.50 Brass

[Scharfschütze]

Hi
I picked up some .50 brass at the Kamloops show yesterday. ($1 a piece so I cleaned the lady out for a total of 9) I know that 50 brass is not cheap so for a buck a piece how could I go wrong. I want to get into long range shooting and move up to .50 that's why I took the brass and I know I will have to reload to make it a little more affordable. So my question is can I reload the brass and more specifically whats the best way to get the primers out. I have 3 pieces of the first photo and 6 of the second.
I know NOTHING about reloading so please be patient

Here are some picks of the back of the shells.

This one still has a primer what do you suggest I do with it, leave it as is or try to fire it?

This one has a firing pin mark on the base is it still good to use?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[blacksmithden]

I'll go first and tell you what everybody else is going to tell you. Go buy a reloading manual and read it cover to cover. Reloading isn't hard, but there are a lot of ins, outs, and little tricks. It's not as simple as knocking a primer out with a punch, a new one in with a hammer, fill with powder and slam in bullet.

If you really go at it, "the art" of reloading isn't that hard. We all started by reading a book cover to cover if we didn't have someone to stand over our shoulder to teach us.

 

[Ice-Pick]

+1
Start reading, and for God's sake, don't start your reloading life on a .50 cal.
Buy a .223 or something, spend a year at least making cheaper/safer mistakes.
After that contact me and i'll point you in the right direction.
M.

 

[Wolf]

As others said, start by reading, "Lee reloading Manual" and "ABC of reloading"
is what i started with.
Reloading .50 is in it's own class and need special press, .... as far as i know

 

[Ice-Pick]

Get the Lyman's reloading manual if your new to this, it's an easy ready / walk through.

M.

yes, you need a different press, different everything, probably different job too when you see what it,ll cost to shoot a .50

 

[Scharfschütze]

I am not going to jump in and start reloading .50`s I will most likely start with 9mm Luger, 40s&w and 308. I will get e reloading book as I get closer to reloading. All I really wanted to know if the brass was still good because it seems that the back of the case is crimped in around the primer.

Thanks for all your suggestions and help

 

[Ice-Pick]

yes it usually is, it's also sealed to keep out moisture. Last thing you need in an anti-aircraft cartridge is to have one that leaked and didn't go bang.
Alot of the older cartridges also have berdan primers.. 2 holes instead of one in the center, watch for these as they'll get stuck or just plain break off your decapping pin.
http://www.hevanet.com/temple/index.html

M.

 

[Scharfschütze]

Thanks Ice-Pick I believe all my brass has one hole. I did look up reloading 50 BMG on the net and my brass seems like it dose not have berdan primers I read thy can be a real hassle to get out.

 

[Ice-Pick]

Get a piece of wood (small block) a few inches square. Drill a hole through it just too small for a fifty case. Saw block down the middle cutting the hole in half. Wrap wood around fifty case that needs stuck primer removed, orientate primer up in a drill press while vise is applying pressure to wood.
Slowly loser "small" drill (approx half the size of primer) into primer , NOT TOO DEEP, you only want to drill the primer, primer is soft and will 99% of the time wrap itself around drill and come out. Primer pocket needs to be cleaned out , remove dirt, carbon and scrape away crimped area (3 spots) around primer pocket.
M.