Is it safe to remove live primers?

[Propbndr]

I have decapped many cases. I either use my Lee or RCBS decapping die and go real slow. I do wear safety glasses and ear muffs just in case but, I have never had one go off.

 

[DeerHunter82]

I too have decapped a few live ones. Just go really, really slow. Minimal force. Wear proper PPE.

 

[M-61]

This goes on forever. A search will go even further.
Be sure you really HAVE to deprime.
If so it’s a gentle push not like the guy with the 30-378. He told us how that ended up.
Look both ways before crossing the street etc etc

 

[cheek9075]

I've deprime some, slow and go and never had one go off. I have had a primer go off while priming a case. Was holding the case with my figures and well it hurt! Burn makes on my figure but the others in the priming tool didn't go off.

I'm more worried about priming cases than umpriming cases now

 

[RufusBuck]

I've done it a lot of times with a Lee decapping die, and I reuse the primers. It's never been a problem for me.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I've done it a lot of times with a Lee decapping die, and I reuse the primers. It's never been a problem for me.

Same here. I go slowly, never an issue. I prime another case with them and they go bang.

 

[joshb]

“inserted the rod and gave a slight tap as to remove the primer.”
Yeah….. don’t do that! A slow push, nice and gentle gets it done. I’ve made mistakes by grabbing the wrong box of primers. The last time was 100 large rifle into pistol cartridges. Oops! Pushed them out CAREFULLY with no issues. I reused them in a 308 and marked them as “questionable primers”. They all went bang.
If you’re “worried”, just don’t do it.

 

[Link]

Anyone say slow? Slow isn't a problem for me :}

 

[wright brothers]

Glad this regurgitated, I was afraid to ask.

 

[Doom]

Put simply. You are dealing with a primary explosive and as such anything you do with it has the possibility however remote in resulting in a detonation. So safety is a relative term. What you need to consider is how to protect yourself in the event that a primer were to detonate. That means hearing protection, eye protection, and limiting the material that could become shrapnel and minimizing the risk that what you are doing could cause the primer to detonate.

 

[JMayo]

I poke them out normally.
Screw the stem out far as it takes. Use them again in a heart beat.

I swear i lol at some of the comments here.

 

[M-61]

I poke them out normally.

This doesn’t stop. But it is safety, and as an armorer the drilling of safety into one’s head never ended. Every day.
But when I read about tapping a primer out with a punch (30-378)) I have to wonder. The starting point has been missed. Is there a starting point for that action? Wrong sport for him is my suggestion.
This is not like removing a booby trapped fuse from a 250 pound bomb.
“Normally “ is after you fully understand what you are dealing with and how it works.
Explosion vs burning….? Nah, that ship has sailed.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I have removed too many live primers. I was scared too. I still wear ears and eyes. I tried to reuse them, but they fit so lose that I never actually fired one. Probably be ok if not a max load, but my time and barrel life is too valuable to waste it firing anything but the best ammo I can produce.

 

[BoydAllen]

Eye and ear protection should be no big deal for any of us. We should have both for when we are at the range. The reason for slow and easy is that the nature of primers is that it takes sharp blow to detonate them and with slow motion on the press handle feeling carefully for contact, that does not happen. In the past, I would hold something between me and the press with one hand while I operated the press handle with the other. As with many other things being a little over cautious doesn't hurt a thing. Better safe than sorry.

 

[bozo699]

I poke them out normally.
Screw the stem out far as it takes. Use them again in a heart beat.

I swear i lol at some of the comments here.

100% spot on!….
Wayne

 

[DiRTY DOG]

Use a decapping die, no problem. Re-use them, no problem. If you're worried about SD or ES, just use them for foulers. Or use them in your pistol reloads.

 

[mikecockcroft]

Done it more times then I should admit. Also turn my face to the side when priming cases, my every day glasses are also polycarbonate shatter proof

 

[DGP4]

I've never had a problem removing them and reusing them. Was I supposed to worry?

 

[bozo699]

This tread and many others just like it make me laugh or cry I’m not sure which!…. We’re not dealing with little atomic bombs there little primers!… I have decapped 1000’s of live primers and most of them with a Sinclair
“DECAPPING BASE PUNCH & HAMMER”
Not one single mishap!… could it happen ?.. of course!…. I don’t do it with an open 8 lb jug of powder sitting nearby or an open 5 gallon bucket of gasoline!…. The only primers I’ve EVER had go off was installing new ones with a piece of crap old Lee hand primer that were prone to getting primers sideways! I have a 300 yard lighted range that my loading room sits on and I’ve shot round the clock loading and unloading for decades in that time it has to be in the hundred of thousands of primers that were used!…. You don’t need a bullet proof vest, hazmat suit or anything else , turn the radio off, leave the booze in the liquor cabinet pay attention to what you’re doing and you will be fine!
Wayne

 

[bozo699]

I've never had a problem removing them and reusing them. Was I supposed to worry?

No!….
Wayne