what is the safe way to remove live primers

[bobinpa]

I use the slow steady pressure method with a Lee decapping die. Never had a problem. I guess you could re-use them if you wanted to, but unless you are the one who put them in there you really don't know what they are. ... I guess it wouldn't matter much if you were just fire forming though.

 

[Drop Port]

Do what makes you comfortable, I just knock them out as normal. You are hitting the anvil not the cup, it is also unsupported. Even with a fire pin strike on the cup of a primer that is not seated properly you can get a misfire, or a cartridge with too much head space can cause a misfire, this being with the speed of a properly functioning fire pin.

Years ago I was concerned about this and tried to set one off (safety goggles etc.) operating the ram as fast as I could and was unable to set one off. This was with normal brass not military sealed or crimped primers. Just my .02 experience.

 

[Iowa Fox]

Has anyone ever had one go off while depriming?
It has to be a riot...

Never while depriming but I did set a couple off with my hammer in Lee loader when I first started loading in the early 60s. Thats why I wear the ear protection now when I deprime with a press.

 

[AckleymanII]

I have deprimed perhaps a thousand cases or more over the years. Never had one go off. I just use a neck sizer or a universal deprime die.

ALWAYS wear safety glasses when dealing with primers, at least I do when I remember where I put my safety glasses.

There was a comment on saving used primers. Let me draw you a picture, you put all those de primed primers in a coffee can. Then some time in the future, you are grinding something on your bench, a spark gets in that can...KA BOOM!!!

Don't be an idiot

 

[Jo2]

A number of years ago, my coyote hunting partner was resizing cases with a Wilson sizing die and inadvertently put a primed case in the die. Since he didn't own an arbor press at the time, he used a wood mallet to drive the case in and out of the die, while holding the die in his left hand. When the primer went off, it drove itself deep into the palm of his hand, behind the second and third knuckle. A Doctor removed the primer in the hospital emergency room, wrapped the hand up an sent him home. During the next couple of hunting episodes he complained that the hand was sore when he made a fist, but thinking that it was a result of the damage, accepted it, thinking that it would get better. After about three weeks of this, he went back to the hospital, had an X-ray, to see if there were more damages than first thought, and discovered that the anvil was still lodged in the inside of his knuckles. After it was removed, things healed up nicely, and he purchased an arbor press.

 

[Cold Bore]

There was a comment on saving used primers. Let me draw you a picture, you put all those de primed primers in a coffee can. Then some time in the future, you are grinding something on your bench, a spark gets in that can...KA BOOM!!!

Don't be an idiot

Well, I guess anybody who uses a grinding wheel and metal on the same bench that they use to store primers and powder, and stores primers in an uncovered can, might just need to learn that lesson.

My reloading bench is distinctly different than my work bench.

Matter of fact, they are not only in different rooms, they are in different buildings!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

There was a comment on saving used primers. Let me draw you a picture, you put all those de primed primers in a coffee can. Then some time in the future, you are grinding something on your bench, a spark gets in that can...KA BOOM!!!

Don't be an idiot

Well, I guess anybody who uses a grinding wheel and metal on the same bench that they use to store primers and powder, and stores primers in an uncovered can, might just need to learn that lesson.

My reloading bench is distinctly different than my work bench.

Matter of fact, they are not only in different rooms, they are in different buildings!

I agree. Know your surroundings and all the hazards present when hand loading. Heck that goes for doing ANY kind of work. Utilize your God given common sense and always keep your mind focused on safety.

Grinding near powder or live primers? I guess thats what you call Darwin-ism. Lol.

 

[snert]

There was a comment on saving used primers. Let me draw you a picture, you put all those de primed primers in a coffee can. Then some time in the future, you are grinding something on your bench, a spark gets in that can...KA BOOM!!!

Don't be an idiot

Well, I guess anybody who uses a grinding wheel and metal on the same bench that they use to store primers and powder, and stores primers in an uncovered can, might just need to learn that lesson.

My reloading bench is distinctly different than my work bench.

Matter of fact, they are not only in different rooms, they are in different buildings!

