Firing a cartridge with only a primer seated - will this hurt anything?

[Taxman1002587]

I had about 350 reloaded rounds for guns I no longer own and I pulled the bullets and dumped the powder. I now need to get rid of the primers before I rework the brass. Assume I have a gun that the brass will chamber in (not a gun I actully want to shoot). If I simply chamber the primed but not loaded brass and pull the trigger will the primer detonation - one damage the brass or two damage the gun or three damage both the brass and the gun? I can't imagine that this would hurt anyting but I have learned that simply because I can't imagine something that does not mean it won't happen.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[Preacher]

It should not be a problem at all.
They can also be pushed out with your loading die if your careful and don't slam em out.

 

[Kenny474]

Nope, won't hurt a thing. I have done it before, no issues.

You can also just deprime the brass if you are careful. I have done that as well, and have never had one detonate. Just go slow and gentle.

 

[bigedp51]

The manuals tell you not to de-prime using the press but I also just push them out "slowly" using the press.

If you have reservations about using the press just put the cases in a bucket of odorless paint thinner and let soak for a week or more and then slowly push out with the press.

I do not understand how you plan to shoot theses primers in firearms you "no longer own"?

 

[fdshuster]

"taxman": I've decapped a lot of seated primers over the years by pushing them out using a punch, shellholder and a bench mounted vise. Just a different version of pushing them out with your sizer die/decapping rod. Have never had one go off, have reseated and used those same primers without any mis-fires or any other problems. Ditto what Preacher and kenny474 said.

 

[bozo699]

I have deprimed literally 1000s of primed cases without incident I haven't even taken it easy ??? I know but thats right not even easy although I would suggest as others have stated and go slow. Clean up all the spilled and open powder and empty your tray or where ever the deprimed primers are going every 25 rounds or so, and even if you did have a pop I dont see much happening.
Wayne.

 

[fivering]

Be careful when depriming live cases.
Several years ago a fellow Marine was depriming cases with a press and catching the primers in a cup as they fell out. I don't know how many primers he had in the cup at the time, but one detonated, as did the rest, and he lost his hand. They probably were crimped in primers, which would require more force.
Bottom line, be careful, go slow, and empty primer receptacle often.

 

[Kenny474]

I always remove primers one at a time and never allow them to accumulate. I have seen first hand the power a tray full has when detonated, actually a tube full (100) on a Dillon and the ceiling looked like it was shot with a 12ga shotgun. I am all set with that at close range.

Just a little caution and respect goes a long way with primers. They might be small, but man do they pack a punch.

I do suggest safety glasses and ear-plugs, as I had one detonate while seating at my old apartment and my ears rang for a couple days.

 

[JERRYHM]

If you fire just the primers, plan on spending hours cleaning the carbon out of your barrel.

 

[Scott Harris]

When I began reloading, I thought I'd have to fire the primer to allow me to deprime. Then I tried de-priming directly.....it works just fine as many here have said. I have done hundreds of rounds without a single one going off. I do wear ear muffs while depriming....just in case.