decapping a live primer?

[Lead Waster]

Can this be done safely? I would think that the anvil would stop the pin and push the primer out without igniting the primer.

Sure, I know, it's not really worth it. I just wonder this every time I mash a case up with a misaligned bullet and ... darnit! That's a good primer stuck in that busted case!

Can the primer be re-used (as practice ammo of course).

[edgerly779]

Do it gently and should be fine.

[Major Danger]

It's something that the reloading manuals say "NEVER" to do, but do it gently and it's fine. I've done it a lot

[Magilla26]

I have done it in the past but now I put them in the gun and pop them off. Primers are little bombs.

[pacrat]

Can't remember how many hundred times I've decapped and reused live primers over the last 48 yrs.

Started back when they were less than 1/2 cent each. Now that they are 2.5 to 3 cents apiece sure I'm gonna continue doing it.

[CSACANNONEER]

Wear eye and EAR protection if you try it.

I'm a cheap azz reloader who has never popped a live primer and I've decapped a lot of them. But, safety first!!!!!

Edit: I am sitting on 500 pieces of primed Israeli pulled down 50BMG brass. I will probably just pop the primers in a rifle and waste them (even at 25-50 cents a piece) instead of trying to decap them live. They are crimped in and it simply isn't worth the risk to me. I don't want to use the primers in match loads and that is the only thing I want to use that brass for.

[JMP]

I'd have no apprehension jamming it out if you use the dies with the spring-loaded enclosed housing that fits flush with your shell holder before it engages the primer, of course, you want the opening in your shell holder pointed in the opposite direction. Otherwise, if you do not have such dies, you may want to put a little oil in them first to deactivate them somewhat and proceed with caution. I don't think it's a biggy as long as you are in a safe environment with the requisite equipment. I do not know why it's such a big deal to people. Folks act like a regular sized primer is a bomb. For non-50BMG primers, it's really a light charge, mainly you just want to keep your eyes protected and don't have the chance of sparking on anything flammable.

[Enfield47]

Go slow and easy and you won't damage the primer anvil. I've had to do it several times and never had a problem with any of the primers not working afterwards.

[stilly]

Can this be done safely? I would think that the anvil would stop the pin and push the primer out without igniting the primer.

Sure, I know, it's not really worth it. I just wonder this every time I mash a case up with a misaligned bullet and ... darnit! That's a good primer stuck in that busted case!

Can the primer be re-used (as practice ammo of course).

In the beginning of April I walked past my crystal ball and I saw you typing this post out...

So I made a video just for you. It might apply to your press too. Enjoy. Oh and it is BEST to watch it full screen from the you-tube site.

[opos]

I've decapped a number of live primers over the years and never popped one yet but I wear safety glasses, ear plugs and I take an old bath towel and toss it over the press to cover everything and operate the handle "through" the towel..figure if one pops it's all "under cover" that way...I go slow and easy.
Your mileage may vary.

[kengotit]

done it plenty of time make sure no powder around the bench.
gently and safety googles

[3006mv]

Done it and re used them too

[Twystd1]

I have pulled hundreds of them in life time.

I had several go off on me as well. These were old berdan primers for a 303 Brit I was using in some modern PRVI brass. The primers would go half way in the primer pocket. So I pressed them out.
I was using my single stage RCBS press. They just go poof. No big deal at all.

The noise was really nothing to talk about. If I would had the music loud. I barely would of noticed it except for the smell and a little bit of smoke.

As the fellow above me stated.............
Just make sure you have ZERO POWDER around your work area whilst you are pulling primers.

Relax.......... It is no big deal at all to pull (press out) primers.
Head on and giterdone.

-T

[varanidguy]

The directions that Winchester gives is to never deprime a live primer. Instead, put the empty, primed shell in your weapon, without powder or a bullet, and discharge the primer, then deprime. As in, put the primed shell in the chamber, press the trigger, pop, eject, deprime.

[kouye]

It's clearly not the safest thing to do, but as many others have done, I also have decapped hundreds of live primers and reused them w/o issue.

That being said, I do them with the least amount of pressure that I need and I wear ear and eye protection (you never know).

As for primer manufactures saying never to do it, of course they have to say that so they don't get sued.