removing live primers?

[mr_dove]

Is there a safe way to remove a live primer from a case? I'm just getting started with my SDB and I sometimes forget to push on the upstroke and get an improperly seated primer.

Is there a safe way to remove the primer and go again or do I just junk the case at that point?

 

[BigSlick]

I've eased a few out over the years, but I don't recommend it to others.

The preferred way to remedy the situation is to take the primed case with NO powder or bullet, chamber it in the weapon you are loading for, point the muzzle in a SAFE direction and pop the primer.

Of course you should wear ear and eye protection.

HTH

BigSlick

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I've decapped hundreds of live primers over the years with no problems. But I still wear eye protection and turn my head away when doing it.

 

[P95Carry]

I have eased out many over the (many) years - I stress eased. You should have eye protection anyways and - no close source of free powder.

This is a suggestion only - NOT a recommendation - there are safer ways but remember this - a primer requires input of energy - abrupt energy that occurs when whacked by a firing pin. Gentle pressure cannot in theory initiate. Even normal seating squishes the anvil against compound - and it doesn't let rip!

If offending primer is able to go into a gun to be popped then it would usually be seated OK - it's those sideways deals that won't - and the inverted ones!

I don't think I have wasted a case yet thru a primer seating hiccup.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There you are - Larry sneaked in ahead of me

 

[WayneConrad]

Just go slow. I keep a little jar of kerosene on my bench for deactivating primers, but if the primer doesn't come out easy, I just drop the whole case into the kerosene rather than trying to force the primer out against its will.

 

[Mal H]

I agree with the above - ease 'em out and you won't have a problem.

However, from your description can I assume that you have removed the bullet and powder or have caught the mistake before finishing the loading process? If so, why not just seat the primer further into the case? Or are you saying the primer is somehow twisted and won't bottom out in the case?

IOW, the remedy for an incompletly seated primer is to run it through again (without allowing a primer to seat on top of it, of course).

 

[dakotasin]

i just punch 'em out... i even re-use them on occasion. while i don't reccomend that for guns where reliability is a must, i have never had a fail to fire...

 

[rich636]

^^I'm with this guy. That's why I'm now typing this email with my nose. No, seriously, I do it the same way and have had no problems.

 

[WayneConrad]

If you do reseat the primer, the reloading manuals caution that you must pull the bullet and remove the powder first, then reseat, and then recharge with powder and reseat the bullet. I think that's good advice to follow, not because I think it's easy to set off the primer when reseating it (I've done awful things to primers without them going off), but because if it does go off in a case with powder and a bullet, it'll generate more of a bang than I want to be sitting next to.

When I prime, I run a finger over the bottom of each case as I return it to the loading block. It's easy to feel whether the primer is inset, flush, or sticking out; that way you can reseat them before adding powder and seating bullets.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have never popped a primer in any loading step whatsoever, including occasionally decapping a live primer. Just apply gradual pressure and it will come right out. You DO wear glasses, don't you?

You must learn to operate the press properly. SDB seats the primer at the point of minimum leverage and you have to lean on the handle HARD or you will get high primers. Main reason I splurged on a 1050 for .45 ACP instead of a new gun that year.

 

[Primersinmyshoe]

Unless the primer is almost falling out of the pocket, I don't bother. A few cents savings isn't worth the possible injury. Besides, if Mrs. Primersinmyshoe ever heard a loud bang of a primer detonation coming from the basement - I'd be on KP for a week

 

[Werewolf]

^^^ +1

If the primer's in upside down I just throw the sucker, brass, bullet, powder and all away - not worth the risk
(since I use a turret press I usually don't know the primer's in upside down 'till I grab the finished round and put it in the box).

If it's one of those sideways thingies (I notice those when priming) then I press it out slowly and toss the primer (primers are so cheap like 2 cents that trying to save one isn't worth the effort).

As an aside the only time I experience sideways or upside down primers is with Federals. Never have a problem with Winchester primers.

 

[JNewell]

eye protection

Ear protection is a good idea, too.

 

[redneck2]

I've also knocked them out and never had a problem. I always put a towel or rag around the case just to be sure. If the primer is bend over, I just toss the case. The way I look at it, they're discarded by the millions every day. One more isn't going to make a difference

 

[BluesBear]

I've decapped a couple of thousand live primers and never had a problem.
Just do it on a single stage press and of course wear eye/ear protection.
I would however, advise against decapping a live primer that is residing crimped inside a military primer pocket.

But if your problem is high primers, why go to all of the trouble of decapping?Why not just reseat the primer? (with no powder or bullet in the case of course)

 

[Sunray]

"...get an improperly seated primer..." As in not in far enough? Put 'em back in the shell holder and push 'em in more. No big deal.
"...I stress eased..." It's actually eeeease 'em out. Mind you, it does take a fairly good whack to set off a primer, but gently popping them out is best. If they're in backwards. Otherwise, just push 'em in more.

 

[Kamicosmos]

I've popped out a few that were in upside down, just take it real easy. If they're in sideways, I toss the case. Figure that's kinda like a tripped mousetrap ya know?

Seating them deeper after round is completed? Yeah, I do that too. Just go easy and keep your face away from the press/hand primer. And yes, shooting glasses and hear protection in place, just in case.

But, now that I've swapped my progressive press for a Turret, and have gone back to hand priming...I don't have problems with upside down/sideways/shallow primers anymore. Hmmmmm.....