I made a stupid mixup with primers.

[Dark Skies]

I just reloaded a hundred .223 rounds using small pistol primers instead of small rifle primers. Bloody stupid mistake. I just didn't notice I'd pulled the wrong primers off my shelf. Bugger!

I've now pulled all the bullets and emptied the cases and need to get the primers out. Initially I figured that I'd just feed the cases by hand and shoot the primer before pressing them out. Unfortunately that hasn't worked. The firing pin appears to only lightly dent the primers and doesn't set them off. I can only assume that the pistol primer is not as tall as the rifle primer and full contact is not being made.

Does anyone know if I soak the cartridges in a bucket of water if this will make the primers inert so that I can safely press them out?

 

[Floppy_D]

You can safely press them out anyway, just be steady on the ram. I've deprimed at least a hundred live primers, for the same reason as yours. Even if the primer does go off, it's contained in the die.

Small pistol and small rifle primers are the same height.

 

[Jacka L Ope]

You should be able to safely eject them via re-sizing step as is.

 

[Dark Skies]

"Small pistol and small rifle primers are the same height."

That's somewhat disconcerting then! I just bought a secondhand (but excellent condition) Southern Gun AR-15 which I haven't yet had the opportunity to shoot.. Sounds like I have firing pin issues.

Cheers for the heads up on pressing them out lads. I'll <gingerly> give that a try.

 

[Mal H]

Right, and you don't even have to toss them out. 99% of deprimed primers will still work normally. Use them for plinking or practice ammo.

 

[NCsmitty]

Hi Dark Skies, there's no sense wasting your primers and it's safe to just deprime and save the pistol primers. The sp and sr primers are nearly the same height on paper, sr primers have thicker cups for the higher pressures.
It should have fired the pistol primers, IMO. Perhaps you are setting the shoulder back on the case a bit, if you are full length sizing.

Just a question, I thought English laws have stripped private ownership of rifles like 223? Are you military or law enforcement?
I'm just curious for information from the horses mouth.
Good luck.

NCsmitty

 

[Dark Skies]

"NCsmitty

Hi Dark Skies, there's no sense wasting your primers and it's safe to just deprime and save the pistol primers. The sp and sr primers are nearly the same height on paper, sr primers have thicker cups for the higher pressures.
It should have fired the pistol primers, IMO. Perhaps you are setting the shoulder back on the case a bit, if you are full length sizing."

Heh. This is embarrassing. Turns out the reason was even simpler than this. I was being a big pussy and treating the rifle like a regular bolt action rifle instead of letting the bolt return with a bit of inertia. The bolt wasn't seating properly and hence the pin was only lightly striking the primer. The reason for this will become clear when I answer your question regarding Brit gun law. It's all good now.

"Just a question, I thought English laws have stripped private ownership of rifles like 223? Are you military or law enforcement?
I'm just curious for information from the horses mouth."

I'm an ex-cop. Just a humble civilian now. But armed police here are very much in the minority and issued guns can't be taken home - unless things have changed a lot since my day. They have to go back in the cabinet at the station.

British firearm laws have, since the late 1980's, been legislated in accordance with knee-jerk reactions by the media (following isolated and rare shooting incidents) rather than any resemblance to common sense.

After Michael Ryan killed a number of people in Hungerford in 1988 during a shooting spree with rifles the Government of the day pandered to the press and banned semi-automatic rifles above .22 LR. Up until then we could own semi-auto AK47s and AR15s etc. Afterwards we could still own bolt and lever action rifles - regardless of calibre. Consequently there is a big market here for Lee Enfields, Winchester and Marlin lever actions and the like. However, we missed owning our AK47s and AR15s so home grown gunsmiths started converting / building them with bolt action mechanisms instead. I know, I know. It's sacrillege but what you gonna do but work around that? I've owned lots of WWII bolt action rifles and so when I bought this .223 black gun with a bolt I treated it like a regular bolt action and was too gentle with it - hence my primer issue. Obviously before the conversion that bolt would have rammed home with a lot more force. I was babying it!

On the plus side the Government haven't banned magazine capacity.

We can still own .22 LR in semi-automatic and I have one of those in an AR15 format - as well as an Armscor take on the aK47.

After 1996 when a raging paedo called Hamilton shot up a school in Dunblane modern pistols were banned almost outright. There are exceptions to this - you can own one for humane destruction (vetinarians for example) or personal protection in (very VERY) limited circumstances - usually at risk Government officials / anti-terrorist ex-cops etc.

