De-Capping a live Large Pistol Primer

ThisIsMySig · July 8, 2012, 11:07 AM

Can this be safely done?

sheltbt · July 8, 2012, 11:25 AM

I have done it several times. Put some glasses on and go real slow.

Lost Sheep · July 8, 2012, 11:39 AM

If you are doing it in a press, yes, there is very little danger of setting it off if you press it out slowly with the same method you use with spent primers.

If you are using one of the Lee Load-All tools (the ones powered by a mallet), use hearing protectors as well as eye protection and gloves. And small taps of the mallet. Or use a vice to press it out. (I am pretty sure you have a press, but others reading this thread may not).

Better yet, use this as a learning experience and chamber the round and fire the primer off in the empty case. It will give you an appreciation for the amount of energy released by a primer.

Lost Sheep

p.s. I started shooting and loading in 1975 when I was stationed at Williams Air Base near Chandler. Used to visit a gun shop in Apache Junction all the time.

DeadCenter · July 8, 2012, 11:41 AM

Have done it several times also without issue. As stated, just go slow.

jcwit · July 8, 2012, 12:00 PM

Just press it out. Primers ignite with impact not pressure.

This seems to come up here at least once a week.

howlnmad · July 8, 2012, 02:49 PM

^ That says it all.

wncchester · July 8, 2012, 03:47 PM

If it does go off - and that's unlikely - it's just a little bitty cap, not a stick of dynamite so it won't blow your arm off.

chris in va · July 8, 2012, 09:23 PM

It's not a 'little bitty cap'. Definitely has force behind it.

Jbotto · July 8, 2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

It's not a 'little bitty cap'. Definitely has force behind it.

I agree with Chris. I was amazed at the force they have when I set one off in a vice. Sent dust and debris blowing all over the work bench. My jaw dropped. I used to think they were just this little harmless component. I treat them more respectfully now.

gorin · July 9, 2012, 02:02 PM

I have to do it too often with the range .223 brass, even after removing the military crimp some of the russian primers get stuck halfway.
Just make sure you go slowly, wear safety glasses and separate the live primers from the rest.

bedlamite · July 9, 2012, 02:35 PM

ANSI Z87.1 glasses first, then press it out gently.

ScottRiqui · July 9, 2012, 02:35 PM

When I was much younger and dumber, I tried to de-prime a 30-06 case by clamping it in a vise and tapping the primer out with a blunt nail inserted in the case neck. Of course, I had my other hand poised underneath to catch the primer when it came out.

Now, this wouldn't be a good story if the primer didn't ignite (it did). Fortunately, it passed between two of my fingers, rather than hitting either of them solidly. Still put a nasty groove in both fingers, though.

wncchester · July 9, 2012, 02:36 PM

"I used to think they were just this little harmless component. I treat them more respectfully now."

Goodness. Didn't say they are harmless, said they are 'little bitty' and not dynamite; that's true. I've decapped a few hundred pulled GI .30-06 with an old Lee LOADER, that set off nearly every one of the primers but I was wearing a leather gloove on my left hand so there was no harm. It's much 'safer' to decap live non-crimped primers in a press and die than what I was doing and I still didn't have to change my pants afterwards.

But ... whatever, no one should do anything that frightens them; I don't.

jcwit · July 9, 2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

I agree with Chris. I was amazed at the force they have when I set one off in a vice. Sent dust and debris blowing all over the work bench. My jaw dropped. I used to think they were just this little harmless component. I treat them more respectfully now.

True, they do have amazing force, thats why reloaders are all concerned about a piece of tumbling media being stuck in the flash hole.

Now then lets use some common sense. If decapping a live primer from a case using a reloading press the case is enclosed by the sizing/decapping and/or the universal decapping die, NO?

Now then the shell case and the primers anvil is held in place by the decapping rod, NO?

The case is also held in place by the shell holder attached to the top of the ram, RIGHT?

The primer cup does have the ability to exit the case, going thru the shell holder and thru the ram going out of the ram exiting to the rear. At least in all the presses I own.

Finally, NO the press will not be yanked from your hand breaking your wrist.

This is all assuming a primer goes off from pressure and not from impact as they are designed to do. Very, very unlikly.

You all are much more in danger driving to and from the range, or in todays world just walking down the street.

