Primer removal

Tony Z · December 31, 2015, 05:38 PM

I've found a stash of cartridges I sized and primed (.22-250, .250-3000, .270) from at least the early 80's. Problem is I know storage was in areas that may have been moist or even wet.

How do I safely remove these unfired primers, as I don't want to take a chance at squib loads.

ammo.crafter · December 31, 2015, 05:43 PM

I would contact the primer manufacturer for their opinion.

NoSecondBest · December 31, 2015, 05:56 PM

Just pop each one as long as it's not loaded rounds.

steveno · December 31, 2015, 05:59 PM

just remove them just like you would a spent primer. just ease the case into the die

condor bravo · December 31, 2015, 06:57 PM

Likewise 3rd and 4th posts; never had a problem.

LE-28 · December 31, 2015, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Likewise 3rd and 4th posts; never had a problem.

and 5th post. Just push them out with low impact and you won't have any problems.

Slam them and your asking for it.

I push them out and re-use them, no problems.

condor bravo · December 31, 2015, 09:10 PM

I guess we should all add to wear glasses just in case but you would no doubt do that anyway.

Tony Z · December 31, 2015, 10:16 PM

Thanks!

RC20 · December 31, 2015, 10:52 PM

Never thought o reuse them.

But I do push them out the way the others do.

Nodak1858 · January 1, 2016, 12:14 AM

Agree with the push them out. I have done it a lot. But wear glasses, I have had a couple pop off before.

Jim243 · January 1, 2016, 04:11 AM

De-cap them as you would any spent primer, just use a little more care in doing so. Should not be a big problem. I would be sure to wear safety glasses and use gloves just to be on the safe side.

As to re-using them I would not. When they were first loaded into a case, you pushed the anvil into the primer material and it is ready for any kind of strike. My understanding it takes about 35 lbs of force to set them off. If you should accidentally crush one while re-seating it, it has the chance of going off. And depending on the method you use for seating primers, it then has a chance of setting all the other primers off at the same time as well in the tube or tray. That would not be a pretty picture, indeed.

Even at a cost of $40.00 a thousand, setting off 50 or 100 primers at the same time is not worth the $3.00 or $4.00 you would save by reusing them. Just dispose of them in a safe place and manor.

Good luck and stay safe.
Jim

Tony Z · January 1, 2016, 08:03 AM

If I wanted to re-use them, I would not want to remove from the sized/prepped cases! The primers are questionable and I view it a false ecomony to waste powder and bullets. Primers will be discarded, cases ultrsonically cleaned, examined and then used if OK.

jetinteriorguy · January 2, 2016, 09:58 PM

Since your not trying to save the primers perhaps soaking them in water first would neutralize them so they won't go off by accident. Or maybe something else like a drop of oil on them would work.

101combatvet · January 2, 2016, 10:03 PM

Wear safety glasses when de-priming brass with live primers.

David Ozlo · January 2, 2016, 10:44 PM

You will want ear protection also if you reload in an enclosed space.

j357 · January 3, 2016, 12:07 AM

They will most likely work as is, but if you are worried, don't waste your time trying to 'neutralize' them. You will add a whole lot of wasted effort. Deprime the cases as usual. Dispose of the primers in an outside fire at a safe distance or simply pitch them in the trash.

cw308 · January 3, 2016, 03:04 PM

How many rounds are we talking about, if your not going to load them shoot them for trigger time in a safe place, you'll have to clean your rifle. Then deprime clean & check your measurement's. Teach someone how to shoot, turn it into a fun thing. It wouldn't be fun popping those primers out or wasting the powder & bullets when the primers are iffy

Prof Young · January 3, 2016, 10:41 PM

What cw308 said. I thought the same thing.

Live well, be safe
Prof Young

TimSr · January 4, 2016, 09:14 AM

I'd chamber a handful and see if they fire, and suspect they probably will. Then I'd use the rest of them for non-critical target plinking loads.

A squib is usually from a primer that goes off, and powder that fails to ignite. A fail to fire is the likely failure of a bad primer, and not a squib.

December 31, 2015, 05:38 PM	#1
Tony Z Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2013 Location: North Central Pennsyltucky Posts: 749	Primer removal I've found a stash of cartridges I sized and primed (.22-250, .250-3000, .270) from at least the early 80's. Problem is I know storage was in areas that may have been moist or even wet. How do I safely remove these unfired primers, as I don't want to take a chance at squib loads.

