A while back I made a mistake on 50 loaded rounds and had to pull the bullets with my "kinetic puller". Worked fine. I put these the empty cartridges in a sack to deal with at a later date. After the shells being jostled a little bit in the process of sorting out my brass last week, I notice yellow powder all over the inside of the sack. A boroscope verified that it was the yellow chemical from the primers apparently jostled loose from pulling the bullets. I am a little skeptical about reloading these shells at this point. Any suggestions? Fire the emptys and start over?
primer quality after pulling bullets
- Thread starter Benjerman08
- Start date
If you are worried, knock out the primers and put new ones in. Primed cases are shipped all the time with no apparent ill effects but if you are really seeing material leach out out the primers, I wouldn't use them. If it is lead styphnate getting all over, be very careful or you can have a real problem.
I have knocked out hundreds of live primers, they don't go off.
I have knocked out hundreds of live primers, they don't go off.
Has anyone had a primer actually go off when depriming live primers? Other than it being really loud, what was your experience? I use a universal deprimer die and there is lots of room for gases and flame to escape. I imagine if you were using a FL die that was sealed at the base of the case, it could be bad.
I have tried to make them go off; ramming the case into the die etc. Never have been able to get one to go off other than smacking it with a hammer- They are really loud and dangerous as the come out from under the hammer with enough velocity to embed in a board!
I hear a lot of methods to make the inert but I think it is not needed. You need to crush the priming compound against the anvil. If it does go off, it is contained.
I hear a lot of methods to make the inert but I think it is not needed. You need to crush the priming compound against the anvil. If it does go off, it is contained.
Agree with DennisinAZ, no big deal to deprime live primers. If you have an empty primer tray/pkg w/ind storage, can mark them save them and use them again.
Of course, This Case Being Reported is different. Have NEVER SEEN any kind of deterioration like is being reported with priming compound or sealant "dusting". That is real worrisome.
Good idea to wet the primer to eliminate further dusting, soap or oil if you're worried about ignition. I've never had a primer ignition while depriming, but would be smart not to "overlook" the depriming die while removing the live primers. If you have a depriming die it makes the job go much faster and with more feel to the removal.
No big deal to pull bullets, dump and reuse the powder, then reoload or store the primed case.
Would be interested in knowing which brand of primer showed "dusting' of priming compound sealant after being loaded. Might report that to the primer mfr; although my experience dealing w/CCI on a bad batch of SM Rifle Primers was piss-poor.
Just about need to write the lot # for your primers down on your load slip, although I have not done so.
Of course, This Case Being Reported is different. Have NEVER SEEN any kind of deterioration like is being reported with priming compound or sealant "dusting". That is real worrisome.
Good idea to wet the primer to eliminate further dusting, soap or oil if you're worried about ignition. I've never had a primer ignition while depriming, but would be smart not to "overlook" the depriming die while removing the live primers. If you have a depriming die it makes the job go much faster and with more feel to the removal.
No big deal to pull bullets, dump and reuse the powder, then reoload or store the primed case.
Would be interested in knowing which brand of primer showed "dusting' of priming compound sealant after being loaded. Might report that to the primer mfr; although my experience dealing w/CCI on a bad batch of SM Rifle Primers was piss-poor.
Just about need to write the lot # for your primers down on your load slip, although I have not done so.
TheSnake said:
Yes, I have. Not often, but it does happen. I admit I'm partial to using a Wilson decapping punch and case base as I prefer keeping the hard, abrasive grit away from my press rams. Those using decapping dies have a little more control on pressure with the press ram where the Wilson tools work by manually applied hammer pressure... not the best choice where primers are involved.
I use a punch that's smaller in OD than the neck ID of the cases I'm working with, hold the punch with pliers and always wear eye and ear protection. When I do pop one off I can feel the gasses passing my face (several inches out of the way!) and even with the earmuffs it's always a surprise.
If the compound in those suspect primers were degraded somehow & disintegrating, they might be more sensitive or less. Hard to know which so use caution.
Sounds like the styphanate (?) in those primers has loosened. Probably will misfire or cause very low ignition. I would throw them out, start with a new lot. I use a universal die to deprime; never had a problem. With this tool, you are pushing the anvil backwards, so it should not go off, but do not take a chance - wear eye protection.
What scares me even more are the Lee Auto Prime tools; heard many reports of unexpected detonation, never had it happen. I use a K&M now.
What scares me even more are the Lee Auto Prime tools; heard many reports of unexpected detonation, never had it happen. I use a K&M now.
Minesweeper3433
45B/91F
whenever I pull bullets for any reason I just pop the primers out and shoot them at a wall outside with a sling shot with my little brother. Just were safety glasses they can come back at you.
Ok, ya I go the de-priming die and will proceed. Primers are federal match 210's. Have several bricks of them, maybe this one was real old or something, yet they are shooting great at 1000 yards. Went back yesterday and noticed a select few yellow spots in the trays of this brick of primers. Not normal? Thanks.
OK you just said that the tray from the same brick has yellow spots too.well for me I would call the maker of the primers and see whats up.it may just be a little over kill but this shouldn't be.I mean primer dust all over the tray and primer dust falling out of cases.just too fishy for me..this may not hurt a thing but safety is your first call to reloading.....just saying thats all
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
Primer related subject.
