Priming Berdan primers

[Matt Dillon]

Folks, my lot of Berdan large rifle primers arrived today. Of course, I just HAD to try loading one! My first attempt, in my Lee Autoprime with 7.5 Swiss GP11 cases, was less than stellar. Somehow, the primer got cockeyed in the primer pocket, and I had to "hydraulically" remove the primer using the old bolt and water trick. The next case I tried, worked perfectly, but I noticed that the depth is much deeper than my boxer primed cases. Is this normal? I wonder if this will fire! Anyone else have this experience? Am I seating them too deeply, or should I go a little more lightly on the auto prime tool? The last thing I want is for the primer to be high, but this was noticeably deepr than when I have primed boxer cartridges.
Thanks so much in advance for your help and advice!

 

[jwr747]

berdan

the primers in the GP11 brass do sit deep,but the good old Swiss rifles will make them go boom. I also use a Lee Auto prime,on mine the primers were a little tight coming up thru the plastic delivery tube to the brass.I de-burred the plastic tube till the Berdan primers worked 100 % of the time. the regular primers still work. every once in a while I'll get one crossed up but it's one in 3 or 4 hundred.that GP11 brass is just to pretty to scrap. jwr
PS: the .217 size berdan primers will also work on several of the mil-surp calibers.

 

[Matt Dillon]

Thanks, Jwr747, for your reply. The next caliber that I want to try them on is 7.52X54 - I was concerned that they were too deeply seated, but thanks for reassuring me that they will work that way.

 

[redactor]

Just curious on this... How do you get Berdan primers properly aligned with the flash holes in the case?

 

[Matt Dillon]

You don't align the primer with the flash holes, you align the primer in the primer pocket, just as you would a boxer primer. I find that in the GP11 brass cases (7.5 Swiss) the Berdan primers seat rather more deeply than do the boxer primers in the Grafs brass cases, but they still fire the same.

 

[4Shooters]

Berdan Primers

Matt- I am interested in using Berdan primers but am having a hard time finding them...any leads would be helpful. Thanks

 

[Matt Dillon]

4Shooters, please contact Mars_308 on auctionarms.com. I recently purchased a small quantity from him, and he was very prompt and professional in his transaction.

 

[Ross]

I just got 5000 .217" primers from a Gunbroker seller. It was $121.ºº delivered, and within a week. Search berdan on Gunbroker. I gave the seller an A+ feedback. He sells a 2000 lot too.
Your hope to load the .303 British and 7.62 R Russian may be frustrated until .254" primer again become available, though some may have .217" pockets.
The Russian Murom primers are not tall, and will seat deep in deep pockets - no harm.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

Edit:
I see Mr. Dillon outdrew me on the Mars_45 deal.

 

[Matt Dillon]

4shooters, I was just made aware that Mars_308 moved his auctions to gunbroker.com

 

[4Shooters]

4shooters, I was just made aware that Mars_308 moved his auctions to gunbroker.com

Thanks Matt and Ross, I appreciate your sharing