bullet pullers and "high" primers?

[mr_dove]

I just got my press all set up and experienced a few primers that did not seat all the way. They still stick out a bit and aren't really suitable (safe) to fire.

I went out and bought the RCBS Pow'r Pull Bullet puller (hammer style).

You cannot read the instructions until after you open the package. There is a warning saying, "Do not use this bullet puller to disassemble ANY cartridge with a high primer. Use the T CBS collet type bullet puller for any ammunition with high primers."

I've never heard that term before but I presume that a "high" primer is one that has not seated all the way, such as the ones I had planned to disassemble.

So, what is the real danger with using a hammer style bullet puller with a high primer? I honestly don't see any possible danger there. And how does a collet style bullet puller work? What does it do to make the process safer?

 

[landon74]

I guess RCBS thinks that the kinetic puller could seat the primer deeper through striking, and shear grains of powder possibly causing the round to go off....

With a collet style puller you screw the collet and die into the top of your press, the same as you would a regular die, raise the cartridge into the collet, tighten the collet down, and lower the ram, which pulls the bullet out....

I use both, the collet puller makes short work if you have to pull a bunch of them, and you don't booger up any bullets, but for just one or two rounds it's quicker to break out the kinetic puller.

 

[Sunray]

Deja Vu. Hi. Read the posting about 'removing live primers'. However, there's no need to pull 'em. Just put the round back in the shell holder and push the primers in more. No big deal. As long as the primer pockets are clean. If the rest of 'em went in with no fuss, you're ok to just push 'em in more.

 

[mr_dove]

thanks for the initial comments. I'm pretty sure I won't want to put a live round with powder and a bullet back into the press to fiddle with the primer seating though. That sounds like an accident waiting to happen. I thought it might be wiser to remove the bullet and powder before trying to do anything with the primer. I could be wrong though. I AM a newb of course.

 

[Primersinmyshoe]

Unless you're on a very tight budget, I'd toss the high primer round in the reject can - to be disposed of later. It's not worth any possible injury, no matter how remote, just to save one case.

There's my 2¢

 

[SASS#23149]

re-seating the primer on a loaded round is a whole 'nuther ball game.IF the round goes off you'd better be protected all the way around as shrapnel is gonna be flying everywhere.
Sure,guys do it and get away with it,but it would only take 1 round going off to change a lot of minds on doing this,methinks.
what I do is take a pair of 'dikes' and cut the case on the side,then bend the case until it opens and dump the powder out.No powder no potential problem.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I have an idea...Check each and every primer and case before dropping the powder in.... It's simple and it doesn't take long. Priming should be done on another press or as a seperate operation anyway, preferably a single stage press. (Or a hand press).

Just my "2 cents worth" (I don't have a "cent" sign on my key board like Primersinmyshoe does.)

 

[Mal H]

I agree with The Bushmaster. There's seems to be a lot of priming problems of late. I haven't used a press to prime a case for several years. Using a hand priming tool to do hundreds at a time doesn't take very long and it allows you to quickly examine each and every case for proper primer seating.

As for the primed and loaded case, RCBS is right in that you shouldn't use a kinetic puller to pull a bullet from a case with a high primer. There is a heck of a lot of energy given to the objects in the round and might just allow the primer to seat - at high speed = bang!

Lacking a collet puller, I would sacrifice the bullet and pull it with pliers. Then empty the powder, seat the primer in all the way and resize.