Berdan/Boxer Conversion with .303

SwampYankee · February 9, 2009, 05:15 PM

I've got about fifty 1960 PP-marked Berdan .303 cases that I would like to convert to Boxer cases. In fact, I have already converted 2 of them successfully. Has anyone ever attempted this with .303?

Although it seems to have worked, I have 2 concerns:

1. The swaging process, while tight, still only allows the primer to grip along a thin ridge of metal. The pocket is tight enough that I need the press to insert the primers, I cannot do it by hand, but this worries me a little.

2. The primers are seated below the rim. I assume the Berdan primers had more depth to them. When I fire a round, I have to assume the primer is going to back out to the bolt face. I know this is often a sign of over-pressure with a genuine boxer case, would it be a problem in this case? Will it even happen?

I am also concerned about misfires so I am going to try some with just the primers to see if this is worth doing at all. It's probably only $25 in brass but even trying to get any .303 brass is getting harder.

dahermit · February 9, 2009, 05:46 PM

Ingenious solution to a non-existent problem. .303 Boxer primed cases are readily available. Why the need? Just fool'en around?

Quote:

...but even trying to get any .303 brass is getting harder.

But not impossible...then it might be worth the effort. But as it is, if you drill a center flash hole, you will then have three holes by which gas is going to push on the primer. I would not risk it.

SwampYankee · February 9, 2009, 06:54 PM

Mostly fooling around but also trying to save money on brass. But I am not the first person to do it, there are a number of instructional guides for doing this on the internet. However, I can't find anyone doing it with .303, mostly rimless cartridges.

totalloser · February 9, 2009, 09:25 PM

http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/showt...ghlight=berdan This thread is worth a look. Drilling out the nipple with the berdan primer in lines up the drill, and gives you a hole to pry out the primer. If the Pocket is now too tight, I'd consider a military crimp swage to uniform it. This will make life much easier. I did some berdan 7.62x51, and it was fun for a little while. Completely impractical, however.

February 9, 2009, 05:15 PM	#1
SwampYankee Registration in progress Join Date: November 1, 2008 Location: I can be found on a number of other forums. Posts: 1,333	Berdan/Boxer Conversion with .303 I've got about fifty 1960 PP-marked Berdan .303 cases that I would like to convert to Boxer cases. In fact, I have already converted 2 of them successfully. Has anyone ever attempted this with .303? Although it seems to have worked, I have 2 concerns: 1. The swaging process, while tight, still only allows the primer to grip along a thin ridge of metal. The pocket is tight enough that I need the press to insert the primers, I cannot do it by hand, but this worries me a little. 2. The primers are seated below the rim. I assume the Berdan primers had more depth to them. When I fire a round, I have to assume the primer is going to back out to the bolt face. I know this is often a sign of over-pressure with a genuine boxer case, would it be a problem in this case? Will it even happen? I am also concerned about misfires so I am going to try some with just the primers to see if this is worth doing at all. It's probably only $25 in brass but even trying to get any .303 brass is getting harder.

February 9, 2009, 09:25 PM	#4
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/showt...ghlight=berdan This thread is worth a look. Drilling out the nipple with the berdan primer in lines up the drill, and gives you a hole to pry out the primer. If the Pocket is now too tight, I'd consider a military crimp swage to uniform it. This will make life much easier. I did some berdan 7.62x51, and it was fun for a little while. Completely impractical, however. __________________ You only truly believe in freedom if you believe in the freedom of those you disagree.

February 9, 2009, 06:54 PM	#3
SwampYankee Registration in progress Join Date: November 1, 2008 Location: I can be found on a number of other forums. Posts: 1,333	Mostly fooling around but also trying to save money on brass. But I am not the first person to do it, there are a number of instructional guides for doing this on the internet. However, I can't find anyone doing it with .303, mostly rimless cartridges.