?? Primers installed upside down . ..

bedbugbilly · October 19, 2013, 05:11 PM

I'm fairly new to reloading and SO FAR, haven't had a problem with a primer going in upside down (I'm loading 38 spls). I see something about this every once in a while where a problem happens and a primer gets flipped and installed upside down. I'm just asking for the sake of knowing IF I ever have it happen. What's the best way of removing an upside down primer?

I'm assuming that if you put the casing back in the press (assuming you caught it before it was loaded and you had to pull the slug and dump charge) that you could very carefully and GENTLY use the depriming die to push it back out. The anvil wouldn't have anything to press against to discharge it? Is this the best way to do it or maybe I should ask what is the SAFEST way to remove an upside down primer?

I don't think I have ever seen this addressed in the reloading books or maybe I've missed it. Thanks for the help - I plan on writing the solution down in my data/reloading notebook just so I can refer to it if need be.

anotherred · October 19, 2013, 05:16 PM

I've done this plenty of times. Just sloooowy deprime and you'll be just fine. I've even remove a few that where seated correctly and the shell got damaged in the press.

swmike · October 20, 2013, 10:34 AM

Same here, just slowly run it back through the sizing die.

I load by the many hundreds, sometimes thousands and thus I see it happen more than most. I use a universal de-priming die for these. IF it were to be set off, there is little or no restriction in the case mouth to cause any pressure buildup and the die body will re-direct any force downward.

A_Gamehog · October 20, 2013, 11:16 AM

Soak it in water overnight then resize . It's inert.

WhyteP38 · October 20, 2013, 11:37 AM

This situation is where a universal decapping die is very handy. Gives you a better feel for pressure feedback if you need to remove an upside down primer.

I've done it several times. But you have to be careful. Even upside down, you can set off a primer.

Wear eye protection. Clear out everything that could cause a problem, such as powder, other primers, etc. Go very slowly. Have something soft to catch the primer when it comes out.

Quote:

Soak it in water overnight then resize . It's inert.

I wouldn't count on that. I've read posts by others who claim to have let a primer soak overnight - or even for several days - in all kinds of things. Water, rubbing alcohol, various other liquids. And the primers still worked.

jepp2 · October 20, 2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

I wouldn't count on that. I've read posts by others who claim to have let a primer soak overnight - or even for several days - in all kinds of things. Water, rubbing alcohol, various other liquids. And the primers still worked.

I have read the same posts. Primers soaked for 2 weeks in WD40 still fired. I haven't run those tests, but I did soak some in mineral spirits for 24 hours and they fired just fine. I will run the tests on oil, WD40 and other liquids at some time and post the results.

I have deprimed several hundred properly installed primers using a universal decapping die and never had one go off. BUT, I always proceed as if they might. I wear eye protection, hearing protection and place a 1" PVC plastic pipe section over the ram slot on my RCBS Rock Chucker press. The only thing that could happen is the primer would back out of the case. Operate the ram slowly.

I also reuse those primers in non-critical loads and they all have fired.

oldgunsmith · October 20, 2013, 07:47 PM

I've never had a primer survive an overnight soaking in Chemtool or Berryman's B-12. It isn't uncommon for the anvil to fall out of the primer when the brass is de-primed after that.

jib · October 20, 2013, 07:59 PM

simply press it out slowly.

If you don't use eye protection for loading AND YOU SHOULD, use it for unloading a primer. If you are paranoid, throw on some ear protection.

Jack

BuckRub · October 20, 2013, 09:30 PM

If its loaded then pull bullet and dump powder then resize and kick primer back out. Flip and put all back together again. No harm. But if you ever seen some you need to change what you're doing. I seen one about 20 years ago when I was just starting out.

Old 454 · October 21, 2013, 06:12 PM

Only one in 20 years of handloading, damn your good

BuckRub · October 21, 2013, 07:11 PM

O believe me I've had some learning curves but not many. If I ever have one, know what you did wrong and change it. Everytime when you reload do you have two or three ? Find out what you're doing wrong and correct it or just keep doing same thing and complaining Old454.

AlaskanGuy · October 21, 2013, 10:42 PM

I have had this happen too... And i also use the lee universal decapper to fix it.... Actually, i use the universal decapper for all my de-capping.. I decap before i clean the brass, so the primer pocket also gets nice and purty..

BuckRub · October 21, 2013, 11:09 PM

I quit de capping before tumbling brass. When I did, I'd get media stuck so tight in primer pockets and if all weren't checked and clean the ones stuck with a tooth pick and put a primer in on accident they either wouldn't seat all the way or wouldn't get the fire to the powder. It's easier depriming after tumbling for me.

stevelyn · October 23, 2013, 03:34 AM

I've seated primers in backwards a few times and I'm using a Lee Ergo Prime. I just run it through the decapping/sizer die gently with my back toward the press.

