Primer Decaping?

MadMoose · May 15, 2008, 05:14 PM

Hi guy's, can you punch out an unfired primer using a decaping die without it going off?

Thanks
MM

grymster2007 · May 15, 2008, 05:16 PM

Don't recommend it!

Sevens · May 15, 2008, 05:25 PM

I've done it on occasion and have never had a problem.

Nice and easy, always wearing safety glasses.

The other option is pretty easy, too... chamber the empty brass with only a live primer, no powder and no bullet, and pull the trigger. A little pop, and not much else. It will, however, dirty up a nicely clean gun.

Lavid2002 · May 15, 2008, 05:26 PM

Sure, a primer has to be smacked hard to go off, just go slow...wear safety glasses, ear protection....and pop it out. SLOW! Also, if you wish to save the casing and get rid of the primer, shoot it in a gun then pop it out :P
Cheers

Nev C · May 15, 2008, 05:47 PM

Dunk the cartridge in some water first, the wet primer should'nt go bang.

MadMoose · May 15, 2008, 05:57 PM

Thanks guy's, I like the idea of soaking in water first. I'll give it a try.

MM

cdrt · May 15, 2008, 08:29 PM

Soaking in water won't do it. Neither will spraying it with oil. Primers are coated with a clear finish so they will always go off; that's the whole idea.

Having said that, I have decapped a lot of live primers without any of them ever going bang. I do mark them with a black sharpie and just use them for practice loads. Never had one that I decapped and reused, fail to go off. Just take your time and wear some safety glasses.

Ozzieman · May 15, 2008, 08:33 PM

Unless you have some pressure to force the water into the primer hole you won’t get any water into the base of the primer, don’t trust this method.
The safest way is to shoot the primer in a gun.
I personally have removed 100's live primers using a sizing die and decaping them that way.
Use the suggestions of safety glasses and go slow.

BerettaFox · May 16, 2008, 12:23 AM

I've decapped a live primer. Didn't go boom.

Shoney · May 16, 2008, 02:24 PM

CDRT said it very well. I've deprimed many hundresds of live primers and reused all of them, mostly for plinking, fouling shots, and for case forming loads.

DR. Furlicker · May 16, 2008, 08:16 PM

Hey Shoney!
I would be willing to bet more than 70% of the US citizens don't even know that our form of government is a representative republic let alone know the difference in the two.

And just to stay on topic I have popped a couple of live primers out without incident.

wncchester · May 16, 2008, 08:36 PM

I've decapped a small pile of live primers in the last 45 years. Pushed slow and never had a single one pop off.

langenc · May 16, 2008, 08:39 PM

What is the differenc-democracy vs republic. DO NOT check a high school or college civics/govt text. It will not tell you. As soon as you mention REPUBLIC most think you are one--republican!!

PRIMERS- I recently did a real job on a 30-06 case and pulled the rim off it in the die. I have a stuck case remover but this one had a live primer in it..

Just put on the safety 'mask' and put the die in the vice and took a screwdriver/hammer and popped it. BANG and it was all over. Did blow the primer out of the pocket. That made the drilling/tapping easier.

45Marlin carbine · May 16, 2008, 08:48 PM

slow steady pressure to ease it out. ditto safety glasses/goggles.

MadMoose · May 18, 2008, 03:50 PM

Thanks for all the replies guys. I took your advice and went slow and it popped out with no problems. Then I went on to load up my first set of .38spl 158grn swc's. Man! this stuff gets addicting.

Thanks again,
MM

DWARREN123 · May 19, 2008, 08:05 AM

I have done it a few times with no problems but always use care, safety glasses and gloves.