December 31, 2015, 05:43 PM	#2
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	primer removal I would contact the primer manufacturer for their opinion. __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

December 31, 2015, 06:57 PM	#5
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	Likewise 3rd and 4th posts; never had a problem. __________________ Ouch, the dreaded "M-1 thumb", you just know it will happen eventually, so why not do it now and get it over with??

December 31, 2015, 09:10 PM	#7
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	I guess we should all add to wear glasses just in case but you would no doubt do that anyway. __________________ Ouch, the dreaded "M-1 thumb", you just know it will happen eventually, so why not do it now and get it over with??

January 1, 2016, 12:14 AM	#10
Nodak1858 Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2009 Location: N. Dakota Posts: 435	Agree with the push them out. I have done it a lot. But wear glasses, I have had a couple pop off before. __________________ We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.

December 31, 2015, 05:56 PM	#3
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	Just pop each one as long as it's not loaded rounds.

December 31, 2015, 05:59 PM	#4
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	just remove them just like you would a spent primer. just ease the case into the die

December 31, 2015, 10:16 PM	#8
Tony Z Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2013 Location: North Central Pennsyltucky Posts: 749	Thanks!

December 31, 2015, 10:52 PM	#9
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Never thought o reuse them. But I do push them out the way the others do.

January 1, 2016, 04:11 AM	#11
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	De-cap them as you would any spent primer, just use a little more care in doing so. Should not be a big problem. I would be sure to wear safety glasses and use gloves just to be on the safe side. As to re-using them I would not. When they were first loaded into a case, you pushed the anvil into the primer material and it is ready for any kind of strike. My understanding it takes about 35 lbs of force to set them off. If you should accidentally crush one while re-seating it, it has the chance of going off. And depending on the method you use for seating primers, it then has a chance of setting all the other primers off at the same time as well in the tube or tray. That would not be a pretty picture, indeed. Even at a cost of $40.00 a thousand, setting off 50 or 100 primers at the same time is not worth the $3.00 or $4.00 you would save by reusing them. Just dispose of them in a safe place and manor. Good luck and stay safe. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

January 1, 2016, 08:03 AM	#12
Tony Z Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2013 Location: North Central Pennsyltucky Posts: 749	If I wanted to re-use them, I would not want to remove from the sized/prepped cases! The primers are questionable and I view it a false ecomony to waste powder and bullets. Primers will be discarded, cases ultrsonically cleaned, examined and then used if OK.

January 2, 2016, 09:58 PM	#13
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,175	Since your not trying to save the primers perhaps soaking them in water first would neutralize them so they won't go off by accident. Or maybe something else like a drop of oil on them would work.

January 2, 2016, 10:03 PM	#14
101combatvet Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2011 Posts: 667	Wear safety glasses when de-priming brass with live primers. __________________ Special Operations Combat Veteran Gunsmith, BS, MFA, Competitive Shooter NRA Certified Firearms Instructor [9 Certifications]

January 2, 2016, 10:44 PM	#15
David Ozlo Member Join Date: November 23, 2015 Posts: 47	You will want ear protection also if you reload in an enclosed space.

January 3, 2016, 12:07 AM	#16
j357 Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2009 Location: Liberty Twp, OH Posts: 283	They will most likely work as is, but if you are worried, don't waste your time trying to 'neutralize' them. You will add a whole lot of wasted effort. Deprime the cases as usual. Dispose of the primers in an outside fire at a safe distance or simply pitch them in the trash.

January 3, 2016, 03:04 PM	#17
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	How many rounds are we talking about, if your not going to load them shoot them for trigger time in a safe place, you'll have to clean your rifle. Then deprime clean & check your measurement's. Teach someone how to shoot, turn it into a fun thing. It wouldn't be fun popping those primers out or wasting the powder & bullets when the primers are iffy

January 3, 2016, 10:41 PM	#18
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,404	What cw308 said . . . What cw308 said. I thought the same thing. Live well, be safe Prof Young

January 4, 2016, 09:14 AM	#19
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	I'd chamber a handful and see if they fire, and suspect they probably will. Then I'd use the rest of them for non-critical target plinking loads. A squib is usually from a primer that goes off, and powder that fails to ignite. A fail to fire is the likely failure of a bad primer, and not a squib.