ThisIsMySig · July 10, 2012, 03:31 PM

Thanks everyone for weighing in on this. I appreciate your information. I do like Lost Sheep's suggestion of firing it to get an idea of how the primer performs. Do you remember the name of the gun shop?

July 8, 2012, 11:07 AM	#1
ThisIsMySig Member Join Date: June 6, 2012 Location: Apache Junction, Arizona Posts: 65	De-Capping a live Large Pistol Primer Can this be safely done? __________________ Sig P250 in 9mm and .45 cal, Sig 1911 .22LR, Heritage Arms 32 H&R Magnum revolver, S&W Governor. Reloading 9mm, 32 magnum, 45 ACP, 45 LC and 410 bore brass. NRA Member

July 8, 2012, 11:39 AM	#3
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 3,341	If you are doing it in a press, yes, there is very little danger of setting it off if you press it out slowly with the same method you use with spent primers. If you are using one of the Lee Load-All tools (the ones powered by a mallet), use hearing protectors as well as eye protection and gloves. And small taps of the mallet. Or use a vice to press it out. (I am pretty sure you have a press, but others reading this thread may not). Better yet, use this as a learning experience and chamber the round and fire the primer off in the empty case. It will give you an appreciation for the amount of energy released by a primer. Lost Sheep p.s. I started shooting and loading in 1975 when I was stationed at Williams Air Base near Chandler. Used to visit a gun shop in Apache Junction all the time. Last edited by Lost Sheep; July 8, 2012 at 11:45 AM.

July 9, 2012, 02:35 PM	#11
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 1,395	ANSI Z87.1 glasses first, then press it out gently. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

July 10, 2012, 03:31 PM	#15
ThisIsMySig Member Join Date: June 6, 2012 Location: Apache Junction, Arizona Posts: 65	Thanks everyone for weighing in on this. I appreciate your information. I do like Lost Sheep's suggestion of firing it to get an idea of how the primer performs. Do you remember the name of the gun shop? __________________ Sig P250 in 9mm and .45 cal, Sig 1911 .22LR, Heritage Arms 32 H&R Magnum revolver, S&W Governor. Reloading 9mm, 32 magnum, 45 ACP, 45 LC and 410 bore brass. NRA Member

July 8, 2012, 11:25 AM	#2
sheltbt Junior Member Join Date: September 23, 2011 Posts: 7	I have done it several times. Put some glasses on and go real slow.

July 8, 2012, 11:41 AM	#4
DeadCenter Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2006 Posts: 105	Have done it several times also without issue. As stated, just go slow.

July 8, 2012, 12:00 PM	#5
jcwit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2007 Location: Upper Indiana Posts: 609	Just press it out. Primers ignite with impact not pressure. This seems to come up here at least once a week.

July 8, 2012, 02:49 PM	#6
howlnmad Senior Member Join Date: April 29, 2009 Location: Harriman Tn Posts: 424	^ That says it all.

July 8, 2012, 03:47 PM	#7
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	If it does go off - and that's unlikely - it's just a little bitty cap, not a stick of dynamite so it won't blow your arm off.

July 8, 2012, 09:23 PM	#8
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	It's not a 'little bitty cap'. Definitely has force behind it.

July 9, 2012, 02:02 PM	#10
gorin Member Join Date: May 22, 2009 Posts: 33	I have to do it too often with the range .223 brass, even after removing the military crimp some of the russian primers get stuck halfway. Just make sure you go slowly, wear safety glasses and separate the live primers from the rest.

July 9, 2012, 02:35 PM	#12
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	When I was much younger and dumber, I tried to de-prime a 30-06 case by clamping it in a vise and tapping the primer out with a blunt nail inserted in the case neck. Of course, I had my other hand poised underneath to catch the primer when it came out. Now, this wouldn't be a good story if the primer didn't ignite (it did). Fortunately, it passed between two of my fingers, rather than hitting either of them solidly. Still put a nasty groove in both fingers, though.

July 9, 2012, 02:36 PM	#13
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"I used to think they were just this little harmless component. I treat them more respectfully now." Goodness. Didn't say they are harmless, said they are 'little bitty' and not dynamite; that's true. I've decapped a few hundred pulled GI .30-06 with an old Lee LOADER, that set off nearly every one of the primers but I was wearing a leather gloove on my left hand so there was no harm. It's much 'safer' to decap live non-crimped primers in a press and die than what I was doing and I still didn't have to change my pants afterwards. But ... whatever, no one should do anything that frightens them; I don't.