May 15, 2008, 05:14 PM	#1
MadMoose Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Location: NorCal Posts: 15	Primer Decaping? Hi guy's, can you punch out an unfired primer using a decaping die without it going off? Thanks MM

May 15, 2008, 05:16 PM	#2
grymster2007 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: In the oak studded hills near Napa Posts: 2,203	Don't recommend it! __________________ grym

May 15, 2008, 05:25 PM	#3
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I've done it on occasion and have never had a problem. Nice and easy, always wearing safety glasses. The other option is pretty easy, too... chamber the empty brass with only a live primer, no powder and no bullet, and pull the trigger. A little pop, and not much else. It will, however, dirty up a nicely clean gun. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

May 15, 2008, 05:26 PM	#4
Lavid2002 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2007 Posts: 2,568	Sure, a primer has to be smacked hard to go off, just go slow...wear safety glasses, ear protection....and pop it out. SLOW! Also, if you wish to save the casing and get rid of the primer, shoot it in a gun then pop it out :P Cheers __________________ Math>Grammar

May 15, 2008, 05:47 PM	#5
Nev C Member Join Date: November 25, 2007 Location: NSW Australia Posts: 69	Dunk the cartridge in some water first, the wet primer should'nt go bang. __________________ If a man speaks at sea where no woman can hear, is he still wrong?

May 15, 2008, 05:57 PM	#6
MadMoose Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Location: NorCal Posts: 15	Thanks guy's, I like the idea of soaking in water first. I'll give it a try. MM

May 15, 2008, 08:29 PM	#7
cdrt Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Location: The Lone Star State Posts: 255	Soaking in water won't do it. Neither will spraying it with oil. Primers are coated with a clear finish so they will always go off; that's the whole idea. Having said that, I have decapped a lot of live primers without any of them ever going bang. I do mark them with a black sharpie and just use them for practice loads. Never had one that I decapped and reused, fail to go off. Just take your time and wear some safety glasses. __________________ Navy Vet, SWIFT Boat OIC, Distinguished Pistol Shot #1399 USS JOHN S. MCCAIN (DDG-36)

May 15, 2008, 08:33 PM	#8
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	Unless you have some pressure to force the water into the primer hole you won’t get any water into the base of the primer, don’t trust this method. The safest way is to shoot the primer in a gun. I personally have removed 100's live primers using a sizing die and decaping them that way. Use the suggestions of safety glasses and go slow.

May 16, 2008, 12:23 AM	#9
BerettaFox Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 144	I've decapped a live primer. Didn't go boom.

May 16, 2008, 02:24 PM	#10
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	CDRT said it very well. I've deprimed many hundresds of live primers and reused all of them, mostly for plinking, fouling shots, and for case forming loads. __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

May 16, 2008, 08:16 PM	#11
DR. Furlicker Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Posts: 33	I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic Hey Shoney! I would be willing to bet more than 70% of the US citizens don't even know that our form of government is a representative republic let alone know the difference in the two. And just to stay on topic I have popped a couple of live primers out without incident.

May 16, 2008, 08:36 PM	#12
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	I've decapped a small pile of live primers in the last 45 years. Pushed slow and never had a single one pop off.

May 16, 2008, 08:39 PM	#13
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	What is the differenc-democracy vs republic. DO NOT check a high school or college civics/govt text. It will not tell you. As soon as you mention REPUBLIC most think you are one--republican!! PRIMERS- I recently did a real job on a 30-06 case and pulled the rim off it in the die. I have a stuck case remover but this one had a live primer in it.. Just put on the safety 'mask' and put the die in the vice and took a screwdriver/hammer and popped it. BANG and it was all over. Did blow the primer out of the pocket. That made the drilling/tapping easier.

May 16, 2008, 08:48 PM	#14
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	slow steady pressure to ease it out. ditto safety glasses/goggles.

May 18, 2008, 03:50 PM	#15
MadMoose Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Location: NorCal Posts: 15	Thanks for all the replies guys. I took your advice and went slow and it popped out with no problems. Then I went on to load up my first set of .38spl 158grn swc's. Man! this stuff gets addicting. Thanks again, MM

May 19, 2008, 08:05 AM	#16
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2006 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 1,758	I have done it a few times with no problems but always use care, safety glasses and gloves. __________________ Have a nice day!

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