Depriming Crimped Cases

[Andy]

I have been depriming a lot of crimped military 308 (DA) with the Lee Universal Deprimer and having about 5% of the primers stay in place but be pierced by the "strong as bull" depriming rod. I prefer to lose fewer - any tips?

 

[Cummins4x4]

I use a redding decapping die, haven't had a pierced primer yet. Maybe use a smaller hammer?

 

[Ganderite]

Until last week i would not know what you were talking about. I was depriming 40 S&W cases that had been stored for about 6 years, and a few of them punched through.

These are not crimped primers, so I wonder if it has something to do with the primers fusing with the cases head over a long time?

I have thousands of cases, so the few I lose is not an issue. I don't know any easy way to stop it, short of a squirt and soak of penetrating oil. That would be messy and require a wash.

 

[TwoTone]

Does a piece of the anvil come out through the hole made by the pin?

Would squaring off the tip of the pin possibly engage the anvil differently and help prevent push-through?

Just a thought, I haven't had to deal with this.

 

[Andy]

Does a piece of the anvil come out through the hole made by the pin?

Would squaring off the tip of the pin possibly engage the anvil differently and help prevent push-through?

Just a thought, I haven't had to deal with this.

Thanks for the ideas guys.

The pin was not sharp, but was slightly rounded, so I squared it off, making it flat. That probably reduced its "piercing" power by 40%, and the rate of piercing fell to about 2% which I can live with.