killing primers

[greybeard #2]

I recently aquirred a large amount of WWII 45 ACP cases.These are steel cases and primed with corriosive primers. I would like to remove the primers and use the cases. I am sure the primers are crimped in place and probably laqured sealed. I don't want to detonate any of them while trying to remove them. How can I KILL the primers?? soak in water?? spray with WD40?? has anyone done this successfully? Please help.

 

[DukeDuke]

Never done it myself, but read people use motor oil for that purpose.

 

[StevenDzupin]

Water and before you waste your time do one

and measure the primer diameter.

A lot of that era used a special diameter primer.

Also compare the steel cased ammo with a brass

cased one.

The extractor grouve is usually quite different.

This can mess up a tightly fitted .45 match pistol.

Extractor breakage.

Steel cased ammo was best suited for Grease Gun

use.

Regards,

Steve

 

[spclark]

A warm water bath with a little liquid dish detergent added (to break the surface tension & help the water get past the flash hole to where it's wanted) will do this quite well. To be safe I'd let cases soak for 24 hours, then de-cap carefully.

Water will dissolve the corrosive compounds that form much of the primers' active component. Watch where you then dispose of the resulting solution, because it likely will be toxic to plant and water-borne organisms.

I'd also suggest using a mechanical bullet pulling die, rather than an inertia-type bullet puller if the bullets are truly expendable. Depending on how that surplus ammo's been stored, some of those primers could be a mite touchy after all this time.

Go slow & by all means wear both gloves and eye protection (face protection even better) during disassembly please.