re-using "tumbled" primers

b money · September 13, 2010, 08:00 PM

Ok I'v acquired a few 38spl rounds at an auction, i knew they were reloads but i got them anyways. pulled the bullet, through them in the tumbler, sized and deprimed, now im sitting here starring at a brand new primer, with the only thing "wrong" with it is the fact that it went through the tumbler. because I hate wasting things and hate even more when i have to buy primers; im wondering if I can re-use these without anything bad happing?

Quantrill · September 13, 2010, 08:17 PM

Sometimes when primers are tumbled while mounted in the case, a piece of tumbling media will lodge it self in the primer.

rjrivero · September 13, 2010, 08:23 PM

as Qantrill says, as long as you can visually see there is no media stuck in the primer, you can use them.

t45 · September 13, 2010, 08:56 PM

B Money, I would spend a little of that money for new primers. Seriously, they are very inexpensive. You do run the risk of media dust contaminating the primer also. Good luck!

Bluesfan · September 13, 2010, 09:59 PM

I had a similar problem once. I accidentally put some primed brass in the tumbler. I loaded the cartridege and they fired just fine. However since your primers are already out of the case i would go ahead and put in new primers.

b money · September 13, 2010, 10:11 PM

alright guys, I may be cheap but Im not about to mess around when it comes to reloading. In the back of my mind I was saying "just toss em" but I couldnt do it untill i heard it from someon else I guess.

Thanks

chris in va · September 13, 2010, 10:36 PM

Hey...load them without powder or bullet and see if they fire anyway! Makes a nice blank.

zxcvbob · September 13, 2010, 11:01 PM

You should have taken the depriming pin out when you resized them.

I'd still use them, but only for plinking ammo -- not something I'd actually have to trust.

b money · September 13, 2010, 11:10 PM

Quote:

You should have taken the depriming pin out when you resized them. I'd still use them, but only for plinking ammo -- not something I'd actually have to trust.

i thought about it but I'v read to much about walnut shell media geting in the primer through the flash hole. I just thought that if I could see there was no media in the primer I could use them, but I never thought of the dust. plus the more I thought about it, the more I didnt want to risk my guns or my life for a few dollars.

demigod · September 14, 2010, 08:55 AM

Use them. Primers, contrary to popular internut belief, are not these fragile, delicate devices.

I've seen threads on ARFtard where people have tried to kill a primer with all kinds of oils/chemicals/water and they still fire.

September 13, 2010, 08:00 PM	#1
b money Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: Granville, IL Posts: 153	re-using "tumbled" primers Ok I'v acquired a few 38spl rounds at an auction, i knew they were reloads but i got them anyways. pulled the bullet, through them in the tumbler, sized and deprimed, now im sitting here starring at a brand new primer, with the only thing "wrong" with it is the fact that it went through the tumbler. because I hate wasting things and hate even more when i have to buy primers; im wondering if I can re-use these without anything bad happing?

September 13, 2010, 11:01 PM	#8
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	You should have taken the depriming pin out when you resized them. I'd still use them, but only for plinking ammo -- not something I'd actually have to trust. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

September 13, 2010, 08:17 PM	#2
Quantrill Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 1999 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 725	Sometimes when primers are tumbled while mounted in the case, a piece of tumbling media will lodge it self in the primer.

September 13, 2010, 08:23 PM	#3
rjrivero Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 1,399	as Qantrill says, as long as you can visually see there is no media stuck in the primer, you can use them.

September 13, 2010, 08:56 PM	#4
t45 Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2010 Location: Foothills, NC Posts: 782	B Money, I would spend a little of that money for new primers. Seriously, they are very inexpensive. You do run the risk of media dust contaminating the primer also. Good luck!

September 13, 2010, 09:59 PM	#5
Bluesfan Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2009 Posts: 102	I had a similar problem once. I accidentally put some primed brass in the tumbler. I loaded the cartridege and they fired just fine. However since your primers are already out of the case i would go ahead and put in new primers.

September 13, 2010, 10:11 PM	#6
b money Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: Granville, IL Posts: 153	alright guys, I may be cheap but Im not about to mess around when it comes to reloading. In the back of my mind I was saying "just toss em" but I couldnt do it untill i heard it from someon else I guess. Thanks

September 13, 2010, 10:36 PM	#7
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Hey...load them without powder or bullet and see if they fire anyway! Makes a nice blank.

September 14, 2010, 08:55 AM	#10
demigod Junior member Join Date: March 13, 2008 Location: AZ Posts: 1,129	Use them. Primers, contrary to popular internut belief, are not these fragile, delicate devices. I've seen threads on ARFtard where people have tried to kill a primer with all kinds of oils/chemicals/water and they still fire.