Removing Live Primers

[deerwhacker444]

I've got a couple dozen cases that were given to me that have live primers in them. I want to salvage the cases but I'm not sure how to get the live primers out.

Do you guys put some water in the case overnight to kill the primer before sizing/de-priming or what? What should I do to make this a safe operation?

[Borregos]

I just touch them off in whatever rifle they fit and then deprime, no chance of any problems that way.

[J Miller]

If you want to fire them in a rifle that will work fine. If you want to salvage them for use in another case, then the way to do it is simple; put the case in the decapping die, and gently press them out. No impact, no sudden contact, just push them out.

Done hundreds of them that way. Primers are not C4 they won't blow up the press or cause the house to collapse if one does pop. Just wear safety glasses and gently press them out.

Joe

[Ysabel Kid]

I've accidently deprimed live primers in the past, and never had a one blow up on me (as I knock vigorously on wood right now). Jo is right - gentle pressure is the trick.

[kimwcook]

And, if you can't shoot them, don't want to, or are put off by pressing them out, kill'em by using some oil and then deprime the cases.

[Hobie]

Before I use Joe's method I do a little dance around the press wearing just my skivvies .








I have to admit that I am a brass hoarder and the dance is just because I'm happy about having the brass.

[Ysabel Kid]

Before I use Joe's method I do a little dance around the press wearing just my skivvies .








I have to admit that I am a brass hoarder and the dance is just because I'm happy about having the brass.

I'm just glad I got the dreaded "red x" - was afraid you took a picture of yourself doing the dance!

I'm a brass horder as well - which is how I've come across primed brass in what I thought was brass with spent primers...

[Tycer]

Powder, TP, cornmeal,TP, BANG! Fireformed.

[KirkD]

If you want to fire them in a rifle that will work fine. If you want to salvage them for use in another case, then the way to do it is simple; put the case in the decapping die, and gently press them out. No impact, no sudden contact, just push them out.

Done hundreds of them that way. Primers are not C4 they won't blow up the press or cause the house to collapse if one does pop. Just wear safety glasses and gently press them out.

Joe

+1

[Modoc ED]

If yer using Joe's method, it helps to be wearing "Depends" or some other form of diaper so that when a primer goes off unexpectedly, you won't soil yer pants.

[claybob86]

I fire 'em. I tried killing some with oil once by spraying WD-40 inside the case and let them sit overnight. They still fired the next morning, so I guess it takes some time for the oil to deactivate them.

[Grizzly Adams]

If you want to fire them in a rifle that will work fine. If you want to salvage them for use in another case, then the way to do it is simple; put the case in the decapping die, and gently press them out. No impact, no sudden contact, just push them out.

Done hundreds of them that way. Primers are not C4 they won't blow up the press or cause the house to collapse if one does pop. Just wear safety glasses and gently press them out.

Joe

+2

[Mike D.]

I use the decapping die method, too. NOT A PROBLEM, and the "skivvy dance" isn't really necessary.

[cas]

I fire 'em. I tried killing some with oil once by spraying WD-40 inside the case and let them sit overnight. They still fired the next morning, so I guess it takes some time for the oil to deactivate them.

If ever. Once the oil dries up they'll fire again.

[airedaleman]

If you want to fire them in a rifle that will work fine. If you want to salvage them for use in another case, then the way to do it is simple; put the case in the decapping die, and gently press them out. No impact, no sudden contact, just push them out.

Done hundreds of them that way. Primers are not C4 they won't blow up the press or cause the house to collapse if one does pop. Just wear safety glasses and gently press them out.

Joe

+3 (I use a Lee decapping die, and size the cases AFTER the primers have been removed.)

[Sixgun]

Joe's method---Been doing that for close to 40 years and none have gone off--yet -------Sixgun

[JustaJeepGuy]

Why not just use them as-is? If they need to be re-sized, you can remove the decapping pin (if it's removable) or adjust it so it's up high enough to not touch the primer. Then just load 'em--no big.

[marlinman93]

I've deprimed hundreds of live primers and never had anything happen. If they were that touchy you couldn't seat them without having an occasional accident. Like Joe said, they wont go off if you're gentle. Primers take a hard hit to ignite. That's why they don't go off when the firing pin is sticky, or a weak hammer strike.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I also use the famous J Miller method !!

[awp101]

I've deprimed hundreds of live primers and never had anything happen. If they were that touchy you couldn't seat them without having an occasional accident.

Had a 209 go off once loading 12ga on a Lee Load-All. Sounded like a .22...

[marlinman93]

I've had primers turn upside down, sideways, and crushed them during seating, and never had one go pop.

[J Miller]

I've had primers turn upside down, sideways, and crushed them during seating, and never had one go pop.

I did too some time back and did a thread on it. How soon we forget.
viewtopic.php?t=2328


Joe

[RICHP]

Gently is the key word. I set one off accidently, using a Wilson hand die and a plastic mallet. I had to go have it surgically removed from the palm of my hand. I later found out it was not an uncommon occurance among benchrest shooters. Richard