You can still own some WWII handguns (and earlier) of historical interest but they have to be kept at your club and cannot be taken away from the premises.

You can own black powder cap and ball pistols and keep these at home - retro replicas are very big here.

You can own a modern pistol (revolver) if it has a very long Buntline type barrel because in our crazy country these are classed as being rifles. I kid you not.

Gun law here is largely a hotch potch of compromise to keep the screaming media happy rather than any bearing on common sense or meaningful safety.

Incidentally. I hear Tony Blair is very popular in the States. This inanely grinning clown is a civil liberties taker and gun stealer. You ought to be very concerned that he's cosying up to your man Obama. Blair is very proud of the fact that he stole our personal property (handguns) whilst using all those dead kids to stepstone his way to 10 Downing Street crying crocodile tears all the way. What he won't tell you is that firearm crime has risen by 400% since the handgun ban. Weirdly ... handguns weren't banned in Northern Ireland - which is strange given the troubles that beset that part of British rule.

 

[rcmodel]

I'd like to see some photo's of that bolt-action conversion on an AR-15.

Who knows? We may have to do it over here when the present party in power gets done with us.

rc

 

[Dark Skies]

Ask and ye shall receive.

http://www.southern-gun.co.uk/?page=items&cat_id=1

I own the V22 military version in .22 LR and the Speedmaster Mark 5 in .223

 

[rcmodel]

Well, thats pretty different!

Another question?
Is the recoil buffer & spring still there?

Gas tube gone or plugged?
Gas key on the carrier gone?

Thanks again!
rc

 

[Dark Skies]

The buffer tube and spring remain but no longer plays a part. The gas tube and key, being redundant, are no longer present. The semi-auto .22 LR versions need CCI Minimags or similar hefty loads in order to work the action. They obviously have very light recoil springs.

 

[NCsmitty]

Dark Skies, thanks for your gun laws explanation and the interesting pictures. They appear to be high quality firearms.
Good luck and continued support from your American brotherhood.

NCsmitty

 

[Dark Skies]

My pleasure. And who knows, perhaps I'll get to own handguns again in a few years time. My wife is from the Buckeye State and everytime I visit my parents in law I make it a point to shoot pistols. Every time I go there the urge is strong to emmigrate.

 

[Mike Sr.]

Pretty Nifty....

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My wife is from the Buckeye State and every time I visit my parents in law I make it a point to shoot pistols. Every time I go there the urge is strong to emmigrate.

Anyone who comes here legally is more than welcome to stay. Unfortunately, I fear you waited too long since our current president will probably be taking away our gun rights. Most people think the 2nd Amendment granted us the right to bear arms. In reality the 2nd Amendment merely affirmed our preexisting God given right to bear arms.

 

[Dark Skies]

Say it ain't so! Actually, I can't quite see Obama pulling that off. Gun ownership is so deeply entrenched in America that if he did try that I think it'd be political suicide. Besides guns are such BIG business there that'd it'd be crazy in the current economic climate. In the UK it was relatively easy to steal our handguns. Ownership was roughly about 150,000 souls and we were seen as a minority group of 'hobbyists' - a pushover in a population of about 52,000,000. Our NRA is nothing like as active as your NRA. In fact, because our NRA were more interested in rifle ownership many handgun owners felt very let down by their inactivity leading up to the ban. It seemed that they kept a low profile and let us be sacrificed in the hope the Government wouldn't focus on their membership. We didn't have a Charlton Heston rooting for us - Lord rest his soul.

As our firearms manufacturers, apart from a few custom builders, were virtually non-existant the fallout economically in revenue, employment, shops and clubs was very small. In America, however, it's entirely different. Think how much employment and revenue shooting brings in to your Government. Pulling the rug out from under that would have huge financial and political consequences. I can't see it happening. At worst there may be some pointless tinkering to tighten the laws. That's what I'm hoping anyway. Not only for my one-day immigration but also for my current sport here in the UK -America provides about 80% of our ammo, firearms, reloading gear and equipment. It'd be catastrophic for us - although no doubt Europe would see the financial opportunity eventually.

Anyway - I'm doing my bit for you guys and myself. I'm joining the US NRA today - free membership offer!) Maybe I'm pulling a stroke by using my father inlaw's address but it feels morally right. Besides, wouldn't be the first time I meddled in American politics - I signed a petition for Ohio's concealed permit a few years back - and that worked out ok.