[Ex]

Occasionally when setting up the press for dif caliber, I'll end up with a piece of brass with a primer in it that I want out.

Today and I have done before, I dropped this un-loaded, no bullet, primed case into the barrel of the .40 and pop it to spend the primer.

Now, the sucker is locked up. Can't rack it. Barrel won't unlock. I can get the slide off but the barrel does not want to come free from the slide. Haven't forced it ...yet.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Ex

[HOLY DIVER]

was the brass re sized that you had that primer in? only way i see to get it out is maybee a cleaning rod down the barrel pushing on it while you pull the slide rearward?

[eam3clm@att.net]

Most likely the primer has backed out of the primer pocket and it is pushing aginst the breech face. In turn it is pushing the rim of the case aginst the extractor. This has bappened to me before and that it the only cause I can think of. Just put the gun back together and try harder. It may help to hold the slide with one hand and strike the grip with the other as though you are going to grip the gun.

[Ex]

Most likely the primer has backed out of the primer pocket and it is pushing aginst the breech face. In turn it is pushing the rim of the case aginst the extractor. This has bappened to me before and that it the only cause I can think of. Just put the gun back together and try harder. It may help to hold the slide with one hand and strike the grip with the other as though you are going to grip the gun.
This is it.

Though, without any pressure from gunpowder or a slug in front of it, I truly don't understand why the primer would backout...

Was able to remove slide without problem. With the aid of EXTRA magnifying glasses,
see that that primer was the issue. "Levered" it back in and got the case out.

Must have been a REALLY loose primer pocket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All is well again on the homefront.

Thanks guys, as always!

Ex

[eam3clm@att.net]

Its not loose primer pockets as this almost always happens (in my expierence). The issue is that when you fire a loaded round the forces push the case aginst the breech face reseating the primer. Primers generate enough pressure that they can push themselves from the case. One reason most say do not rely only on the primer condition to judge pressure is that a backed out primer is looked upon as a sign of high pressure and from what you expierenced and using the theory that a backed out primer is a sign of high pressure, you are already at max load without a bullet or powder and you need to rework your load (hahaha). In all seriousness though your expierence is normal. As a side note if you reload bottle neck rifle cases excessive headspace and pressure being too low can also cause a backed out primer as well.

[Ex]

One reason most say do not rely only on the primer condition to judge pressure is that a backed out primer is looked upon as a sign of high pressure and from what you expierenced and using the theory that a backed out primer is a sign of high pressure, you are already at max load without a bullet or powder and you need to rework your load (hahaha).

I'll get on reducing that load formula right away! ;-)

Do they make sub-mini primers? ROFLOL

I know about check for case bulge and primer pushout when testing new loads or on suspicion of one being hot. Just never seen it happen with an empty round, but I guess that's one thing that makes reloading interesting... always something new, always something else to learn!

[orionengnr]

Though, without any pressure from gunpowder or a slug in front of it, I truly don't understand why the primer would backout...
That's an easy one. Look at the diameter of the primer.
Now, look at the diameter of the flash hole (it will be ~1/3 the size of the primer).

The pressure generated by the primer exerts an equal force in all directions.
Since the surface area of the back side of the primer is 3-4x that of the flash hole, 3-4x pressure is directed towards the back of the primer...which moves the primer backwards until it is stopped by the breach face.

(If it were a loaded round, the pressure in the barrel due to trying to move a big chunk of lead that weighs many times the case/primer would slam the case back against the breach face, re-seating the primer.)

If it were me, I'd remove the slide/barrel assy, find a wooden dowel slightly smaller than the bore, and slide it down until it is in contact with the inside of the case.

Put the back side of the slide against a piece of wood (vertically, muzzle up). Giive the dowel a smack or two. That will drive the case downward, and since the primer is sitting against the breach face, it has no choice but to be driven flush with the case (as it was before firing). That will allow the case to be ejected easily.

[Certaindeaf]

^ Yep, brass or wood rod down the pipe and smack it with a hammer to re-seat the primer. It should free it up.