Hell of Reloading : Steel cased and Berdan primed

UPDATE

-i tried the nail polish trick, but its way to dangerous; the primer back-out during firing and one case had the powder come back in the receiver.

-ball bearing trick, didnt hold the primer.

-i tried to punch the primer pocket with a "+" shapped tool, didnt work either.(metal is too hard)


Still experimenting, as soon as i get some result ill tell you guys.
i heard about people drilling the old primer, and keeping a little band all around to old the new boxer.
ill post picture when i got time.
 
When I was a kid we used to punch berdan primers out with water - hydraulics. I would fill case with water. Place a tight fitting rod in case mouth (LEE tool had the primer rod) slam it hard and it punched primer out. You would have to dry cases good and we likely got a little wet. Hey we were poor and wanted to shoot. Cant remember if we actually reloaded any bedan primed cases. Keep us posted.
 
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I might not reload steal cases but I got the supplies to reload 7.62x39 some day it might be worth it. Lee has those green boxed dies for 7.62x39 good and cheap. I picked the dies to reload brass after I bought a few boxes of privy ammo that has reloadable brass. Agreed surplus is the way to go with the sks I just got a great deal on the dies and one likes to collect dies.

I'd love to see you pull it off good luck.
 
I'm not recommending steel case reloading, nor do I reload steel cases to try and save money or for anyother monitory reason.

I have tons of 7.62 x 39 brass, and that's what I reload.

WRT steel case reloading I do it simply to show it can be done, and done safely,, why? because someone told me it can't be done, you'll blow yourself up, or you'll wreck your gun.

I'm going to dig out 100 steel cases over Christmas and reload them step by step, go to the range and shoot them.

Anyone what to see a video? I'll make that too!
 
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There are far too many people who haven't had an original thought in their lives and think all people should be like them. I can't count the number of things I've done that were deemed impossible or at least "dangerous!". Many of those experiments were reloading-related and most involved using smokeless powder in an antiques which are of course "designed for blackpowder and will blow up if smokeless is used!". I have shot Cooey Carcanos and lived, and there are many other examples. Most times it was senseless reasons against doing something that spurred me on.

I reloaded steel once, and determined that it can be done, and that was enough.
 
Okay. I am the cheapest guy on this forum and I would not do this to save money. Once investing all this time in a project, I would NEVER allow one of those cases to get lost in the grass. This is the reason I pull the FMJ bullets and replace with soft points when hunting with an SKS.

Now, if someone tells me I CAN'T DO THIS, then I probably would just to spite. Do I have that kind of time this year? Not a chance in hell. If the OP wants to give it a go, more power to him. His time and effort. I can't see why it wouldn't work.

Someone said to not drill out a centre flash-hole. How then will you remove the boxer primer for subsequent reloads?
 
Oh, there's nothing wrong with experimenting. I've done some when I've had time. I've made 44mag shotshells from .303 brass for example. They worked fine for what they were. The worst that happens is you learn something. In my case I learned it could be done and that even though they worked they were pretty much useless in Canada.;)
 
About 20 years ago, I got a large batch of steel .45 acp cartridge cases. I thought that I would try and load them for IPSC. I didn't need to do anything to the primer pocket but I discovered that they didn't hold a crimp worth a darn. Throw them in the garbage, they aren't worth the effort.
 
Back when I got my berthier carbine 8x50 Lebel, I converted some berdan primed brass...drilled a flash hole leaving the wall of the berdan primers crimped into the case to hold the new boxer primers...it worked on most of them.
But now with boxer brass available I would not bother.
Almost anything CAN be done, but for 7.62x39 just buy a box or two of boxer primed brass cased ammo and you'll thank yourself !!
 
I dont know how much you will save brass you can get lots of reloads never tried steel unless you shoot cast bullets bullets arent cheap your idea is not worth it unless you are an ultimate cheapskate maybe you can get on tvjust watched video btf must say informative and no wasted time unlike many i wont be reloading steel but at least i seen it sort of
 
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It's a fun experiment, but you'll likely get over it.

It took me an hour to prep 5 cases. I drilled out the centre of the primer, and left the outside of it in the hole to shim it, it turned out to be perfect for seating a Large Rifle primer. In some cases where my work was sloppy, I didn't get a very good seal tho'.

It was MFS 7.62x54R.
 
Here's some 8x50 lebel berdan brass converted to boxer...just to show the central flash hole which makes it easier for "re-reloading" as you only have to drill once.
photo-7.jpg
 
Billythreefeathers said:
When you converted the cases what kind of set up did you have? drill press / jig?

I've got a bunch of berdan 308 (7.62 x 51) brass I was thinking about doing something with,,,
Click to expand...

I did it very carefully with a vise, an electric drill, and lots of time !!
I don't remember which bit sizes or anything...that was a long time ago.
I would need to have some pretty rare cases to spend the time doing that again I think. But best of luck if you are planning on trying it, it was worthwhile for me at that time so that's all that mattered :)
 
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