Street lingo

[Oathkeeper1775]

When a "Yugo" 7.62X39 brass case is listed as "non-reloadable"

Do they usually state that because of the primer pocket mil-crimp?

I know there could be a number of obvious reasons like dented, cracked etc.

Do they really mean to state that it is reloadable if the crimp is removed?

 

[gamestalker]

There are a number of factory cases that are non-reloadable. Usually it's because of the type of metal the brass is contructed of.

 

[fallout mike]

It probably means steel cases, berdan primed.

 

[wrench]

If it's brass cased, non-reloadable, it's berdan primed.

 

[greyling22]

boxer vs berdan primers. in pictures. http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=136077

 

[Walkalong]

It is a brass case, which is good, but it is Berdan primed, which is problematic.

 

[Steve C]

As Wakalong mentioned it is likely Berdan Primed. Most of the European military ammo, esp from Easter Bloc countries is Berdan Primed and while you can load Berdan Primed brass the primers are almost unavailable and the method of primer removal requires special tools most hand loaders do not have.

 

[Hondo 60]

Non-reloadable is berdan primed and most likely steel cased.

In the US, Berdan primers are extremely rare.
We use Boxer primers.

And steel cases are not especially friendly to reloaders.
Steel is nowhere near as malleable as brass, so they tend to crack easily.

 

[Walkalong]

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8788

Plenty of it around. Good ammo by all accounts. Primer is berdan and corrosive, so you have to clean immediately.

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

10 4

OK, I got enough to go on;

I see a lot of ads for Yugo brass cased berdian primed non-reloadable X39ammo , (it is 1-3 dollars cheaper per 20 rounds than the boxer primed ammo).

All I want is the brass cases, so If I can remove the berdian primer from the expended case and ream the pocket, the case would then be "reloadable" for use with boxer primers, (unless there is some other obvious defect).

I have enough to go on; conduct a sampling before I dive into shallow water so to speak - To find out if the boxer primers will fit into the berdian pockets after they are reamed.

Thanks much, I'll come back with what I find out.

 

[noylj]

Isn't it interesting that Berdan was an American, and the Euros adopted it, while the Boxer was British, I believe, and we adopted it?
The grass is always greener on the other side...
Some people have taken to drilling out the anvil on berdan brass to use standard primers. Cases can't be that hard to find.

 

[Hondo 60]

All I want is the brass cases, so If I can remove the berdian primer from the expended case and ream the pocket, the case would then be "reloadable" for use with boxer primers, (unless there is some other obvious defect).

NO! Berdan primers are not the same SIZE as boxer.

And Berdan primed brass has the "anvil" as part of the brass.
Boxed primers have the anvil in the primer.

Berdan primed cases have 2 tiny off set flash holes.
Boxer primed cases have one center flash hole.

Boxer & berdan ready cases are not interchangeable.

 

[BullfrogKen]

All I want is the brass cases, so If I can remove the berdian primer from the expended case and ream the pocket, the case would then be "reloadable" for use with boxer primers, (unless there is some other obvious defect).

I have enough to go on; conduct a sampling before I dive into shallow water so to speak - To find out if the boxer primers will fit into the berdian pockets after they are reamed.

As Hondo pointed out - it's impossible. Not compatable.


I think Winchester made 7.62 x 39 reloadable, boxer primed brass at one point.

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

wow

You guys just saved me a lot of time, my thanks

 

[greyling22]

there was another post here recently about reloading berdan x39. it is possible, but not easy or recommended. heck, technically you can reload steel berdan cases. but it's not practical.

 

[Hondo 60]

From what I understand, berdan primers are available in multiple sizes (more so than boxer).
So if you can find berdan primers, you have to get the right size.

While almost anything is possible, in the US, it very impracticable to reload berdan primers.

 

[Afy]

You can also get S&B ammo which is boxer primed as well as Lapua 7.62x39 brass.

 

[mgmorden]

You can also get S&B ammo which is boxer primed as well as Lapua 7.62x39 brass.

Yep. The "Europeans use Berdan" thing is almost strictly a military thing. Virtually all the commercial ammo is boxer just like ours. Heck their military ammo might be at this point too. Have to remember that most of this cheap surplus ammo that is berdan primed is 30-40 years old minimum. Still shoots fine, but they don't necessarily still make their ammo the same way.

 

[Maj Dad]

I used to toss the Yugo & other Berdan-primed brass cases. Now I toss them in a bucket & sell it when it gets kind of full. Scrap brass is over the roof, and it won't be long before new cases (& ammo) start creeping up again. I sold some aluminum cans & it brought 75 cents/lb in Sumter, SC...