breaking crimped primers

[VrockTDSaz]

I'm decapping crimped primers with my lee 9mm sizing die. Or at least I was until I snapped the rod. The center of the primer is getting punched out leaving the primer rim wedged in the primer pocket.

Will a Lee universal decapping die solve this or is the pin the same as in my 9mm die?

The rim is harder than the surrounding brass pocket, making it difficult if not impossible to swag. With the primer rim jammed in the primer pocket it won't prime.

Edit: The photo shows a case with primer rim still stuck, a primer rim I managed to mangle another case and get it out, and the center that gets punched out.

 

[rondog]

Decapping pins are the same. Well, except for the neck sizing bell on rifle resizing dies.

I've had the same problem with crimped primers, especially with old .30-06 mil cases. Some of 'em just won't come out and the center of the primer gives out. Frustrating, but I just scrapped them and moved on. FWIW, I normally use a Lee Universal Decapping Die on everything.

 

[Reloadron]

I don't see a swage as a solution. Depending on how much time and effort you want to invest maybe chuck up a reamer in a drill press (or other cutting tool) and remove what remains of the spent primers.

Ron

 

[FROGO207]

This has happened to me with some PMC brass in various calibers that were NOT crimped in. I figured it was a primer quality issue. Other times I have had it happen was with OLD brass that was really tarnished and corroded before I cleaned it, figured the brass was unsafe and also not worth using. I have so many 9MM brass that I would not fool with them if I ran into this problem. On something that had a shortage of brass then I would build a small half round punch to drive down between the rim and primer pocket to help with removal and use it as a lever to collapse the ring after driving it in.

 

[Grumulkin]

Just make sure it's not Berdan primed case you're trying to deprime. Also, buy a pack of decapping pins; they're cheap and then you'll have extra for when one breaks.

 

[Ken70]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/636747/lee-decapper-and-base-30-caliber

This is what to use with crimped primers. I made my own since I have a lathe and bought some .200" steel rod and 100 .062" diameter needle bearings from Enco. Drill a .062" hole in the end of the rod and insert bearing and crush to lock in the pin.

You have to search to find the flash hole, if you have a berdan one, it will never drop down, so you know it's berdan.

If I had the rims coming off, I'd use a countersink to remove the crimp and use a small screwdriver or something like that to pry the rim out. A lot of the brass these days is worth .50 cents or more, I'm cheap and don't like throwing money away.

You don't need a huge lathe, the 7x10 will do most of you need. Find a used one for $150 or so.

 

[rodregier]

Even with a Lee decapping pin (larger diameter than some others at the tip),
I've had it punch thru the bottom of the occasional crimped primer cup.

I just move on and recycle that case to the scrap bucket. Too much pain to try and clear the pocket.

 

[VrockTDSaz]

Ken,
what kind of counter sink do you use to remove the Crimp? Everything I've tried just jams the primer rim even deeper.

 

[Rule3]

The pin on the LEE die should not break, If the primer is to tough to remove the pin should just pop up through the lock nut/screw. They even advertize if you break one they will send you a free one.

 

[Ken70]

Just an ordinary countersink you can buy at Home Depot. I think it's a 90 degree. You touch the brass to the tool for about 2 seconds, just enough to take out the crimps. A lot of peeps think they have to hold it for 5 or 10 seconds, but it's just a small cut. This is the $4 solution; if that...

 

[VrockTDSaz]

Ran them through a RCBS heavy duty decap die and had success with that! seemed to do a better job then the Lee. Of course, it may also be because I'm doing it as a separate operation. Left about 5 primer rims stick in the pocket out of 50 decapped. Used a lee pocket reamer hooked to a power drill to remove the crimp. Seemed to do the job, though maybe a few primers are not sitting 100% flush, maybe 99%

And yes the broken pin was my fault, I had it adjusted wrong.

 

[1SOW]

I've got about 3K of those NATO crimped WCC cases sized, deprimed, polished and ready to load. (*)

I use the Lee Turret press and lee dies. "Never" had that problem
The only deprimer pin I ever broke, was when I dropped it on a concrete floor and it snapped off.

(*) I've tried a number of methods to remove the crimp, and the best is the "Hornady" SPP reamer "TIP" chucked into a slow speed drill press. Made a jig (a bolt milled to fit just a little loose in a 9mm case)to set the case on, set the depth stop on the drill press and just pull the handle once and done. Good brass. I know I've done at least 5k with that same reamer tip. Primers seat with about the same feel as a PPU 9mm primer.