Using primers that were seated then knocked out but unfired

[jski]

I seated a dozen primers in my 357 brass only to recognize these were CCI small RIFLE primers and not small pistol primers. Now small rifle primers work fine with my Rugers but not my S&Ws. So I knocked them out with my resizing die. Under a magnifying glass comparing unseated to never seated, I couldn't tell which was which.

Are these still good to use?

 

[EMC45]

Shoot them. I’ve knocked out and reused primers many times through the years. In fact just got back from the range and I was shooting reseated primers. Everyone went bang.

 

[CQB45ACP]

^^^^

Use em

 

[LiveLife]

With the price of primers these days, I will reuse every one of them.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I've done that a bunch of times, with no issues.

BUT! Even though I've never seen one fail to fire, I do segregate "previously seated" primers, and load them into ammo that is purely plinking fodder.

I wouldn't want them tarnishing the QC of any HD/SD ammo.

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

My NRA Metallic Reloading instructor advised me that the primer removal and reuse is safe. He was also kind enough to remove a sideways primer for me that had a 45 auto (IMI, crimped pocket) case stuck in a brand new Redding comp shell holder. I let him keep that primer

 

[dartor]

I find live ammo at the range all the time. I pull the bullets to melt down for casting, dump the powder and remove the primers with a universal decapping die. I use the primers from handgun ammo in my 357 but I drop my favorite BE86 load by .4 grains to account for a magnum primer. They all go bang. You should have no problem reusing the primers.

 

[entropy]

Use them. I've never had a problem, and I've done so with rifle, pistol, and shotgun primers. I'd probably shy away from trying to knock a staked-in primer out.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I've done the same thing use them never had a failure to fire with repeated primers.

 

[JimGnitecki]

I have often been tempted to push unfired primers out of cases when the primers were not properly seated, but have resisted the impulse to do so because I thought they just might go "bang" if a sizing die depriming pin hits them just right/ Have I been too cautious??

Jim G

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Done it many times and will continue to do it.

 

[sparkyv]

Good to use. Never had a reseated one not go bang.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As all.the others have said, load them up and shoot them. I personally would not use them in hunting ammo but for the range and sighting in, good to go!

 

[jski]

Thanks guys! I appreciate feedback and will certainly use those primers with my Ruger Blackhawks.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I have often been tempted to push unfired primers out of cases when the primers were not properly seated, but have resisted the impulse to do so because I thought they just might go "bang" if a sizing die depriming pin hits them just right/ Have I been too cautious??

Jim G

Go slow pushing out, don't drop hard or fast.

 

[DanK3Pos]

I've done that a bunch of times, with no issues.

BUT! Even though I've never seen one fail to fire, I do segregate "previously seated" primers, and load them into ammo that is purely plinking fodder.

I wouldn't want them tarnishing the QC of any HD/SD ammo.

Or hunting ammo. Or match ammo. Plinking only.

 

[FROGO207]

I have removed and reused several hundred primers over the last 45+ years and all were removed without mishap and all went boom when I pulled the trigger. The key as mentioned is to use slow, steady pressure and not hit anything hard with that decapping pin.

 

[deadeye dick]

With the price of primers these days, I will reuse every one of them.

Twice!

 

[AK Hunter]

Yes I do it all the time never had a problem. Just be sure to wear eye protection when pushing them out.

 

[gwpercle]

If you pressed them out gently ... and did not actually "Knock" them out with great force ...
they should be usable . Primers are intended when struck from the outside , the priming compound is crushed and detonates ... if you press them out gently when decapping the pin presses on the center anvil and the anvil legs press on the primer cup edge ... done gently this doesn't break up the layer priming compound and the primer should fire when used normally ... If you "Knocked" the primer out with force you could have broken the layer of compound ... think of the compond like a little pill ... you crush or break up the pill ...then you might get miss-fires .
It will all depend on how hard you knocked out the primer and how badly the priming compound is broken up .
Gary

 

[JimGnitecki]

If you pressed them out gently ... and did not actually "Knock" them out with great force ...
they should be usable . Primers are intended when struck from the outside , the priming compound is crushed and detonates ... if you press them out gently when decapping the pin presses on the center anvil and the anvil legs press on the primer cup edge ... done gently this doesn't break up the layer priming compound and the primer should fire when used normally ... If you "Knocked" the primer out with force you could have broken the layer of compound ... think of the compond like a little pill ... you crush or break up the pill ...then you might get miss-fires .
It will all depend on how hard you knocked out the primer and how badly the priming compound is broken up .
Gary

Understood! Thank-you!

Jim G

 

[lightman]

I've used primers that were installed and removed with no problems. Just as long as the priming compound and anvil are intact they should work fine. I probably wouldn't use them in the ammo that I was taking to the National Matches! As some of the others have said, be slow and gentle when removing them.

 

[Thomasss]

I remove primers and reuse them without any problems. In cartridges, I full length re-size. If I don't have a die, I will use a nail punch close to the same dia. of the primer. You don't want to jab at the center of a primer. Slowly tap them out holding the case over a wood drilled hole. One word of caution, small rifle can be used as a substitute for small pistol primers, but back off of max. a few grains. SRP are a lot hotter.

 

[deadeye dick]

I would NOT go near a live primer with anything resembling a nail set or punch of any kind. The word hammer and primers do not go together.

 

[JimGnitecki]

I would NOT go near a live primer with anything resembling a nail set or punch of any kind. The word hammer and primers do not go together.

To clarify, do you mean that SLOWLY PUSHING a live primer out is ok, but using an IMPACT force of any sort is NOT ok, because it can have the same efefct as a firing pin, even though applied from the INside of the primer versus the OUTside of the primer?

Jim G