A rookie question about decapping live primers

[stonebuster]

I've primed a couple split cases by accident and wondered what the concensus is about removing them the same way I do spent primers. Eight cents isn't worth taking a chance of a primer going off in my face is my gut feeling but heard others say they do it. What say you?

 

[guzzi]

Go very slow

 

[Bronco72]

I wince when I remove them, but I do remove them! So far none have gone off, but you never know.
Turn head and look away I do.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Eyes & ears for good measure

easeeee them out

 

[J-Bar]

I have removed dozens over the years. I reload them and they go bang. Slow decapping stroke on the press is just common sense.

 

[HKGuns]

I get them out and haven't had one go off yet. Do as others have already stated.

 

[.38 Special]

Ditto. Slow and easy does the trick.

 

[unclenunzie]

If you are going to do it I'd wear face and ear protection and do as the others have said. Me, I'd rather toss the primed cases into a bag and oil the primers to kill them. Or maybe fire them without powder or projectile if you can do that without jamming up the gun.

 

[Highland Lofts]

I've removed lots of live primers and reused them

Lee Universal decapping die.

 

[Walkalong]

Eyes & ears for good measure

easeeee them out

This, but I've never had one go off, have done at least a dozen oddballs over the years, and one run of 200 where I changed over to Fed 210M Match LR primers vs Fed 210 Standard LR. I have used those Fed 210s without issues.

 

[Walkalong]

I've removed lots of live primers and reused them

Lee Universal decapping die.

I've tapped them out with a small hammer and punch without setting them off. It tales a sharp strike.
A pin from a Lee IIRC, with a home made base, which is two sided.

 

[BIZERKO666]

Like many have mentioned....Go slow and throw on some ears & eyes (Just in case) I've done it a few dozen times with no problems.

 

[CQB45ACP]

It just occurred to me I should say I’ve never had one go off either BUT I must have cracked or otherwise damaged the compound because I have found green dust inside the original packaging to which I return the primers.

They still went bang but might not have if I had been less delicate. Just FYI.

 

[twarr1]

I’ve decapped them with a Lee universal die and I’ve also fired them with no powder or projectile. I don’t trust trying to deactivate them with oil or whatever.

 

[epags]

I have deprimed them both on pupose and accidently....I go slowly (when aware of what I am doing) and I go at normal speed when accidently depriming a live load, and in both cases the primer goes into the used primer bucket on my Dillon 550.

 

[nettlle]

I wouldn't try de-capping them with the Dillon spring loaded sizing die.

 

[BIZERKO666]

I wouldn't try de-capping them with the Dillon spring loaded sizing die.

Probably good advice, I always use a single stage decapper. Have a Dillon available but I set up a cheap Lee single stage for depriming only.

 

[Bazoo]

I've removed and reused about 300. I didn't have any detonate, and they all ignited the new cartridges they were loaded into.

 

[stonebuster]

I wince when I remove them, but I do remove them! So far none have gone off, but you never know.
Turn head and look away I do.

Kind of like shooting my first reload three years ago.

 

[stonebuster]

Thanks for the replies. I'll put those two aside for now and inspect my brass more carefully going forward. I do have a large piece of 1/4" plexiglass I could use as a shield but not worth the effort for 16 cents at this point.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I'll slowly remove them like an ordinary spent primer but I don't use them again. No good reason, just never occurred to me. I have plenty.

 

[NMexJim]

I don’t know what press you have, but they all have a bore bigger than the spent primer. All you need is just enough force to push the primer out of the pocket. I will admit the first few were a bit scary, but I’ve punched out a lot over the years both metallic and shotgun. I usually save up a few cases so that I’m not doing them one at a time. Just don’t get wild and crazy.

A primer saved today maybe the only primer you’re going to get in the future. I would have never believed with the stock I had that I would run about slam out of W209, but this last shortage had our entire club scrounging. Fiochhi saved us from twiddling our thumbs around the coffee pot. After all, a primer saved is a primer earned!

 

[dartor]

I've decapped thousands. I break down live rounds found at the range for lead and primers. I reuse small pistol and rifle primers for reduced plinking loads in 357 magnum. I drop my favorite load of BE86 by 4 tenths. They work fine.

 

[nettlle]

...and I thought I was a good scrounger.

 

[Blue68f100]

Like said remove the slowly and you will not have a problem. I've never had one go off during removal, nor have I had one fail to fire after re-seating. Confirm that the anvil stayed in place, I've had some fall out. Just put back in and there good to go. I always used them in a non-critical application though. Like fouler or practice ammo.