Personally, I wouldn't try it under any circumstances. If I wanted to have a shell with a bullet, I'd pull the bullet, dump the powder, and punch the primer out on my press, then put a "deconstructed" primer in the pocket. But, it, for some ungodly reason, I wanted to try this, the only way I would even consider attempting it would be to very gently try to pry the primer out with a Berdan decapping tool. It kinda looks like a bottle opener.
Removing live primer from factory ammo?
- Thread starter Brianma65
- Start date
I think its kind of funny though.
Sounds like no one here has first hand experience with this so perhaps it could be done.
Not saying that its safe to try or anything but some people here also claimed it was very dangerous to deprime live primers. Have done that with a few hundred cases with unknown primers (at regular depriming speed and power) and never had an issue, just saying... (flame away lol)
I have a rcbs collet puller so personally would go the pull bullet and reseat way myself but might someday just give it a try as a proof of concept
with the right ppe of course haha.I think its kind of funny though.
Sounds like no one here has first hand experience with this so perhaps it could be done.
Not saying that its safe to try or anything but some people here also claimed it was very dangerous to deprime live primers. Have done that with a few hundred cases with unknown primers (at regular depriming speed and power) and never had an issue, just saying... (flame away lol)
I have a rcbs collet puller so personally would go the pull bullet and reseat way myself but might someday just give it a try as a proof of concept
There is absolutely no issue pulling live primers from a casing. Most handloaders have done it many, many, times. Pull bullet, dump powder and pop primer out. Problem is, OP was asking about doing it with bullet and powder intact. That's a whole other ball game, and definitely not recommended by Elmer the Safety Elephant.
If we jump hard on a guy asking a question that we deem stupid, the end result is others being afraid to ask a question because it might be stupid.
Asking a question is 1000% SMARTER than DOING something stupid.
So ask away. If it is a dumb move, we will say so. And most of us will be polite about it.
The original question lacked context. If he had said "I want to use a case as a gauge to fit a new barrel; should I take the primer out of a factory case?" ... we could have all said:
Pull the firing pin from the bolt and use the live round. or
Pull the bullet, dump the powder and carry on. primer can stay in the case. or
Ask a buddy to size a fired case for you and use the empty case.
Asking a question is 1000% SMARTER than DOING something stupid.
So ask away. If it is a dumb move, we will say so. And most of us will be polite about it.
The original question lacked context. If he had said "I want to use a case as a gauge to fit a new barrel; should I take the primer out of a factory case?" ... we could have all said:
Pull the firing pin from the bolt and use the live round. or
Pull the bullet, dump the powder and carry on. primer can stay in the case. or
Ask a buddy to size a fired case for you and use the empty case.
Come on now be serious here. Any one that has ever pulled a handle would know better to have this even cross their mind as presented let alone ask the question. In fact reloaders would be IMO the only ones that would have any need to pull a live primer
Last I checked this was a reloading section
It is pure stupid plain and simple to even think it let alone ask here
Cheers
The fact that he asked the question suggests that he is not a hand loader.
But this forum is the perfect place to ask about pulling out a live primer.
Jumping on people here only creates more reluctance to ask what might be a dumb question. We want to encourage people to ask questions before doing something new.
But this forum is the perfect place to ask about pulling out a live primer.
Jumping on people here only creates more reluctance to ask what might be a dumb question. We want to encourage people to ask questions before doing something new.
Are you guys serious?I asked a question,FFS, just answer it or not.
No need to get all pissy, like a bunch of hens.
And yes I reload,and have removed live primers from empty cases.
Even a couple of upside down primers.. oooh the horror.
Anyway,before some of you pee in your pants, I didn’t pull a live primer, as I was only speculating.
Thanks for the comments though,it was enlightening.
And I just did as Ganderite suggested.
Attachments
Experience = Learning things you really didn't want to know
Exactly, great post Ganderite !
CatfishSteve
CGN Regular
- Location
- in front of computer
What’s the best way to remove a live primer from a factory cartridge?
Without firing it.
Why would you ever want to remove the primer?...the bullet I can understand. Just use a kinetic hammer.
Have you read the whole thread or just the op??
How does one propose to do this?
The danger factor is , well lets just say it is to late.
Rob
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Here is serious, You may have the clues not to try it NOW but someone here will read this and try to prove it can be done and more than likely have an undesirable incident
That is why I get pissy . Questions like this help no one but have potential to do serious damage
Not something IMO responsible reloaders which you say you are should even be discussing openly
Th OP was given explicit instructions on the ONLY safe way to do this by a very experienced reloader. And his answer was "No", he didn't want to do it that way. Then all the "i know better" heros jump in with their bull#### 2cents and start advising the guy on half ass suggested alternatives which could result in the man blowing his fingers apart. So yes...stupid, Stupid, and a whole bunch more stupid. Granted, "irresponsible " would have been a more respectful word. So I apologize I didnt use it instead .
