Reloading Berdan Primed Cartridges
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
It would be a dangerous practice.
A Berdan primed case has a central anvil built into the primer pocket for the primer compound to get smashed against.
Any remnants of that would interfere with the built-in anvil in a boxer primer.
Also unlikely they would use the same standard .175" SM, or .210" size LG American primers.
Not saying it couldn't, or hasn't been done, but it seems like a lot of trouble if you can get Boxer primed brass anywhere else.
rcmodel
A Berdan primed case has a central anvil built into the primer pocket for the primer compound to get smashed against.
Any remnants of that would interfere with the built-in anvil in a boxer primer.
Also unlikely they would use the same standard .175" SM, or .210" size LG American primers.
Not saying it couldn't, or hasn't been done, but it seems like a lot of trouble if you can get Boxer primed brass anywhere else.
rcmodel
scrat
Member
or just learn how and reload the Berdan primers. I agree though if other brass is available go that route first. there are ways to take out the primers.
out there in cyber land is a fellow named Doug Henry,don't remember if the K-31 site or Parralax Bill's site,but Doug has a step by step way to use a 22 case for a bushing to make Berdan primed brass accept Boxer primers.I've done several Berdan to Boxer swaps,it's pretty much a pain in the butt,so I just bought several thousand Berdan primers when PMC had them "in country" jwr
Jim Watson
Member
I have READ about the process.
If the Berdan pocket is smaller than a large Boxer, the case can be dropped over a steel rod in a vise or heavy base and a hammer and punch used to bash down the Berdan anvil, mostly closing the flashholes in the process. Then the right size endmill will smooth out the bottom of the pocket and bring it to the right size for a Boxer primer. Drill a centered flashhole.
If the Berdan pocket is larger than .210 (there are a lot of .254s) repeat the process except you have to lathe turn some teeny little bushings to take standard Boxers. (Freedom Arms offered large-to-small primer pocket bushings back when they were changing from large pistol to small rifle primers for the .454 Casull, so it can be done safely.)
For black powder cartridges, it has been done to bore and counterbore a hole to take the whole head of something like a .32-20 or .22 Hornet which is then low temperature soft soldered or Loctited in place. Or just bore to take a shotshell battery cup primer. Either of those is for black powder or very light smokeless loads when there is no other way to get the old gun shooting at all.
Any of the above is a tremendous amount of work, something to do for a very odd caliber you cannot get Boxer brass for or even the right size Berdan primer (which are scarcer than they used to be.) Not something to do to make use of Slobovvian surplus 8mm or some such.
If the Berdan pocket is smaller than a large Boxer, the case can be dropped over a steel rod in a vise or heavy base and a hammer and punch used to bash down the Berdan anvil, mostly closing the flashholes in the process. Then the right size endmill will smooth out the bottom of the pocket and bring it to the right size for a Boxer primer. Drill a centered flashhole.
If the Berdan pocket is larger than .210 (there are a lot of .254s) repeat the process except you have to lathe turn some teeny little bushings to take standard Boxers. (Freedom Arms offered large-to-small primer pocket bushings back when they were changing from large pistol to small rifle primers for the .454 Casull, so it can be done safely.)
For black powder cartridges, it has been done to bore and counterbore a hole to take the whole head of something like a .32-20 or .22 Hornet which is then low temperature soft soldered or Loctited in place. Or just bore to take a shotshell battery cup primer. Either of those is for black powder or very light smokeless loads when there is no other way to get the old gun shooting at all.
Any of the above is a tremendous amount of work, something to do for a very odd caliber you cannot get Boxer brass for or even the right size Berdan primer (which are scarcer than they used to be.) Not something to do to make use of Slobovvian surplus 8mm or some such.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Good grief! 
I'd probably just take up drinking for a hobby, instead of reloading!
rcmodel
I'd probably just take up drinking for a hobby, instead of reloading!
rcmodel
cracked butt
Member
A much easier conversion- it will only work with brass cases though.
http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirear...Berdan-to-Boxer-Conversion-Method.html?page=1
http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirear...Berdan-to-Boxer-Conversion-Method.html?page=1
cpttango30
Member
I have to agree with rcmodel on this one. can you imagine trying to drill 200 tiny little holes in deep cases? you can't see in the case that well so no telling if you are going to get is centered or not. Plus boxer primed cases are not really that costly you do not alway need Nosler or Laupa brass.
Funderb
Member
some one should find a way to make a reliable berdan punch.
Jim Watson
Member
There have been several devised.
One looks like a regular decapping stem except that it has two very small pins and the stem is not snugged down. You feed the case into the die and feel for the holes.
There was a British hydraulic decapper that used very little water and made no mess.
There was the bizarre Power Punch that popped a primer over the flashholes from the inside, blowing out the Berdan primer at the cost of a Boxer primer.
I helped a friend decap .450 express by the pierce and pry system. It is adequate if you are careful and if you are loading for an express rifle which does not shoot them up very fast.
One looks like a regular decapping stem except that it has two very small pins and the stem is not snugged down. You feed the case into the die and feel for the holes.
There was a British hydraulic decapper that used very little water and made no mess.
There was the bizarre Power Punch that popped a primer over the flashholes from the inside, blowing out the Berdan primer at the cost of a Boxer primer.
I helped a friend decap .450 express by the pierce and pry system. It is adequate if you are careful and if you are loading for an express rifle which does not shoot them up very fast.
cracked butt
Member
Berdan primers are very easy to decap hydraulically.
1. remove the expander ball from your FL di.
2. resize case without expander ball.
3. replace expander ball in FL die
4. dip case in soapy water.
5. slowly run case up die enough to expand the neck- the primer will pop and you don't need to worry about the decapping pin hitting the bottom of the case.
1. remove the expander ball from your FL di.
2. resize case without expander ball.
3. replace expander ball in FL die
4. dip case in soapy water.
5. slowly run case up die enough to expand the neck- the primer will pop and you don't need to worry about the decapping pin hitting the bottom of the case.
Funderb
Member
si i can reload my brass 8mm surplus ammo?
It would have to be a caliber I could not get other boxer primed brass for that I wanted to shoot real bad, but like folks have said, they can be reloaded. I had not heard of "converting" them before, but it sounds doable, if you have the patience..
evan price
Member
Berdan primers are a different diameter than Boxer.
I would personally suspect brass that was adapted to a different primer.
If it were some ancient caliber that was unavailable in Boxer brass- maybe worth the effort. Something like 8mm Mauser or 7.5 swiss- just buy brass and sell the Berdan for recycling scrap.
Good luck finding new berdan primers today- I heard the supply dried up.
I would personally suspect brass that was adapted to a different primer.
If it were some ancient caliber that was unavailable in Boxer brass- maybe worth the effort. Something like 8mm Mauser or 7.5 swiss- just buy brass and sell the Berdan for recycling scrap.
Good luck finding new berdan primers today- I heard the supply dried up.
cracked butt
Member
On the other hand, there are a lot of people out there that do time consuming things like casting bullets or reloading 9mm on a single stage press because they like to- everyone needs a hobby
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