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Old June 9, 2012, 05:16 PM   #1
Reef
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Live Primer Disposal

I have a couple of cases that are damaged and have live primers seated. I've read here and other sites that say you can soak them in WD-40 or dish soap and other ways to "de-arm" the primers. Any truth to that, I don't really want to de-cap a live primer.
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Old June 9, 2012, 05:21 PM   #2
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I've never had a problem decapping live primers.
Just go easy and let them fall out on their own, without doing a full stroke on the press handle.
Must have done hundreds over the years without a single one going off.
Yet.
Otherwise, soaking them in most any oil or solvent should do.
You might test a few afterward to make sure.
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Old June 9, 2012, 05:25 PM   #3
g.willikers
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Dang, almost forgot.
Must be getting all PC in my old age.
How about disarming those cases the fun way.
Punch and hammer.
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Old June 9, 2012, 05:28 PM   #4
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I've never had one go off while decapping. They just push right back out as easy as they go in.
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Old June 9, 2012, 05:32 PM   #5
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No problems depriming either, just use eye protection same as any other time I'm at my loading bench.
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Old June 9, 2012, 08:47 PM   #6
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Same here, no problem decapping live primers, I am always a bit careful with them and just give an easy pull on the press.
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Old June 9, 2012, 09:20 PM   #7
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Step 1. Light burn barrel
Step 2. Throw in damaged cases
Step 3. Wait for "Pop"

Well my friends have told me that my most common response to any issue is to "burn it!"
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Old June 9, 2012, 10:27 PM   #8
FrankenMauser
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Decap them.

If you're worried, go slow.
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Old June 10, 2012, 02:16 AM   #9
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If they will chamber, fire them in your gun. I do this in my shop. About like a firecracker.

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Old June 10, 2012, 02:58 AM   #10
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I decap them and reuse the primer (for plinking).... easy as pie....
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Old June 10, 2012, 07:18 AM   #11
Tom-C
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reef,

Easiest is to shoot them. Realize the stuff they leave behind has lots of lead in it.

You might not want to do it in a press with a resizing die, because IF (big if) it goes off, the only place for the gas to go is out the primer hole. I have done lots that way but it has always made me nervious. A "Universal Decapping Die" has more room for the gasses to go.

The way I do it is with a Lee Decapper (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/636...ase-30-caliber). A small punch and base. Put on a heavy glove and a face shield and tap with a small hammer.
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Old June 10, 2012, 09:42 AM   #12
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Any liquid should make it inert, use hot water.
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Old June 10, 2012, 12:23 PM   #13
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I would guess that soaking them in water would leave them inert.
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Old June 10, 2012, 04:44 PM   #14
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Quote:
You might not want to do it in a press with a resizing die, because IF (big if) it goes off, the only place for the gas to go is out the primer hole. I have done lots that way but it has always made me nervious. A "Universal Decapping Die" has more room for the gasses to go.
What harm will come of the small amount of gases escaping through the shell holder and press ram, if it does go off? (That's a big IF.)


If you really want to neutralize a primer... Don't use water. Don't use lubricating oils.
Use a good penetrating oil.
However, you may have to let the primer soak for several days, before it is completely inert. You'll also have to find a way to clean every bit of residue from the inside of the case, or it will contaminate the power (and possibly primer) of future loads.


Me? I just run them through the decapping die. Primers don't detonate from pressure; they require an impact. If primers were capable of detonating when a little pressure was applied to the anvil, nearly every cartridge any reloader ever attempted to prime would cause the primer to detonate.

In new primers, the anvil is not fully seated in the primer cup. When the primer is seated, the anvil contacts the web of the cartridge case before the cup is fully seated, and applies pressure to the priming mixture, as the cup is seated fully.
You're just compressing it a little further, when you decap a live primer.

Don't slam your press handle, and you'll be fine.
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Old June 10, 2012, 04:47 PM   #15
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"I don't really want to de-cap a live primer. "

It's a little bitty primer, not a stick of dynamite. Deprime it normally, even if it should go off you won't lose an arm or leg.
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Old June 10, 2012, 05:05 PM   #16
David Bachelder
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I'v decapped many. Never had a problem. I have tossed a towel over the press first.

Anymore, I don't worry about it. I have heard them go off before. It's very loud and it may make you hurt yourself
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Old June 10, 2012, 08:36 PM   #17
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Quote:
Any liquid should make it inert, use hot water.
Not even CLOSE to being true

Quote:
You might not want to do it in a press with a resizing die, because IF (big if) it goes off, the only place for the gas to go is out the primer hole. I have done lots that way but it has always made me nervious. A "Universal Decapping Die" has more room for the gasses to go.
WHAT?!?! - you're pushing the primer OUT not in, it isn't going to go off - Where do folks get this misguided crap from -you tube?
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Old June 10, 2012, 08:57 PM   #18
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Add one more to the "deprime" crowd.

I've deprimed fully seated, fully seated inverted and seated sideways. Except for the seated sideways primers I reuse them and have never had a failure.
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Old June 10, 2012, 10:23 PM   #19
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Quote:
I don't really want to de-cap a live primer.
So just toss it in your trash can and think no more about it. The last empty spray paint or WD-40 can you put there was more hazardous than any live primer.

Me, I just decap them as usual and carry on. I'll even save the live primers to use in practice ammo.
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Old June 10, 2012, 11:43 PM   #20
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This. ^^^^^^ Don't worry about an itty-bitty little primer blowing your hand off. Won't happen.
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Old June 11, 2012, 10:37 AM   #21
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Quote:
Quote:
Any liquid should make it inert, use hot water.

Not even CLOSE to being true
Here's a test done at Predator Masters.


http://www.predatormastersforums.com/killprimers.shtml
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Old June 11, 2012, 01:35 PM   #22
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Most primers are not as delicate as some think. I too have been just punching out "live" primers for several years (pre-web reloading forums, there was nobody to tell me they might "pop", so I punched them out). I've never tried to "kill" a primer but I have accidently dropped a few in coffee and when allowed to dry, they worked...
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Old June 11, 2012, 01:43 PM   #23
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Quote:
Here's a test done at Predator Masters.


http://www.predatormastersforums.com/killprimers.shtml
4-5 days, and on his primers....mine come sealed, have been submerged and put away wet, etc. One person's "test" is what it is, ONE person.

I prefer to reuse them or let the kids bang them with a hammer like the good old cap gun days - they make a nice pop sound
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Old June 11, 2012, 08:49 PM   #24
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One more time. Primers detonate from IMPACT not from slow pressure. Furthermore they are a primer not a bomb.

Water will NOT disarm a primer. I have dropped them into the pets water dish, let them dry out a couple of days and used them. Same will go for WD-40.
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Old June 11, 2012, 09:40 PM   #25
David Bachelder
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"Not even CLOSE to being true"
Can you say BOLOGNA?

Test Results:
After 4 days: "Water - Dead. I could not hear it. No trace of smoke visible inside case."
After 5 days: "Water - Dead. I could not hear it. No trace of smoke visible inside case."

Conclusion:
"Water wins, for WLR primers, but it still took 3 days, 4 to completely deactivate."

Looks pretty close to the truth to me.
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