Lets load some "Berdan"

[Trigger Guard]

I must have too much time on my hands, just bought a test box of 5K KV762N Large Rifle Berdan Primers primers (DAG). I will be reloading Radway Green 762Nato.

Excited and rapidly spending money, bought an RCBS de-capping tool only to find it's a joke and ruins the anvil no mater how careful. Looking around for methods, I found the pin in a dowel method (might work if I could find some really hard pins). The water ram method using a press (would consider in the summertime, outside). This one looks promising yet still would probably be classified as an outdoor activity. http://www.223reloads.com/home/reload-berdan-primers

Strange to me how Europe has been using and reloading for ??years and no-one over there has come up with a suitable method for decapping berdan is astonishing! There must be an intelligent solution out there.....somewhere.

Next step will be seating. I noticed that the expelled primers(don't have the new ones yet) do not fit in the cup or my auto primer. and only found this; http://www.huntingtons.com/primingaccessories.html to aid in the seating. Any old hands ever tinkered with this stuff would be greatly appreciated as I really don't like ka-booms.

So, after all this work, what kind of results should I expect?

Is there any value in sizing/uniforming the flash holes?

Is there specific annealing procedure required with this thick brass?

What kind of motivation will I need to follow through with this sort of adventure?


Trigger Guard

[Fishslayer]

How about drilling out the flash holes so that standard 'capping die would work? Maybe a crimp on the primer pocket would hold a Boxer type primer? Since the Berdan primer won't fit I assume the Berdan primer/pocket is larger?

Is this actually worth it in such a common caliber?

[Trigger Guard]

How about drilling out the flash holes so that standard 'capping die would work?

The anvil would be destroyed if it were drilled. What I am trying to accomplish here is to go through the motions of properly reloading berdan primed cartridges.

Maybe a crimp on the primer pocket would hold a Boxer type primer? Since the Berdan primer won't fit I assume the Berdan primer/pocket is larger?

The berdans are sized differently and purchased specifically for that round or cartridge group. Drilling the anvil is not an option here.

Is this actually worth it in such a common caliber?

Probably not but I'll understand the process and have the tools and parts and possibly a bunch more rounds to shoot.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Do the Hydraulic method. From every account, those RCBS berdan primer removers are hard to work with. This is a better option:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQNDgjcgofY

[Dark Mod]

Theres a better way of decapping, id have to find the thread but its basically a small sharp hook that you use and just dig into the dimple and pull it out. Pretty simple. Im glad someone here is doing this because ive always wanted to give it a shot myself

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Theres a better way of decapping, id have to find the thread but its basically a small sharp hook that you use and just dig into the dimple and pull it out. Pretty simple.

That's the RCBS removal tool. It's not "simple" at all. Ever tried it...?

Takes about 5-10 times as long to do than the hydraulic method.

[gunboat]

The Lachmiller, now known as the rcbs tool, will work quite well, but it does take some fiddlin'.
Berdan primers for most euro rifle cases are .217 diameter, your boxer priming tool is for .210 primers. Some priming tools will accommodate the difference.
This difference in diameter is also why you can't just simply drill out the case.
Berdan primers come in several diameters and a half dozen or more hiegths.
I think the primers you have are correct for your case but it would probably be prudent to check.
There is a method used by some of drilling out the case and then slightly swaging the pocket mouth with a ball bearing to retain the boxer primer.
It is not my method of choice.
There is also a method of drilling the case out way oversize, then lathe turning and threading a new primer pocket insert.
A very time consuming proposition to say the least.
Next method, drill out case to fit a shotshell primer.
This works well for most cast bullet loadings and is my method of choice for large black powder cases.
my tuppence

[Trigger Guard]

The Lachmiller, now known as the rcbs tool, will work quite well, but it does take some fiddlin'.
Berdan primers for most euro rifle cases are .217 diameter, your boxer priming tool is for .210 primers. Some priming tools will accommodate the difference.
This difference in diameter is also why you can't just simply drill out the case.
Berdan primers come in several diameters and a half dozen or more hiegths.
I think the primers you have are correct for your case but it would probably be prudent to check.
There is a method used by some of drilling out the case and then slightly swaging the pocket mouth with a ball bearing to retain the boxer primer.
It is not my method of choice.
There is also a method of drilling the case out way oversize, then lathe turning and threading a new primer pocket insert.
A very time consuming proposition to say the least.
Next method, drill out case to fit a shotshell primer.
This works well for most cast bullet loadings and is my method of choice for large black powder cases.
my tuppence

Yes, I've been looking at all the options for awhile now and what triggered the endeavor was the sudden availability of real berdan primers. Now its time to master the process.

