sideways primer

kyle o · March 10, 2010, 02:17 PM

While i was using my auto primer, i noticed it was harder to seat than the rest. i took the case and shell holder out and the primer is sideways. i stopped as soon as i felt resistance so its not completely seated (a little less than half). is there a way to get the primer out of the case without causing much damage?

Nate1778 · March 10, 2010, 02:29 PM

Dip it in water and let it soak, run it through the decapping pin again, let dry and re-prime. Eye and ear protection should be on just in the off chance the priming compound isn't saturated.

uncyboo · March 10, 2010, 02:30 PM

Just run it back through your sizer/de-capper. If it's damaged it will already have been done...

golfballshootr · March 10, 2010, 02:35 PM

Too late for damage control. de-cap it again and start fresh.

Yes, it would be a good idea to wear eye/ear protection in the off chance.

kyle o · March 10, 2010, 02:36 PM

thanks for the advice. i would just toss the whole thing if i could get my shell holder off the case. thanks again for the advice.

uncyboo · March 10, 2010, 02:50 PM

Do you have one of the Lee Case Length Gauge Trimmers? Put the blade on and tap it out easy.

Taroman · March 10, 2010, 07:20 PM

I did that once. Just pressed it all the way in then decapped on the press. Not sure if this technique has the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, but it worked for me.

As always, YMMV

johnjohn · March 10, 2010, 07:53 PM

Wet it down good and toss it.

uncyboo · March 10, 2010, 08:07 PM

He's trying to save his shell holder.

Mobuck · March 10, 2010, 09:42 PM

LEE decapping rod and base. Knocks those OOPPS right out. Don't bother dunking. Wear safety glasses and gloves and knock it out. I actually tried to set off a reverse seated primer a few days ago with the LEE deprimer rod and hammer. Tapped it 5 times leaving a dent about equal to a firing pin hit and it didn't pop. Reseated it right side up, chambered the case, and snapped it. Went bang and produced about a softball sized muzzle flash. Maybe I'm just lucky but I've knocked out quite a few live primers for whatever reason and never had one pop.

kyle o · March 11, 2010, 01:15 PM

I let it soak for a little while at work and took a small punch and a hammer and knocked it out. no bang but i was prepared (welding hood and ear plugs)! thanks again for the advice!

greco · March 12, 2010, 06:55 PM

I did the same thing as Mobuck. I was loading 375 H&H tonight. I don't have the Rem priming tool in that case head size, so I used the goofy swinging arm on my old RCMS single stage. I managed to get a couple of primers in sideways and a couple upside down too. I grabbed my Lee Decapping punch/pin from a 38spl set and just stuck it down the case, felt until in went in the primer hole, and tapped the primer out. I don't reuse them, because I don't trust them once they have been in and out.

When I used to use a Lee tool to load 38's, I set primers off all of the time. The setup kept me form getting hurt, but it was a surprise every time.

March 10, 2010, 02:17 PM	#1
kyle o Junior Member Join Date: March 5, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 9	sideways primer While i was using my auto primer, i noticed it was harder to seat than the rest. i took the case and shell holder out and the primer is sideways. i stopped as soon as i felt resistance so its not completely seated (a little less than half). is there a way to get the primer out of the case without causing much damage?

March 10, 2010, 02:29 PM	#2
Nate1778 Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2009 Location: Louisville Ky Posts: 312	Dip it in water and let it soak, run it through the decapping pin again, let dry and re-prime. Eye and ear protection should be on just in the off chance the priming compound isn't saturated. __________________ "And finally, the Baby Bear looked and he said, "Somebody's sleeping in my bed, and the bastard's still there!" But Goldylocks had a Remington semi-automatic, with a scope and a hair-trigger!"

March 10, 2010, 07:20 PM	#7
Taroman Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2010 Posts: 166	I did that once. Just pressed it all the way in then decapped on the press. Not sure if this technique has the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, but it worked for me. As always, YMMV __________________ -jwk- Si vis pacem, para bellum

March 10, 2010, 09:42 PM	#10
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Handy little tool LEE decapping rod and base. Knocks those OOPPS right out. Don't bother dunking. Wear safety glasses and gloves and knock it out. I actually tried to set off a reverse seated primer a few days ago with the LEE deprimer rod and hammer. Tapped it 5 times leaving a dent about equal to a firing pin hit and it didn't pop. Reseated it right side up, chambered the case, and snapped it. Went bang and produced about a softball sized muzzle flash. Maybe I'm just lucky but I've knocked out quite a few live primers for whatever reason and never had one pop.

March 10, 2010, 02:30 PM	#3
uncyboo Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2008 Location: Shelby, MT Posts: 1,013	Just run it back through your sizer/de-capper. If it's damaged it will already have been done...

March 10, 2010, 02:35 PM	#4
golfballshootr Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 185	Too late for damage control. de-cap it again and start fresh. Yes, it would be a good idea to wear eye/ear protection in the off chance.

March 10, 2010, 02:36 PM	#5
kyle o Junior Member Join Date: March 5, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 9	thanks for the advice. i would just toss the whole thing if i could get my shell holder off the case. thanks again for the advice.

March 10, 2010, 02:50 PM	#6
uncyboo Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2008 Location: Shelby, MT Posts: 1,013	Do you have one of the Lee Case Length Gauge Trimmers? Put the blade on and tap it out easy.

March 10, 2010, 07:53 PM	#8
johnjohn Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2009 Location: Baton Rouge La. Posts: 122	Wet it down good and toss it.

March 10, 2010, 08:07 PM	#9
uncyboo Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2008 Location: Shelby, MT Posts: 1,013	He's trying to save his shell holder.

March 11, 2010, 01:15 PM	#11
kyle o Junior Member Join Date: March 5, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 9	I let it soak for a little while at work and took a small punch and a hammer and knocked it out. no bang but i was prepared (welding hood and ear plugs)! thanks again for the advice!

March 12, 2010, 06:55 PM	#12
greco Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2005 Posts: 125	I did the same thing as Mobuck. I was loading 375 H&H tonight. I don't have the Rem priming tool in that case head size, so I used the goofy swinging arm on my old RCMS single stage. I managed to get a couple of primers in sideways and a couple upside down too. I grabbed my Lee Decapping punch/pin from a 38spl set and just stuck it down the case, felt until in went in the primer hole, and tapped the primer out. I don't reuse them, because I don't trust them once they have been in and out. When I used to use a Lee tool to load 38's, I set primers off all of the time. The setup kept me form getting hurt, but it was a surprise every time.