Difference between boxer and berdan primer

Ultimately, the difference boils down to this:

Boxer primers have the anvil included in the primer and the primer pocket has only one flash hole. located in the center of the pocket.

Berdan primers have the anvil located in the center of the primer pocket and have either 2 or 3 peripherally located flash holes in the primer pocket.

There are some other differences, but they are not so basic and mostly practical interpretations or style.

The only important difference is that you can reload boxer primed cartriges. Berdan priming is primarily used for casings that have no buisness being reloaded for safety reasons, like with Russian steel casings or CCI Blazer aluminum casings.

Berdan priming is primarily used for casings that have no buisness being reloaded for safety reasons, like with Russian steel casings

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I am not sure if that is the true reason. There is companies out there that purvey berdan reloading supplies. Additionally, I have purchased brass cased ammo (SA .308, Yugo 7.62x39) that has berdan primers. Also, Wolf has started using boxer primers on steel cases, I know on .45 ACP for a fact and possibly .40 S&W (i BELIEVE). I have seen boxer primers on WWII vintage US .45 ACP steel casings as well. Obviously, steel and aluminum reloading is not a good thing and I'm pretty sure thast is the reason for the berdan primed Blazer cases. I'm not sure if that is the reason why it is popular in the Eastern Bloc and China however.

Of an interesting aside, the Boxer method which is popular in the States was British designed, while the Berdan method, which is popular overseas was American designed.

Berdan brass cases can be reloaded if you have the equipment to do it with. I wouldn't waste my time though...

Berdan primers have the anvil located in the center of the primer pocket and have either 2 or 3 peripherally located flash holes in the primer pocket.

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Be careful how you answer his question! He asked what was the difference in the primers and you told him about the brass without explaining it.

A Boxer primer has the anvil located within the primer cup. The brass has a central flash hole inside of its primer pocket through which the flame from the primer travels.

A Berdan primer does not have an anvil located in the primer cup. The anvil that the pellet is crushed against is located inside cartridge's primer pocket with flash holes on either side to allow the flame to propogate through.

Both types of cartridges (berdan and boxer primed) are reloadable and you can purchase primers for either. The Berdan is, for obvious geometric reasons, more difficult to reload on a standard press. However, there is no reason that they cannot be reloaded if you so choose.

The picture from krochus shows the difference in the cartridge cases. Here is a comparison of the primers