THE FOLLOWING TRAINING ADVISORY WAS FORWARDED FROM GWINETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT - LAWRENCEVILLE, GA
In September of this year a GCPD officer was involved in a situation which quickly became a use of deadly force incident. When the officer made the decision to use deadly force, the chambered round in his duty pistol did not fire. Fortunately, the officer used good tactics, remembered his training and cleared the malfunction, successfully ending the encounter.
The misfired round, which had a full firing pin strike, was collected and was later sent to the manufacturer for analysis. Their analysis showed the following: ".the cause of the misfire was determined to be from the primer mix being knocked out of the primer when the round was cycled through the firearm multiple times". We also sent an additional 2,000 rounds of the Winchester 9mm duty ammunition to the manufacturer. All 2,000 rounds were successfully fired.
In discussions with the officer, we discovered that since he has small children at home, he unloads his duty weapon daily. His routine is to eject the chambered round to store the weapon. Prior to returning to duty he chambers the top round in his primary magazine, then takes the previously ejected round and puts in back in the magazine. Those two rounds were repeatedly cycled and had been since duty ammunition was issued in February or March of 2011, resulting in as many as 100 chambering and extracting cycles. This caused an internal failure of the primer, not discernible by external inspection.
This advisory is to inform all sworn personnel that repeated cycling of duty rounds is to be avoided. As a reminder, when loading the weapon, load from the magazine and do not drop the round directly into the chamber. If an officer's only method of safe home storage is to unload the weapon, the Firearms Training Unit suggests that you unload an entire magazine and rotate those rounds. In addition, you should also rotate through all 3 duty magazines, so that all 52 duty rounds are cycled, not just a few rounds. A more practical method of home storage is probably to use a trigger lock or a locked storage box.
FURTHER GUIDANCE FROM ATF FIREARMS TECHNOLOGY BRANCH:
The primer compound separation is a risk of repeatedly chambering the same round. The more common issue is bullet setback, which increases the chamber pressures often resulting in more negative effects.
SOD RECOMMENDATION:
In addition to following the guidance provided above of constantly rotating duty ammunition that is removed during the unloading/reloading of the weapon, training ammunition utilized during firearm sustainment and weapon manipulation drills, should also be discarded if it has been inserted into the chamber more than twice. This practice lessens the likelihood of a failure to fire or more catastrophic results.
THE FOLLOWING TRAINING ADVISORY WAS FORWARDED FROM GWINETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT - LAWRENCEVILLE, GA
In September of this year a GCPD officer was involved in a situation which quickly became a use of deadly force incident. When the officer made the decision to use deadly force, the chambered round in his duty pistol did not fire. Fortunately, the officer used good tactics, remembered his training and cleared the malfunction, successfully ending the encounter.
The misfired round, which had a full firing pin strike, was collected and was later sent to the manufacturer for analysis. Their analysis showed the following: ".the cause of the misfire was determined to be from the primer mix being knocked out of the primer when the round was cycled through the firearm multiple times". We also sent an additional 2,000 rounds of the Winchester 9mm duty ammunition to the manufacturer. All 2,000 rounds were successfully fired.
In discussions with the officer, we discovered that since he has small children at home, he unloads his duty weapon daily. His routine is to eject the chambered round to store the weapon. Prior to returning to duty he chambers the top round in his primary magazine, then takes the previously ejected round and puts in back in the magazine. Those two rounds were repeatedly cycled and had been since duty ammunition was issued in February or March of 2011, resulting in as many as 100 chambering and extracting cycles. This caused an internal failure of the primer, not discernible by external inspection.
This advisory is to inform all sworn personnel that repeated cycling of duty rounds is to be avoided. As a reminder, when loading the weapon, load from the magazine and do not drop the round directly into the chamber. If an officer's only method of safe home storage is to unload the weapon, the Firearms Training Unit suggests that you unload an entire magazine and rotate those rounds. In addition, you should also rotate through all 3 duty magazines, so that all 52 duty rounds are cycled, not just a few rounds. A more practical method of home storage is probably to use a trigger lock or a locked storage box.
FURTHER GUIDANCE FROM ATF FIREARMS TECHNOLOGY BRANCH:
The primer compound separation is a risk of repeatedly chambering the same round. The more common issue is bullet setback, which increases the chamber pressures often resulting in more negative effects.
SOD RECOMMENDATION:
In addition to following the guidance provided above of constantly rotating duty ammunition that is removed during the unloading/reloading of the weapon, training ammunition utilized during firearm sustainment and weapon manipulation drills, should also be discarded if it has been inserted into the chamber more than twice. This practice lessens the likelihood of a failure to fire or more catastrophic results.
So this is not just me... My Loadmaster does the same thing on pistol rounds. Smashes them all different directions. Never had one blow either. I need to call Lee and see what can be done about it.markm87 said:
I know this but it's easy to slip your mind. When I get ready to practice with my carry pistol, I remove the clip loaded with high dollar self defense rounds and end up doing this same thing as described. Got to change my ways or could end up with a dud when it counts most. Thanks for reminding us Mike!NorCalMikie said:
I also never use reloads for self defense.
Minesweeper3433
45B/91F
My fathers dillion 550B was doing the same thing till I changed out the primer feed parts to a small primer size. Not saying you didn't already check but if you havn't it is something to look at.
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