I agree. Know your surroundings and all the hazards present when hand loading. Heck that goes for doing ANY kind of work. Utilize your God given common sense and always keep your mind focused on safety.

Grinding near powder or live primers? I guess thats what you call Darwin-ism. Lol.

Local gunshop had a welding business in one room, gun/ammo in another, powder magazine in there too. terrible business man, eventually went out of business, but while he was running the place he was affectionatley known as the "Uni-bomber" because we all expected him to go up in a bang.

 

[savagedasher]

The only safe way I know of dealing with a live primer is put in a gun and shoot it down range. But I also have pushed them out an used them over with no problem. That was my choice you have to make that decision. ;D
Larry

 

[nyyankeedr]

longtime shooter and new reloader here. made my first mistake. I primed 40 308 shells and finished seating and crimping the first 20 when I realized I never de-burred the flash holes. They are once fired (through my rifle) factory Winchester rounds. I wet cleaned them thoroughly and cleaned the primer pockets, merely forgot the flash pockets. I am guessing they should be ok and just to fire them without expecting the most accuracy, rather than pulling rounds and depriming live primers. Although I have read this may be ok to do if careful - its just 20-40 rounds we are talking about. Any helpful thoughts appreciated.

 

[STS]

You guys all know that you can't touch primers with your fingers cause the oil will render them inert right?

 

[Twoboxer]

thank you. safety glasses and a towel sounds like the trick.

Good choice . . . to start lol.

Let us know how many de-primes it took to stop using the towel

 

[PhilC]

I'd never remove primers to debur flash holes, load 'em, shoot 'em, debur next time if you feel it's needed.

 

[nyyankeedr]

You guys all know that you can't touch primers with your fingers cause the oil will render them inert right?

Didn't specifically know that. Figured at the least it would affect their reliability and accuracy, so I don't touch them. This is also why after all of my research with which press to start with, I chose the Hornady Iron press. Didn't want to jump into a progressive press without any experience and liked the auto priming feature. I set it up last weekend and just finished my first 40 rounds. Absolutely love the auto priming feature. Works without a hitch. I can't imaging using one of those hand held discs. Or placing them one at a time in the disc with my giant fingers. I'm sure I would drop half of them at the least. Thanks for the aded info.

 

[nyyankeedr]

I'd never remove primers to debur flash holes, load 'em, shoot 'em, debur next time if you feel it's needed.

After I posted my question, I went and looked down the necks with a bright light and could see they all looked pretty much wide open. Didn't think that a once fired factory round should be too messed up and seems I was right. Thanks for the reply.

 

[PhilC]

STS's comment was tongue in cheek, the natural oil on your fingers will not make a primer inert, 'tis an old reloader's tale (as opposed to old wive's tale).

I made a lot of accurate hunting rounds years before I heard about deburring flash holes and, even though I debur, it's likely the least significant operation in my brass prep process.

 

[biggun2869]

I've taken a lot of them out with the regular deprimer and I've never had one go off. Maybe the next one will. I don't waste them either and I don't remember a failure to fire. I am definitly a tightass though. I wouldn't use them for a hunting load

 

[46and2]

I've taken a lot of them out with the regular deprimer and I've never had one go off. Maybe the next one will. I don't waste them either and I don't remember a failure to fire. I am definitly a tightass though. I wouldn't use them for a hunting load

Same here, I do wear safety glasses. I'm really cheap too! I use them in fouler rounds, never noticed a difference.

 

[hpshooter]

" Any helpful thoughts appreciated"

Shoot them for practice or fouling shots.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

longtime shooter and new reloader here. made my first mistake. I primed 40 308 shells and finished seating and crimping the first 20 when I realized I never de-burred the flash holes. They are once fired (through my rifle) factory Winchester rounds. I wet cleaned them thoroughly and cleaned the primer pockets, merely forgot the flash pockets. I am guessing they should be ok and just to fire them without expecting the most accuracy, rather than pulling rounds and depriming live primers. Although I have read this may be ok to do if careful - its just 20-40 rounds we are talking about. Any helpful thoughts appreciated.

Shoot them on a separate target against another target with the de-burred flash hole rounds. Post them here, so we can see if they shot any different.