Re using Pulled, unfired primers

I have used "pulled" primers before without issue. I probably would not use them for self defense, hunting or competition loads. Did you deform them when you seated them in the brass with primer pocket crimps?

Yes, done it many times.

This then brings about my question: If the primers are deformed and not reusable, how does one safely dispose of them?

nevadabob said:

This then brings about my question: If the primers are deformed and not reusable, how does one safely dispose of them?

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In the trash. . .

Disposing of a 1k brick might be irresponsible, but a handful is less exciting than an almost-empty hairspray can.

Now, I save them for the 4th of July, but that's just me.

nevadabob said:

This then brings about my question: If the primers are deformed and not reusable, how does one safely dispose of them?

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I just drop them into the trash. Soaking them in various liquids often has little effect on primers. A few in the trash is a non issue.

I, too, will use a gently decapped live primer in practice ammo. I paint them black so I can keep them out of match ammo. But I have not had one to misfire.

gifbohane said:

lightman said:

I just drop them into the trash. Soaking them in various liquids often has little effect on primers. A few in the trash is a non issue.

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In the past I soaked them in oil for a few days but I do not know if that helped.

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Primers are made with barrier cups and sealants to resist moisture. Many have tried to deactivate primers with little success. If you are really concerned, you could use two stainless steel bowls on the gas grill burner to cook them off (Be careful, detonation force will imprint/dent stainless steel bowls).

If just a few primers, I would toss them in the trash.

Nice pictures, bds.

nevadabob said:

This then brings about my question: If the primers are deformed and not reusable, how does one safely dispose of them?

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Throw them in the trash; have fun and hit them with a hammer on the garage floor, reseat them in an empty brass and set them off - lots of fun ways to do it.

gifbohane said:

I screwed up a dozen loads yesterday and pulled the bullet and the powder for re use. I also had to remove the unused primer (deprime the good primer.) Military crimp and mistake by me issues.

A question came to mind. Can I reuse these pulled and unspent CCI 500 primers? I know they are 3 cents a piece. Looked around this site and found no info.

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Yes. Before I knew about gunpowder deterioration, I loaded 700 LC 308 Match cases with surplus IMR 4895. Within months, every case that was fired experienced case neck cracks:

These are not the cases, but the LC match cracked identically







and then the case necks started cracking in stored, unfired cases. So I had 700 cases which I pulled the bullets, dumped the powder, and I decided to save the CCI #34 primers. I deprimed all cases and reused the #34 primers. I don't recall a misfire, but one could have happened. I used these primers in rock busting ammunition so I have no idea whether the primer cake was damaged and deteriorated by seating, depriming, and re-seating. But I do recall shooting the stuff up and don't have any bad memories, so maybe they all went bang.

Gunpowder deterioration is a area of cultural ignorance in the shooting society. The term is Agnotology. Most shooters believe ammunition lasts forever, gunpowder lasts forever, and the popular press reinforces their biases and tells them this is so. So, shooters are quite in denial about the whole thing. Pictures like these have no affect in dispelling their confirmation bias.








Based on my experience, I would have deprimed these corroded cases and saved the primers, if there were enough of them.

They’ll go bang, but the general result is the anvil gets seated a little more deeply, and maybe not in a consistent manner. So they may not match the standard performance, and may not be as consistent as standard. If you have low expectations for the ammo and don’t want to waste $15 (500 primers), then fine. If you’re at all picky with your ammo, then the $15 would be well wasted.

Soaking in oil has been proven ineffective at making primers inert. Either accept the risk of throwing away a few live primers, or find a safe means to detonate them prior to disposal. Could even donate them to another shooter, transparently identified, if they aren’t as picky about consistency. Can throw them into a campfire, cook off on an outside grill, whack ‘em with a hammer, seat them and blast them in a barrel you don’t really care about... lots of options. You pick what you prefer and what you can accomplish safely.

I once messed up 100 rounds before I found the mistake.
Pulled bullets, powder & primers.
Used them all in a different configuration.

And I didn't notice anything wrong when they were eventually all shot.