You mention heights and I am concerned about this also. As I was tinkering with primer removal I noticed that I could drive the spent primer quite a bit further into the pocket when breaking the sealant. Some insight on this would also be helpful as I mentioned a seating tool in my OP. Do you think I could use standard seating procedure with tweezers resting atop the large primer cup and carefully press to correct depth utilizing my current tools or is the specialty device mandatory?

For clarification; The berdan primer of choice does not fit into the little spring loaded cup of any of my boxer seating tools. I understand that a "drop tube" is not an option and tweezers would be necessary to set each primer. Still looking for a better way.

Thanks

[nick]

Strange to me how Europe has been using and reloading for ??years and no-one over there has come up with a suitable method for decapping berdan is astonishing! There must be an intelligent solution out there.....somewhere.

It's not strange at all. One of the reasons berdan primers are used in Europe is to make reloading harder for the unwashed masses. On top of that, gun ownership isn't nearly as widespread in Europe as it is in the US, and very few people reload. So the demand isn't there, the various governments discourage reloading, some even have laws against it (the anti-reloading provisions of that treaty the UN is pushing have existed in many European countries for years/decades by now. In fact, many of those provisions are likely inspired by the current gun laws in many European countries), so there' really little incentive for the development of reloading tools for berdan primers. Especially when boxer-primed ammo/brass is available.

By the way, have you noticed that, while we get many different guns and ammo from Europe, there're no European reloading equipment (not supplies, but equipment) manufacturers competing for the individual market? Do they even exist?

[Trigger Guard]

It's not strange at all. One of the reasons berdan primers are used in Europe is to make reloading harder for the unwashed masses. On top of that, gun ownership isn't nearly as widespread in Europe as it is in the US, and very few people reload. So the demand isn't there, the various governments discourage reloading, some even have laws against it (the anti-reloading provisions of that treaty the UN is pushing have existed in many European countries for years/decades by now. In fact, many of those provisions are likely inspired by the current gun laws in many European countries), so there' really little incentive for the development of reloading tools for berdan primers. Especially when boxer-primed ammo/brass is available.

By the way, have you noticed that, while we get many different guns and ammo from Europe, there're no European reloading equipment (not supplies, but equipment) manufacturers competing for the individual market? Do they even exist?

That is a really good point and it is exactly that (besides having a bunch of berdan brass) which compels me to acquire even more components and tooling. Shame that laws are allowed to be made which may destroy an individuals pursuits and ambitions. All in the name of "butterflies" "unicorns" and of course "the children"

[Low-Pressure]

Here's my write up on how to convert berdan cases to accept boxer primers.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=496197

[Low-Pressure]

duoble post. ooops!

[Trigger Guard]

Here's my write up on how to convert berdan cases to accept boxer primers.
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=496197

That certainly is a good option if berdan primers were not available but today they are and I can't see the value in modification while I am sitting on 5k pieces of the real deal. Either way it will cost some time and frustration but at this point learning the process of berdan reloads seems reasonable.

[gunboat]

TG -- try one of the hand priming tools, they often have enough slop for the berdan to fit. You can, of course, always use the lee loader principle and push or tap them in with a dowel.
Berdan primers are not necessary intended to fit to the bottom of the primer pocket, just a few thou below the rear face of the case.
I think you mentioned annealing the primer pocket area -- do not do this, it will soften the rear of the case and it will likely rupture.
While I appreciate your wishing to be "green" and waste not, want not endevor, I can tell you from long experience that repriming with berdans is only worth the effort if you have no alternative.
I only reprime the larger berdan cases, using the .254 primer, if I can get the primer, or convert them to use shotshell primers.
Best o british luck to you --

[Low-Pressure]

That certainly is a good option if berdan primers were not available but today they are and I can't see the value in modification while I am sitting on 5k pieces of the real deal. Either way it will cost some time and frustration but at this point learning the process of berdan reloads seems reasonable.

When I did this conversion, I didn't find any berdan primers. So I went a head and gave it a go. Now that there are berdan primers available, I do not have a gp11 cases that I can use because I've converted them all, except for my sealed ruag gp11 box/case...... which I do not intend to use anytime soon.