Weird .223 depriming question

grumpa72 · November 4, 2009, 07:40 PM

I have been depriming my range pick-up .223 brass and I keep running into a particular brand of brass that I am not able to deprime. The brass says "223 Rem" and opposite of that is a mark that may be a "B" or may be a square. It is so difficult to figure out what the stamp is that I am stumped. I tried my magnifying lens to no effect. No matter how much I tighten my depriming pin, it pops out when I try to deprime the brass. I have about 20-30 pieces and I have this set aside in the event that I try something else. Is there any other option or should I just ignore these few pieces?

Has anyone run into this brass? I recognize that my description is pretty poor, but I cannot bring this into focus with my magnifying glass.

Brian Pfleuger · November 4, 2009, 07:45 PM

Sounds like it's "Berdan primed", which means that the primers are crimped into the case.

http://users.ameritech.net/mchandler/primer.html

I think that the general consensus is that it's not worth messing with it.

grumpa72 · November 4, 2009, 08:16 PM

Bingo! I reload 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 acp using range pickup brass so I am quite familiar with Berdan priming. It never even occurred to me to look at the primer hole inside. Yep! Two holes. Boy, do I feel like a noob to this hobby. In addition, the case is brass colored but my magnet sticks quite well to it.

Thank you for saving me a ton of worry wondering what I was doing wrong. Of course, what I was doing wrong wasn't thinking.

Thank you again.

Grumpa

Brian Pfleuger · November 4, 2009, 08:19 PM

If you saw some of the questions I've asked about reloading, this one looks PhD level.

You're welcome.

jaguarxk120 · November 4, 2009, 08:19 PM

You have to look inside of the case, you will see either one flash hole or two smaller flash holes off of center. Use a flash light and lower the room lighting, it's easyier to see into the case that way.

Usually mil. case's have crimped in primers, not just berdan primed case's.

I have case's marked WCC,TW,LC that have crimped primers all US mfgrs.

grumpa72 · November 4, 2009, 08:45 PM

You have to look inside of the case, you will see either one flash hole or two smaller flash holes off of center. Use a flash light and lower the room lighting, it's easyier to see into the case that way.

Well, do I feel a "duh" here. I never looked at the flash hole until the post about this perhaps being Berdan primed. As I said, I am familiar with Boxer/Berdan priming since I reload pistol ammo. It just never occured to me to look at the flash hole on these cases.

Lavid2002 · November 13, 2009, 04:12 PM

Wow...that guy cares a lot about his brass....I just throw the stuff away after a few reloads hes all into it lol

rrp · November 13, 2009, 05:50 PM

I have found boxer primed surplus 223 brass that have had a smaller flash hole than normal. It was several years ago, but I noted the headstamp. It had a H1 headstamp. It would either bend, break, or pull the depriming pins out of my RCBS die. 223 brass is still fairly cheap, so I would just scrap it and go with another brand. Good luck and good shooting.

lmccrock · November 14, 2009, 08:39 AM

Not sure if if matters at this point, but Golden Bear makes brass plated steel cases, not sure if anyone else does.

Last time I looked, Berdan primers are not available in the US right now. So even if you get the deprime/prime tools, there is nothing to prime with.

Lee

November 4, 2009, 07:40 PM	#1
grumpa72 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2009 Posts: 487	Weird .223 depriming question I have been depriming my range pick-up .223 brass and I keep running into a particular brand of brass that I am not able to deprime. The brass says "223 Rem" and opposite of that is a mark that may be a "B" or may be a square. It is so difficult to figure out what the stamp is that I am stumped. I tried my magnifying lens to no effect. No matter how much I tighten my depriming pin, it pops out when I try to deprime the brass. I have about 20-30 pieces and I have this set aside in the event that I try something else. Is there any other option or should I just ignore these few pieces? Has anyone run into this brass? I recognize that my description is pretty poor, but I cannot bring this into focus with my magnifying glass.

November 4, 2009, 07:45 PM	#2
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Sounds like it's "Berdan primed", which means that the primers are crimped into the case. http://users.ameritech.net/mchandler/primer.html I think that the general consensus is that it's not worth messing with it. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

November 4, 2009, 08:19 PM	#4
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	If you saw some of the questions I've asked about reloading, this one looks PhD level. You're welcome. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

November 13, 2009, 04:12 PM	#7
Lavid2002 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2007 Posts: 2,568	Wow...that guy cares a lot about his brass....I just throw the stuff away after a few reloads hes all into it lol __________________ Math>Grammar

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November 4, 2009, 08:16 PM	#3
grumpa72 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2009 Posts: 487	Bingo! I reload 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 acp using range pickup brass so I am quite familiar with Berdan priming. It never even occurred to me to look at the primer hole inside. Yep! Two holes. Boy, do I feel like a noob to this hobby. In addition, the case is brass colored but my magnet sticks quite well to it. Thank you for saving me a ton of worry wondering what I was doing wrong. Of course, what I was doing wrong wasn't thinking. Thank you again. Grumpa

November 4, 2009, 08:19 PM	#5
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,619	You have to look inside of the case, you will see either one flash hole or two smaller flash holes off of center. Use a flash light and lower the room lighting, it's easyier to see into the case that way. Usually mil. case's have crimped in primers, not just berdan primed case's. I have case's marked WCC,TW,LC that have crimped primers all US mfgrs.

November 4, 2009, 08:45 PM	#6
grumpa72 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2009 Posts: 487	You have to look inside of the case, you will see either one flash hole or two smaller flash holes off of center. Use a flash light and lower the room lighting, it's easyier to see into the case that way. Well, do I feel a "duh" here. I never looked at the flash hole until the post about this perhaps being Berdan primed. As I said, I am familiar with Boxer/Berdan priming since I reload pistol ammo. It just never occured to me to look at the flash hole on these cases.

November 13, 2009, 05:50 PM	#8
rrp Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2006 Location: west central Wi Posts: 300	I have found boxer primed surplus 223 brass that have had a smaller flash hole than normal. It was several years ago, but I noted the headstamp. It had a H1 headstamp. It would either bend, break, or pull the depriming pins out of my RCBS die. 223 brass is still fairly cheap, so I would just scrap it and go with another brand. Good luck and good shooting.

November 14, 2009, 08:39 AM	#9
lmccrock Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2007 Location: Red Rock. TX Posts: 820	Not sure if if matters at this point, but Golden Bear makes brass plated steel cases, not sure if anyone else does. Last time I looked, Berdan primers are not available in the US right now. So even if you get the deprime/prime tools, there is nothing to prime with. Lee