Upside Down Primer

chris downs · March 23, 2021, 07:05 AM

So I have a case with the primer inserted upside down. I would like to use the case. In this era, I want to reuse the primer. Suggestions?

Jim Watson · March 23, 2021, 07:15 AM

You may be able to recap and recover it with slow pressure on the press handle.

There is some chance of punching out the anvil which I consider to ruin it, but these days, it might be worth your while to get out the tweezers.

Any live primer I decap, either way up, I mark and use only for a practice round. They have all gone off, so far.

mgulino · March 23, 2021, 07:17 AM

I have occasionally had that same situation. Setup a depriming die (or sizing die) and insert that case on your press as you would normally. Wrap the base of the case and shell holder with a towel. Wear gloves and hearing/eye protection. Slowly raise the case into the die and punch out the primer. If you catch the primer, you can inspect it for damage and possibly still use it. YMMV

buck460XVR · March 23, 2021, 07:59 AM

If the primer is actually seated to depth upside down in the pocket, odds are, the anvil is already damaged. Is the saving of one primer worth the chance of a misfire, hangfire or squib from poor ignition? Slow even pressure from a decapping die will probably not set it off. How does one seat a primer correctly in the first place? With slow pressure on the primer face. How many have gone off?....and that is with the anvil seated against the pocket. Upside down, the anvil does not contact anything on the way out.

**Unclenick** · March 23, 2021, 08:26 AM

You could do it hydraulically, the way some Berdan primer reloaders decap. Fill the case with water. Put it into a shell holder and put a bullet-size dowel in the case neck and tap it with a hammer until the primer comes out. Dry it off and set it into a baggie with a desiccant for a few days.

The advantage to this approach is that as soon as the primer starts to move, the pressure removing it will spread out over the whole surface rather than just pushing on the middle of the cup.

308Loader · March 23, 2021, 06:12 PM

** DISCLAIMER ** You do what you feel is safe for your flesh and equipment, a primer is just a primer, not worth hurting anything over.

With that said, I’ve found my self in this situation before. Just last week as a mater of fact. Normally I would slowly push the bad primer out, seat a new one and get on with my life. Ammo box winds up with 99 loaded rounds not 100. Things being the way they are with components, I did exactly what you are thinking about. Pushed the upside-down one out SLOWLY and as gently as possible. Flipped it over and seated it in its proper orientation. Being sure there was no noticeable damage to the cup or anvil before reseating. Marked the case with a sharpie so I would know what one to look out for. Brought it to the range and gave it a go. Round went bang, no noticeable difference in POI, life is good.

Again, I’m not saying you should do this. This is just my recent experience and 2 cents.

gwpercle · March 23, 2021, 06:44 PM

I've deprimed upside downs many times .
Wear eye and ear protection , keep fingers and body parts (head , legs & feet) away from top and bottom of die and decap it as S-L-O-W as molassas in winter time . No sudden bumps and the primer should ease right out ... I've even re-used the primer in range loads .
Can't waste nothing in these ..."out of stock" times .
Gary

chris downs · March 23, 2021, 07:17 PM

Thanks guys. I got it out and reloaded the primer. Tomorrow morn it will be round 1 sent downrange.

Shadow9mm · March 23, 2021, 08:03 PM

I have done this. I am not recommending you do this but I have very carefully, with eye and ear protection, and gloves, decapped the casing on the press. Then disposed of the primer.

Mike38 · March 24, 2021, 06:20 PM

As much as I hate to admit it, I've somehow done this 3 times. Gloves, ear muffs, safety glasses and a face shield. Slowly and carefully press it out. Didn't go pop. It does however make a certain part of your anatomy pucker up.

hammered54 · March 24, 2021, 06:50 PM

done this plenty of times ......just go slow and out they come, some have a little dent but it hasn't stop them from going bang.

cecILL · March 25, 2021, 06:35 AM

Done many times, also. Never had one go off.

T. O'Heir · March 25, 2021, 01:04 PM

"...slow pressure on the press handle..." Yep. Slow and gentle with your regular decapper will pop it out. Most of us have had it happen at least once.
Like Jim says, if the anvil comes out it's toast. Never had that happen myself though.

March 23, 2021, 07:05 AM	#1
chris downs Member Join Date: January 6, 2005 Location: MO Posts: 91	Upside Down Primer So I have a case with the primer inserted upside down. I would like to use the case. In this era, I want to reuse the primer. Suggestions?

