Pulled the bullets,what to do with primers?

[HTDUCK]

My ace compadre bought a Mdl 70 in 7STW off of Gunbroker.
Included in the deal were dies, brass and about 75 rounds of the original owners handloads.
No dope on what they are constructed of was included though.

We shot a few of them and it looked like Ray Charles was behind the trigger, didn't group very well at all.
My pet load for my STW shot very well out of his rifle however.

Took them all apart saved the 160ABs but dumped the powder.
So now I have about 60 cases with live primers in them that I have no idea if they are large rifle primers or magnum primers.
I want to remove them from the cases but don't really want to have to pop all of them in the action of my 7 STW.

I don't think knocking them out with a sizing die is safe, so what should I do?

Howard

 

[Guest]

Get some heavy leather work gloves and safety glasses and earplugs, and gently decap them all. If you have a universal decapping die, that's the best thing to use, as it is large enough internally to give plenty of expansion room if one of the primers blows. In fact, if you don't have a universal decapping die, now is the time to blow $15 on one.

Just be careful and you should be fine. I've done this with pulled rounds as well as the odd primer screw up on my part, and so far, none have detonated. I don't think there's any other option but to crack them all in your rifle and then decap as normal.

 

[Elkman]

I have done 100's by using the sizing die, I screw the punch out a ways so I am not actually sizing then carefully punch them out. Then I believe you are supposed to soak them in oil for a few days prior to disposing them.
The 7mm STW is a sweet heart I love mine. !
Just my .02

 

[DrMike]

So long as you are not actually slamming the primer, it is unlikely that much will happen. I prefer to use a universal decapping die to remove primers from such cases. Bill is correct that if you wish to dispose of the primers (which is a good idea in this case since you don't know what they are), soak them in oil.

 

[nshunter]

Spray a small amount of wd-40 in each case and let them sit, standing up, for 10 minutes or so, this will make the primers inert. That is what someone on another form had posted and it seems to work well, at least I haven't had a problem yet anyway. But to be safe, wear safety glasses and keep your face well back from the press.

 

[HTDUCK]

Thanks Gents.
Yes I do have a universal decapping die, but of course it has a broken decapping pin.
Luckily for me Cabelas is right up the road from the house.

NSHunter after spraying WD40 in the case how do you get it all out?
I would be afraid that it would leave enough of a film / residue behind that it could compromise the next powder charge placed in the case?


Howard

 

[Guest]

I wouldn't bother with the WD40. I'd just carefully decap them (wearing the safety equipment) and go from there. Drop them all in a cup of oil and let them soak a week or so, and then take them out and crush them with a hammer (wearing safety equipment). I bet a few still detonate.

 

[C.Smith]

I wouldn't bother with the WD40. I'd just carefully decap them (wearing the safety equipment) and go from there. Drop them all in a cup of oil and let them soak a week or so, and then take them out and crush them with a hammer (wearing safety equipment). I bet a few still detonate.

Thats sounds dangerous but fun. :twisted:

Corey

 

[nshunter]

Thanks Gents.
Yes I do have a universal decapping die, but of course it has a broken decapping pin.
Luckily for me Cabelas is right up the road from the house.

NSHunter after spraying WD40 in the case how do you get it all out?
I would be afraid that it would leave enough of a film / residue behind that it could compromise the next powder charge placed in the case?


Howard

I dump out the bulk of it, then clean out the primer pockets with a rag, let them sit for a couple days, which gets most of it out, then tumble them in my vibratory cleaner. They come out better than new.

 

[ROVERT]

I wouldn't bother with the WD40. I'd just carefully decap them (wearing the safety equipment) and go from there. Drop them all in a cup of oil and let them soak a week or so, and then take them out and crush them with a hammer (wearing safety equipment). I bet a few still detonate.

I read an article about trying to kill primers with a variety of substances (water, penetrating oil, etc). None of them were much of a sure thing. Even after long immersions many of the primer still detonated.

 

[joelkdouglas]

Due to poor planning / execution on my part I've had to decap live primers more than once in the past year. I have used the decapping die, no WD40 or anything in the case. And no safety equipment, because I don't figure it will be that serious if one goes off anyway. I just kind of stand back and move the ram slowly. Never had one go off.

But if you have one go off, let us know. That sounds like an interesting story.

I also have a buddy that throws live caps in the campfire pretty much every blackpowder season, and nothing has ever come of that. Except if he's discreet enough some of us are surprised.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I run them throught the action and pull the trigger, especially if I pulled the bullet fm a compressed load of ball powder. This way I know that any powder stuck to the case wall gets burned.