has anyone ever tried re-using berdan primed brass

Master7thSon

I'm new to reloading

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but very into guns

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some of which the boxer primed brass is prohibitively expensive

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i see there are berdan primer removers on the market----and would like to hear from some people who have had experience with doing this to see if it's something i wish to try

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does this work well??? Question

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after you do remove the berdan primer

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what do you do about the flash-holes

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also

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will the primer seat need attention---like we have to do with military crimp boxer primed casings?

Iconoclast

I've never attempted re-loading them, but did decap some. Basically, you have a tool which hooks onto the rim, and the other side is a sharpish punch you drive into the face of the primer and then try to lever out. Sometimes it works w/ some ease, sometimes it's a battle (which I didn't always win). I know some of those who do this as a regular operation set up to do it hydrolically, by using water in the case and a piston that is a close fit to the neck ID. The other issue is obtaining primers. Those have to be obtained from speciality suppliers (Old West Scrounger, possibly others) and are not cheap . . . then you have to add in the HazMat fees . . . . Depends on what caliber you are doing & what your time is worth if you save anything.

v35

I believe I heard some people have reworked Berdan primer pockets by removing the post and drilling a third hole.

Master7thSon

--do I understand this correctly----after removing the berdan primer----i wont be able to replace it with my readily available boxer primers???

edharold

Boxer primers will not replace Berdan. I too went to a lot of work for nothing.

Master7thSon

Thanks!---since my regular suppliers do not vend berdan primers

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looks like this undertaking is not feasible for me----appreciate all you who gave your advice.

v35

At the very least you'll have to remove the post and that's if when you're done,the pocket is the right diameter and depth to seat large rifle boxer primers.

Master7thSon

do they actually sell replacement berdan primers?

Iconoclast

7th - the key difference between Boxer and Berdan is the location of the anvil against which the priming compound is crushed to ignite it. In a Boxer, the anvil is integral w/ the primer - that little metal piece on the open side - while in the Berdan the anvil is part of the case. If you try to put a Boxer primer in an unaltered Berdan pocket, the best result you could expect is that it wouldn't seat . . . the worst is that it could go off.Yes, you can buy Berdan primers, but as noted above, the sources are limited and it is an expensive proposition (v. Boxers).[This message has been edited by Iconoclast (edited 01-15-2002).]

jonk

The cost of new boxer ammo may be too much, but perhaps the cost of unprimed, new brass wouldn't be... what caliber(s) are you looking at reloading for?

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"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.

Master7thSon

ok----that explains why berdan primed cartridges are so dirt cheap then

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I'll just do like everyone else then and shoot them and forget all the mess

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Thanks!

Master7thSon

Jonk----thats the hard part

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my interests are in 7.62X25 tokarev

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9mm maakarov

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.303 british

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8mm mauser

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7.62X39mm

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7.62X54 rimmed russian---and who knows whats next? LOL? ?

daddo

Had to replace too many pins when I get one- have nothing to do with them!