Berdan vs Boxer - anyone have a diagram or pics?

[sb_pete]

SO I have read the wikipedia articles and tried searching here and google. I just can't seem to find a visual explanation.

I am trying to understand the difference between berdan and boxer primers. Can anyone point to to pics or diagrams explaining the differences?

Thanks guys,
-Pete

[ar15barrels]

Flash Holes:


Berdan primer pocket:


Boxer primer pocket:


Boxer primers:


Is that visual enough?

[CHS]

Is that visual enough?

You know, I would have expected this from you.

Wow. Hahaha.

[StraightShooter]

Randall, you need to write a book on all this stuff.

[ar15barrels]

You know, I would have expected this from you.

Wow. Hahaha.

I thought those pictures do a pretty good job of explaining it with minimal words.

[ar15barrels]

Randall, you need to write a book on all this stuff.

There's lots of books on this stuff.
Just go read them all like I have.
Any good reloading manual covers this stuff.

If you really want some good reading, get all of PO Ackley's books and Hatcher's notebook.

[StraightShooter]

There's lots of books on this stuff.
Just go read them all like I have.
Any good reloading manual covers this stuff.

If you really want some good reading, get all of PO Ackley's books and Hatcher's notebook.

Hmm, ill have to look into those books. Im actually writing a 15 page paper right now on the engineering of precision rifles for an engineering class im in so Im trying to get some really good sources. Thanks.

[ar15barrels]

Hmm, ill have to look into those books. Im actually writing a 15 page paper right now on the engineering of precision rifles for an engineering class im in so Im trying to get some really good sources. Thanks.

Do you know Ackley's famous line?

[sb_pete]

Is that visual enough?

WOW, that is exactly what I needed. Thanks Randall!
-Pete

[westcoastr]

Randall, you need to write a book on all this stuff.

if he wrote a book, most of calguns would just shut down. all that would run would be RKBA and the girls & guns thread!!!!

[CSACANNONEER]

I thought those pictures do a pretty good job of explaining it with minimal words.

The pictures don't explain why berdan primers have two flash holes. Does it make the powder burn twice as fast? Why dont berdan primed cartridges have three or four flash holes?

Also, the pictures do not clearly show that berdan primers are a different size than boxer primers. They can not be interchanged! Well, I do know one person who modified a batch of berdan primed 50 bmg cases to hold #35 primers. But, I would leave that to those with a lot of experience and a lot of free time.

[rabagley]

How do you decap Berdan primers? Looks like it's pretty difficult for the home reloader to decap.

[fairfaxjim]

How do you decap Berdan primers? Looks like it's pretty difficult for the home reloader to decap.

From Speer Reloading Manual #13:

Reloading of Berdan primed cases is possible but requires special equipment. Berdan primers are also difficult to find in this country, and often differ from standard U.S. primer dimensions.

Like Randall said, all this is in the relaoding manuals and other books. If the OP is doing research, I couldn't really recommend a better starting point than there. They cover some history and they whys pretty well.

[corpsedub]

How do you decap Berdan primers? Looks like it's pretty difficult for the home reloader to decap.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2006/berdanreloadingpt3/index.asp

[ar15barrels]

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting...gpt3/index.asp

What a hassle.