick easy way to salvage that brass and reload them. Years ago, someone made a berdan decapping tool thast used a boxer primer in a jig that was inserted into the case mouth, and pushed down until it hit the web. The force of the new primer knocked out the berdan primer and you were ready to reload. Unfortunately, it never caught on commercially. If the guy that invented that contraption is reading this forum, perhaps it's time to bring it back. I'll buy the first one off the line! __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.