March 23, 2021, 08:26 AM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,138	You could do it hydraulically, the way some Berdan primer reloaders decap. Fill the case with water. Put it into a shell holder and put a bullet-size dowel in the case neck and tap it with a hammer until the primer comes out. Dry it off and set it into a baggie with a desiccant for a few days. The advantage to this approach is that as soon as the primer starts to move, the pressure removing it will spread out over the whole surface rather than just pushing on the middle of the cup. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

March 23, 2021, 06:12 PM	#6
308Loader Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 639	DISCLAIMER You do what you feel is safe for your flesh and equipment, a primer is just a primer, not worth hurting anything over. With that said, I’ve found my self in this situation before. Just last week as a mater of fact. Normally I would slowly push the bad primer out, seat a new one and get on with my life. Ammo box winds up with 99 loaded rounds not 100. Things being the way they are with components, I did exactly what you are thinking about. Pushed the upside-down one out SLOWLY and as gently as possible. Flipped it over and seated it in its proper orientation. Being sure there was no noticeable damage to the cup or anvil before reseating. Marked the case with a sharpie so I would know what one to look out for. Brought it to the range and gave it a go. Round went bang, no noticeable difference in POI, life is good. Again, I’m not saying you should do this. This is just my recent experience and 2 cents. __________________ Just a dude with stuff.

March 23, 2021, 08:03 PM	#9
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 4,073	I have done this. I am not recommending you do this but I have very carefully, with eye and ear protection, and gloves, decapped the casing on the press. Then disposed of the primer. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

March 23, 2021, 07:15 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,626	You may be able to recap and recover it with slow pressure on the press handle. There is some chance of punching out the anvil which I consider to ruin it, but these days, it might be worth your while to get out the tweezers. Any live primer I decap, either way up, I mark and use only for a practice round. They have all gone off, so far.

March 23, 2021, 07:17 AM	#3
mgulino Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2017 Posts: 202	I have occasionally had that same situation. Setup a depriming die (or sizing die) and insert that case on your press as you would normally. Wrap the base of the case and shell holder with a towel. Wear gloves and hearing/eye protection. Slowly raise the case into the die and punch out the primer. If you catch the primer, you can inspect it for damage and possibly still use it. YMMV

March 23, 2021, 07:59 AM	#4
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	If the primer is actually seated to depth upside down in the pocket, odds are, the anvil is already damaged. Is the saving of one primer worth the chance of a misfire, hangfire or squib from poor ignition? Slow even pressure from a decapping die will probably not set it off. How does one seat a primer correctly in the first place? With slow pressure on the primer face. How many have gone off?....and that is with the anvil seated against the pocket. Upside down, the anvil does not contact anything on the way out.

March 23, 2021, 06:44 PM	#7
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,769	I've deprimed upside downs many times . Wear eye and ear protection , keep fingers and body parts (head , legs & feet) away from top and bottom of die and decap it as S-L-O-W as molassas in winter time . No sudden bumps and the primer should ease right out ... I've even re-used the primer in range loads . Can't waste nothing in these ..."out of stock" times . Gary

March 23, 2021, 07:17 PM	#8
chris downs Member Join Date: January 6, 2005 Location: MO Posts: 91	Thanks guys. I got it out and reloaded the primer. Tomorrow morn it will be round 1 sent downrange.

March 24, 2021, 06:20 PM	#10
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,721	As much as I hate to admit it, I've somehow done this 3 times. Gloves, ear muffs, safety glasses and a face shield. Slowly and carefully press it out. Didn't go pop. It does however make a certain part of your anatomy pucker up.

March 24, 2021, 06:50 PM	#11
hammered54 Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2010 Location: Pinckney,Michigan Posts: 151	done this plenty of times ......just go slow and out they come, some have a little dent but it hasn't stop them from going bang.

March 25, 2021, 06:35 AM	#12
cecILL Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: central IL Posts: 769	Done many times, also. Never had one go off.

March 25, 2021, 01:04 PM	#13
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...slow pressure on the press handle..." Yep. Slow and gentle with your regular decapper will pop it out. Most of us have had it happen at least once. Like Jim says, if the anvil comes out it's toast. Never had that happen myself though.