recovering live primers?

[savasyn]

Is there a way to safely recover live primers from otherwise empty brass?

A few .380 cases managed to slip though my brass sorting and ended up in my 9mm. I load on an XL650 so I don't notice until I'm placing a bullet, at which point the case is already primed.

I do not own or load for .380 so if possible, I'd like to get the primers back. If not, no big deal, but I figured I'd ask.

Oh, if you can't get them back, what's the safest way to dispose of them? A live primer in the trash might not be the best idea.

Thanks!

[joelogic]

Someone else will chime in but I imagine that once pressed in there would not be enough tension to hold it into another case.

People say you can decap a live primer if you do it slowly.

I think you can toss them in some oil to deactivate the primer.

[bohoki]

i decap live ones never had one go off

i go slow but i dont think a person can run the ram up as fast as a hammer falls

[anyracoon]

I would trash them. Damage to yourself and/or your equipment is not worth the risk!!!

[Bug Splat]

I looked into this once and I got an overwhelming "no". I'm a big penny pincher so yeah even a few primers mean something to me. It was not until my buddy answered a question with a question that it hit home.

"How can I remove the last bit of moisture from a juice box's inside walls? If you are that worried about the money loss, go recycle a beer bottle."

He has never been the sensitive understanding type

[savasyn]

Got it. thanks guys! Yeah, not worth the few pennies for the potential problems.
Oiling the primers to neutralize seems like a good idea.

[ClarkS]

I have experimented with recovering primers, & it works fine. I had a lapse, something I avoid at the bench usually, & loaded mag primers in cases that didn't need them. I gently deprimed them, wearing a full-face shield w/nary a problem, and loaded them into a different batch of cases. They seated firmly and worked fine. I performed this task on a single stage press with other primers/powder put away. DO NOT do this on a progressive reloader, as the primers in the tube could go high-order, which results in a shotgun-like hole in your ceiling. WD-40 effectively kills primers.

[savasyn]

Clark,
Thanks! Good tip on the WD-40.

[JD586]

I have heard people advise using a universal decaping die to avoid pressure build up in the die if ones goes off

[Timberwolf]

I use a universal decapping die and though I hare to admit it I've punched quite a few live primers and then turned around and re-used them. Waste not want not

[savasyn]

I'm pretty new to reloading, what's a universal decapping die? Is it just one that will decap anything and without any resizing?
(edit to add that I looked it up...and then ordered one )
Thanks

[gunboat]

Trade them to someone who shoots 380 -- waste not, want not --

[GW]

Trade them to someone who shoots 380 -- waste not, want not --

This is a much safer route There's always someone who will want them
btw
Oil neutralizes the primer permanently

[johnrunner89]

I wouldn't recommend using a Lee depriming rod and hammering it out

[bohoki]

wd40 wont doo dik

go ahead spray one with wd40 put it in your gun and fire the sucker they still go off

it would take a week for the wd40 to satuate the compound completely and even then its not assured to make it insensitive

just because something "can" doesn't mean it "will"

you can kill an elephant with a 22lr but that doesnt mean a 22lr will kill an elephant