And the next question, after you pull the bullets, you can deprime them.
If you are nervous about the primers, you can put a little water in the case to dampen the primer. I would flip the cases to drain any excess water out.
5 duds is unusual.
Could the primers have been seated excessively deep? If not, does this gun have a track record of duds?
Good dents and had tried a couple times. It was in a Thompson encore. We think it was the gun, changed out all the hammer spring and seems all good now.
You can use either method. When de-priming live primers I have always just wrapped a folded thick towel around the press just in case. I go slow and ease the primers out and have never had one go pop.
Years back I got a smokin' deal on 600+ rounds of WW2 milsurp 30-06 ammo. After separating the bullets and powder It was time to remove those corrosive primers. I was king of leery about doing it but by gently increasing the pressure un til the primer came out, not a one surprised me with a sudden loud noise. Your primer I'll bet are not crimped in place. Just gentle pressure while removing them should be a piece of cake. I do it all the time on test loads that were not working out. I save them for use on plinking ammo just in case. I won't use a reclaimed primer on serious ammo but for my cast lead playing around a misfire won't be a problem.
Paul B.
If I'm not trying to salvage a bunch I just get some dykes, raise loaded round up into press, bite with dykes, pull cartridge back down.
Bullet out...no issue.
You wouldn't be the first guy to shoot bullets with pliers marks on them. Ive done it. Put them on the Ram, lift the up through the hole in the press and grab the bullet with a small vise grip across the threaded hole for the die. Lower the ram and they will come out. Bullets may not be match accurate but I really cant say it caused a problem. I have not de-capped live primers. CL