Yes! You can squeeze a primer flat in a vice without it firing, but impact? Absolutely not!!!!
Using primers that were seated then knocked out but unfired
- Thread starter jski
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Carl N. Brown
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When absolutely desperate for a few primers to finish reloading a box of cartridges, I took damaged cartridges from the junk box, pulled the bullets, dumped the powder, and carefully pressed the primers out with a decapping pin.
I was skeptical about pressing out live primers because I read it worked on the internet. But they all work when I fired them.
Would I bet my life or a rare hunting trip on recycled primers, or put the cartridges reloaded with them in long term storage? No.
But if I ever needed primers for handloads for a weekend target practice, I would do it again. Carefully.
I was skeptical about pressing out live primers because I read it worked on the internet. But they all work when I fired them.
Would I bet my life or a rare hunting trip on recycled primers, or put the cartridges reloaded with them in long term storage? No.
But if I ever needed primers for handloads for a weekend target practice, I would do it again. Carefully.
Carl N. Brown
Member
I wear safety glasses and ear muffs when seating live primers. I did the same in my one decapping experiment.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Sorry but that is incorrect. When removing a primer you are putting pressure on the inside of the primer, not the outside where an impact can set it off. Also, since the anvil is not pressed up against the bottom of the primer pocket even if you did hit the outside of the cup it would be difficult to ignite the primer. Just think about when a primer isn't seated all the way, sometimes it won't ignite even when struck with the firing pin.
As I said above, striking the inside of the primer won't set it off. The reason we say not to slam it is, you will probably damage the anvil making the primer difficult if not impossible to fire.
Slow and steady will allow you to reuse the primer.
When you push them out you have to be prepared to have them go off. I have one out of 50 or so go off, it's mostly ones that have been hit with a light primer strike & have a small dent in the primer. I pick up the duds at the range to strip & recycle the components.
deadeye dick
Member
I understand what you are saying, but, i still wouldn't strike a live primer.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I do agree with one thing, never do anything you feel is unsafe or makes you uncomfortable. Nothing wrong with following your instincts, that is smart...
I’ve pushed gobs of live primers out, I wear glasses and drape a towel over the press, I use a decaping die in hopes of having a little air space for the “pop” should that ever happen, but the towel is to catch the pin should the worst happen. Never had one go off, but you can’t be too careful.
So, the consensus is shoot 'em. Me too. BTDT many times, Never had one pop when removing and no FTFs. When I first started reloading I took a primer apart to see how it worked. Primers need to be hit hard enough to crush the compound between the anvil and cup.
FWIW; in 40+ years of reloading I have had just a very few primers pop when seating. Using a Lee Loader, never on any press, bench mounted or hand held tool. In the Lee Loader, mainly 44 Magnums popped, but fixed the problem by chamfering primer pocket mouth, same as removing military primer crimp...
FWIW; in 40+ years of reloading I have had just a very few primers pop when seating. Using a Lee Loader, never on any press, bench mounted or hand held tool. In the Lee Loader, mainly 44 Magnums popped, but fixed the problem by chamfering primer pocket mouth, same as removing military primer crimp...
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JFrank
Member
There may be good advice given on this thread and again maybe not.
https://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/primers-what-you-need-to-know/
https://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/primers-what-you-need-to-know/
Nipty
Member
I may have to try this. Seems many have had luck. My father in law recently gave me a bunch of his old stuff..he no longer reloads. Some small mag n reg pistol primers ,SCORE! A 243 brass. That has primers in them unfortunately dirty .dirty dirty. Dusty bad. Few boxes of old pmc ammo n rem clean bore western super speed.. stuff I have never seen in person only online. . Since tumbling primed cases is probably not the best idea? Gently using lee universal decapping die to knock the primers out n clean that dirty brass up is the way. I was wondering, got on here and seen this..thanks guys!
gifbohane
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Same here. I deprime them just like any other but maybe a tad slower.
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Cacas ex Fortuna
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Taking them out, lots of times.
Using them again, never
Using them again, never
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Then you are throwing away good primers and with the price these days.....
JFrank
Member
Taken them out a few times but never re used them although if I was only shooting tin cans or deer at a hundred yards it probably wouldn’t matter too much.
EMC45
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Had a buddy bring a 5 gallon bucket (almost full) to my house full of all his drops and screw ups - this was years ago. He told me to see if I knew anyone willing to buy any of it for pulls and components. I couldn't find anyone. He told me to dig through and get what I wanted. I got untold number of primers that I had to decap. Out of the many I got, I think only 1 or 2 didn't go off. That was out of my control due to it not being my loading process to begin with.
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