October 19, 2013, 05:11 PM	#1
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	?? Primers installed upside down . .. I'm fairly new to reloading and SO FAR, haven't had a problem with a primer going in upside down (I'm loading 38 spls). I see something about this every once in a while where a problem happens and a primer gets flipped and installed upside down. I'm just asking for the sake of knowing IF I ever have it happen. What's the best way of removing an upside down primer? I'm assuming that if you put the casing back in the press (assuming you caught it before it was loaded and you had to pull the slug and dump charge) that you could very carefully and GENTLY use the depriming die to push it back out. The anvil wouldn't have anything to press against to discharge it? Is this the best way to do it or maybe I should ask what is the SAFEST way to remove an upside down primer? I don't think I have ever seen this addressed in the reloading books or maybe I've missed it. Thanks for the help - I plan on writing the solution down in my data/reloading notebook just so I can refer to it if need be. __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

October 20, 2013, 10:34 AM	#3
swmike Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2005 Location: Marysville, WA Posts: 670	Same here, just slowly run it back through the sizing die. I load by the many hundreds, sometimes thousands and thus I see it happen more than most. I use a universal de-priming die for these. IF it were to be set off, there is little or no restriction in the case mouth to cause any pressure buildup and the die body will re-direct any force downward. __________________ My definition of Gun Control--- A steady grip and hitting your target. "In God we trust, all others are suspects." "If I shoot all the ammo I am carrying, either I won't need any more, or more won't be of any help". ____________________________________________

October 20, 2013, 11:16 AM	#4
A_Gamehog Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2009 Location: Central Oregun Posts: 563	Soak it in water overnight then resize . It's inert. __________________ "Happiness is knowing the Barred Owl is Eating the Spotted Owl and environmentalists are watching Nature take it's course"

October 21, 2013, 10:42 PM	#12
AlaskanGuy Junior Member Join Date: October 16, 2013 Location: Cordova, Alaska Posts: 11	Fix it.... I have had this happen too... And i also use the lee universal decapper to fix it.... Actually, i use the universal decapper for all my de-capping.. I decap before i clean the brass, so the primer pocket also gets nice and purty..

October 23, 2013, 03:34 AM	#14
stevelyn Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: Fairbanksan in exile to Aleutian Hell Posts: 2,655	I've seated primers in backwards a few times and I'm using a Lee Ergo Prime. I just run it through the decapping/sizer die gently with my back toward the press. __________________ Stop Allowing Our Schools To Be Soft Targets! http://fastersaveslives.org/ East Moose. Wear Wolf.

October 19, 2013, 05:16 PM	#2
anotherred Junior Member Join Date: October 5, 2013 Posts: 3	I've done this plenty of times. Just sloooowy deprime and you'll be just fine. I've even remove a few that where seated correctly and the shell got damaged in the press.

October 20, 2013, 07:47 PM	#7
oldgunsmith Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Posts: 278	I've never had a primer survive an overnight soaking in Chemtool or Berryman's B-12. It isn't uncommon for the anvil to fall out of the primer when the brass is de-primed after that.

October 20, 2013, 07:59 PM	#8
jib Member Join Date: May 31, 2012 Location: Seattle-ish Posts: 59	simply press it out slowly. If you don't use eye protection for loading AND YOU SHOULD, use it for unloading a primer. If you are paranoid, throw on some ear protection. Jack

October 20, 2013, 09:30 PM	#9
BuckRub Junior member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,046	If its loaded then pull bullet and dump powder then resize and kick primer back out. Flip and put all back together again. No harm. But if you ever seen some you need to change what you're doing. I seen one about 20 years ago when I was just starting out.

October 21, 2013, 06:12 PM	#10
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	Only one in 20 years of handloading, damn your good

October 21, 2013, 07:11 PM	#11
BuckRub Junior member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,046	O believe me I've had some learning curves but not many. If I ever have one, know what you did wrong and change it. Everytime when you reload do you have two or three ? Find out what you're doing wrong and correct it or just keep doing same thing and complaining Old454.

October 21, 2013, 11:09 PM	#13
BuckRub Junior member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,046	I quit de capping before tumbling brass. When I did, I'd get media stuck so tight in primer pockets and if all weren't checked and clean the ones stuck with a tooth pick and put a primer in on accident they either wouldn't seat all the way or wouldn't get the fire to the powder. It's easier depriming after tumbling for me.