As far as making people "afraid to ask questions ", I call BS. I've made no-one afraid. I've called out all the BS on this thread that could get people hurt. Think of the newbies reading your garbage as gospel and drilling holes in the primer of a live round......wow. I've hurt their potential feeling and made them afraid!???? Good. Better than most here have done for them given the question at hand.
As far as making people "afraid to ask questions ", I call BS. I've made no-one afraid. I've called out all the BS on this thread that could get people hurt. Think of the newbies reading your garbage as gospel and drilling holes in the primer of a live round......wow. I've hurt their potential feeling and made them afraid!???? Good. Better than most here have done for them given the question at hand.
Why on Earth be so bloody belligerent? Most guys here also told the OP it couldn't be done, but did so without coming across like adze-holes. I, like others, pointed out that I would not do it, but gave him one method that one might try, even though I wouldn't. It's the one using a Berdan decapper. Others mis-read the post, and gave their 2 cents, but again, in a respectful fashion. I have no idea if the OP is a noob or not, if he was serious about asking the question, or anything else. But the fact of the matter is, by jumping all over him, attacking him, you are quite possibly preventing him from asking a legitimate question that, to some reloaders, may sound dumb, but could get him in trouble.
Ok guys,sorry to get everyone upset.
I just wanted to set my barrel up to a factory rnd ,that grouped really well in my rifle.
So I googled the method I asked about, got a few hits,and thought why not just ask here.
After all it’s a Firearms forum,on the internet,just like the ones google provided.
I wasn’t going to pull the primer out, just wondering if it could be done.
As for hurting my feelings?, no you didn’t, but I admit, I got a little ticked
Anyway sorry if I said a few things I shouldn’t have, it’s not my style.
I just wanted to set my barrel up to a factory rnd ,that grouped really well in my rifle.
So I googled the method I asked about, got a few hits,and thought why not just ask here.
After all it’s a Firearms forum,on the internet,just like the ones google provided.
I wasn’t going to pull the primer out, just wondering if it could be done.
As for hurting my feelings?, no you didn’t, but I admit, I got a little ticked
Anyway sorry if I said a few things I shouldn’t have, it’s not my style.
Cameron SS
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ground Zero
So unless I missed something you are planning on using a factory round to set barrel and head space? That might be a risky idea when you consider ammunition manufacturing tolerances. How did you select the one round that you intend to use?
Even within a single manufacturer and production run there can be some variance. Are you going to be buying enough single ammo from one run to outlast the barrel life?
I would really love to understand why tuning the barrel set to the one factory round is vital?
To answer your original question, anything can be done safely, but you would likely need to machine some custom tools and jigs, and plan on detonating a few rounds in the process. I highly doubt the juice would be worth the squeeze. But that said, tell me more about the project. Very curious.
Do you reload? If not maybe you know someone who does?
Personally i think you be better off taking that factory round, firing it, and resizing the case as close as possible to factory dimensions and seating a different pulled bullet from the same factory batch to match the depth.
I also wouldnt use a single rounds dimsensions as my baseline. I would measure a minimum of 20 rounds, and use either the average or the largest as baseline, depending on your intent and whichever would be safer(i suspect largest)
Even within a single manufacturer and production run there can be some variance. Are you going to be buying enough single ammo from one run to outlast the barrel life?
I would really love to understand why tuning the barrel set to the one factory round is vital?
To answer your original question, anything can be done safely, but you would likely need to machine some custom tools and jigs, and plan on detonating a few rounds in the process. I highly doubt the juice would be worth the squeeze. But that said, tell me more about the project. Very curious.
Do you reload? If not maybe you know someone who does?
Personally i think you be better off taking that factory round, firing it, and resizing the case as close as possible to factory dimensions and seating a different pulled bullet from the same factory batch to match the depth.
I also wouldnt use a single rounds dimsensions as my baseline. I would measure a minimum of 20 rounds, and use either the average or the largest as baseline, depending on your intent and whichever would be safer(i suspect largest)
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I shot a .6 group with Nosler 155 ballistic tips and no matter what I try ,I can’t duplicate this with reloaded rounds.
So I had a dumb idea of spinning on my barrel ,using a factory round.
( I previously removed barrel and cut 5 inches off it).
I know I could pull the bullit,dump powder,remove primer and go from there.
But I wasn’t sure about reseating the bullit,with no neck tension.
Anyway ,that’s where I got the idea of removing the primer from a live rnd...
But that’s history now as I just made a dummy rnd and head spaced with that.
