neck turning with primers in

[vano]

if this is not safe with k and m tools is it safe to take out live primers in the press
thanks vano

 

[jonbearman]

I dont see any real danger unless the brass gets hot or your holder crushes the primer cup. I have pushed hundreds of live primers out of primed cases and never once have they exploded.I am not saying that is impossible to set them off however I stroke the press gently when recovering primers.I hope this helps.

 

[spclark]

It should be quite safe enough as long as you take precautions there's nothing that could put pressure on those primers.

Some folks recommend using a lube on the neck mandrel when turning necks & that will need to be removed before reloading can commence. That's the main reason I tumble neck-turned brass in corn media for an hour before priming & loading, something probably not to be done with primed cases.

 

[Scott Harris]

It may seem safe, but I'd still call that a dumb thing to do. Why would you do any operations on brass with a primer in it? Just violates the common sense rule.

 

[vano]

started the process what happens when i try to insert the expnder mandrel with the primer in it creates a positive pressure in the brass and the damn thing takes way to much lever pressure so i will be depriming that will learn me
thanks

 

[artbosco]

if this is not safe with k and m tools is it safe to take out live primers in the press
thanks vano

Remove the live primers first, just go very slow. A decapping die is perfect for the chore. I've done hundreds for various reasons without a problem. Turn necks after the primers are out.

 

[lpreddick]

i too have decapped a few live primers without incidence. once i loaded some primers backwards...did i jam a decappinmg rod into the business end of those primers?

if i can see you, i can touch you.BANG!

 

[spclark]

I've decapped several live primers using a Wilson decapping rod and base. Always careful to use a rod that's smaller in diameter than the case neck, and hold the rod with pliers too. Tap lightly with a light weight hammer or block of wood & keep my head away from the case neck. Those primers then get dropped into a pop bottle half-filled with water.

Maybe one primer out of fifteen or twenty will pop, but even with LR primers it's not that exciting.

It seems that most of the force of the primer going bang tends to help push them out of the case, seeing as how the flash hole is already blocked with the decapping pin. You may get a bit of gas venting out the case neck or a spark so be careful.

If you try this, be sure to wear proper eye and ear protection & make sure there's nothing flammable in the immediate area. I'd also recommend doing it outside or somewhere other than inside your home due to the slight but inherent risk of lead residue, particularly when there are young children about.

 

[artbosco]

I've decapped several live primers using a Wilson decapping rod and base. Always careful to use a rod that's smaller in diameter than the case neck, and hold the rod with pliers too. Tap lightly with a light weight hammer or block of wood & keep my head away from the case neck. Those primers then get dropped into a pop bottle half-filled with water.

By using a conventional decapping die and applying slow but steady pressure on the press handle you can retrieve your primers for later use. (I do throw a large heavy towel over the press as I'm working - just in case.) I use the retrieved primers for practice rounds and for fireforming brass. Never for competition. Personally, I would never tap on a primer, even if it's the inside of one, regardless of hammer material. For removal, I believe slow but steady pressure applied to the decapping pin is the way to go.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

Some folks recommend using a lube on the neck mandrel when turning necks & that will need to be removed before reloading can commence. That's the main reason I tumble neck-turned brass in corn media for an hour before priming & loading, something probably not to be done with primed cases.

I always use lube when turning necks, and I then tumble the brass to make sure that all the rough spots and/or brass particles are cleaned out good. I then run the new brass (and newly turned necks) back through a decapping die (I just use my same full size die) sizer to ensure that all media is removed from the flash hole.

 

[RJinTexas]

In regard to not tumbling brass with just primers in them, it's not because there is a danger of a primer discharging it's that the primers will be contaminated from the dust. Loaded manufactured and remanufactured ammo is actuall tumbled regularly.

RJ