Stuck Primer

[MoreIsLess]

I have a couple of cases that have a liveprimer wedged sideways in the primer pocket. Guess is it safe to use the deprimer die to get it out, can it still be used after that?

 

[JohnM]

If it needs about the force you could apply with a toothpick, maybe.
Otherwise, I'd say probably not.

 

[BADUNAME37]

If you soak the primer in something then carefully try it later with a full face shield, ear muffs and nothing flammable in the area of the press, go for it.

If it is worth doing all that to save a few cases, you are good to go, otherwise just ditch them and write it up to a learning-experience!

 

[MoreIsLess]

No, it's not worth saving a few cases. I'm more concerned with disposing of the primers.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I suppose you could bury them.
If they go out in the trash, they will most likely end up in a landfill. I would crush the case mouths with a pair of pliers before putting in any trash.

I suppose putting them into a small prescription bottle with water in it between now and when the trash man comes would be about the safest thing. If you have a woodstove, put earmuffs on and throw them onto the fire. They will pop, but shouldn't be any huge explosion, again, eye protection!

 

[Walkalong]

Decap it. No worries. it probably is bent to the point of being unusable though. It depends on how hard you seated it. When it happens on my RCBS hand primer I have to seat it hard to get the case out, so the primer is ruined. Decapping them will not set them off.

If you are that concerned about disposing of live primers, smack em with a hammer and then toss them. They are loud, and strong enough to blow stuff out from under the hammer, so take proper precautions.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I agree with walkalong, that seems to be the easiest and fastest way to rid yourself of them! Of course, taking the necessary precautions!

 

[dbarnhart]

I've had good luck simply grabbing the exposed side of the primer with needle nose pliers and pulling it out. I have also had a couple where there was not enough to grab and it that case I discarded the case.

I don't know what caliber you are dealing with, but for some (like 223 and 45) the cost of once-fired brass is so low that some cases are not worth messing with.

 

[JohnM]

I thought he was wanting to save the primer.
I guess maybe some brass is considered cheap enough to toss for such a simple thing, but I wouldn't.
just deprime it, throw an old towel over the press if you're worried, and toss the messed up primer in the flowers.
It'll be gone into the dirt in short order.

 

[Scimmia]

Decapping it is fine, but toss the primer afterwards. It's most likely deformed beyond repair at this point. I keep a small bottle of old motor oil around and just drop trashed primers into it; oil will render them inert.

 

[jcwit]

Is the case loaded with ouwder and bullet?

If not just decap in the usdual way and toss the primer as its more than likely bent out of shape and useless. In the unlikely event it does happen to go off its only a primer, not a stick of dynamit. They do have a little power but you don't need a blast jacket to protect yourself.

 

[Seedtick]

Where is Snuffy at?

Yes, you can ease a live primer out of a piece of brass.

Seedtick

 

[T Bran]

I had a bunch of old 30-06 ball ammo that I wanted the cases from so I broke em down in the hammer puller and punched the primers out with a universal decapping die. I wasnt even gentle about it and nothing went bang though I expected some to go off and had a full face plastic shield on. So just deprime as usual and wear some protection but dont bother trying to save the primers. Even if they seat in the brass they will be unpredictable.
Good luck
T

 

[jcwit]

I should've mentioned the secret about primers.

It's sudden impact to set off a primer, not pressure.

 

[snuffy]

Where is Snuffy at?

Yes, you can ease a live primmer out of a piece of brass.

Seedtick

Who me?

I think I found something that WILL deactivate primers. Ever hear of "GOOF OFF"? It's a combination of several harsh solvents used to remove labels, tape residue and markers like sharpie. I haven't tested it yet, but it should break the lacquer they use to seal primers from contamination like oil, water and some mild solvents.

Yeah, just decap as normal, GENTLY!

My dillon got sick, was seating primers sideways for a spell. I have a bunch of WLP that are useless, and I can't be making loud noises in this close community. I'll toss them in a closed container for a day, see if they still pop. Goof off would evaporate in minutes if not closed up.

 

[dbarnhart]

>>My dillon got sick, was seating primers sideways for a spell<<

I've discovered how to make the Hornaday do that: Mount the primer tube upside down ;-)

 

[sugarmaker]

I pop them out all the time. If you have an RCBS press use eye protection, those things can really zing off the bottom of the curved primer chute. My favorite way to dispose of them was in the woodstove before we had a fancy glass fronted one. Not much more pop than a good stick of pine.

 

[1SOW]

Deprime smoothly.
With my 5# sledge hammer using an anvil or steel plate, they make less noise than a smaller hammer. All the primer parts are under the hammer after the pop.
Using heat they make a loud pop and scatter shrapnel.

 

[snuffy]

>>My dillon got sick, was seating primers sideways for a spell<<

I've discovered how to make the Hornaday do that: Mount the primer tube upside down ;-)

A chunk of lead got sheared off of a 45 boolit as it was being seated, got under the shell plate, then got jammed into the primer punch. It was catching some of the primers, flipping them. I was near the end of the loading session, so I waited to change to 9mm, that's when the cause was found.

 

[Twiki357]

I have deprimed a lot of then over the years with the regular depriming punch. Just do it slow and use eye protection. I've never had one go pop.

 

[Walkalong]

I generally just take a Lee decapping rod, a small brass hammer, and just knock em out. never popped one yet.

 

[MoreIsLess]

I generally just take a Lee decapping rod, a small brass hammer, and just knock em out. never popped one yet.

Since it is still a live primer after knocking it out with a decapping rod, how should it be disposed of, or should it be re-used after decapping

 

[jcwit]

If in fact its been wedged in sideways more than likely it deformed and no longer is usable. Toss it in the trash.

If its still the correct shape and will fit into the primer pocket as it should, use it.

 

[Walkalong]

Toss it in the trash.

Yep, but if you are overly concerned with doing that, wear goggles, muffs, and smack em with a hammer first.

 

[exavid]

I usually just oil damaged primers and toss them. A little drop of just about any kind of oil will do 'em in. Like the others I've never had one pop when running the case through the decapping die.