decapping live primers???

[nico243]

As above, I have aquired some already primed .243 cases, but I want to de-cap and resize them, but, as I have never de-capped live primers what is safest/best practice way of going about it??
I still currently have eight fingers and two thumbs and I wish to keep them hence my asking the dumb question in the first place
many thanks in advance

[Chocchip]

If all you want to do is resize them then the easiest option is just to temporarily remove your decapping pin from your resizing die. Then resize them and reinstall the pin in the die.

[nico243]

The only problem I have is that I don't know the history behind them, as in I don't know what they're primed with, could be magnum primers or std large, what make etc etc.
So I reckon the best/safest bet is just to de-cap and reprime myself.

[TonyB]

Never tried it but I remember a post on here from a while back where is was suggested a few drops of oil in the case will deactivate the primer enabling a safe removal. A search on this forum should bring up the old posts.

[dicehorn]

as I have never de-capped live primers what is safest/best practice way of going about it??
I still currently have eight fingers and two thumbs and I wish to keep them hence my asking the dumb question in the first place
many thanks in advance

Similar to you I was given some primed cases several years back and not knowing what brand the primers were, needed to replace them. Like you I had the jitters re poking then out with the die.

In the end (as they had no bullet and powder in the cases) I put them in my rifle and fired them - was surprised they did not make any sort of bang when I pulled the trigger - which is what happens.

Just would add that unless you are 100% sure of the source I would be very careful using 2nd hand brass as their history may have been massaged - it may not only be your 8 fingers and 2 thumbs that are at risk!

Peter

[loiner1965]

As above, I have aquired some already primed .243 cases, but I want to de-cap and resize them, but, as I have never de-capped live primers what is safest/best practice way of going about it??
I still currently have eight fingers and two thumbs and I wish to keep them hence my asking the dumb question in the first place
many thanks in advance

just de prime as normal.......only go bang if they have been military crimped

[baz]

Yep hes right, I have decapped loads never had one go bang, even had them in sideways before now

I do hold a book against the press though, just in case

[lilguy43uk]

There used to be a hydraulic de-capper for Berdan primers on the market. It was a cast square box about 2.5" square with a hollow tube in the centre. You dropped the case into the tube, filled it with water and inserted a plug in the top of the tube which was then clouted with a mallet.

The hydraulic shock drove the primer out.

[MikB]

I too have decapped live primers without incident. But I think if I was doing a quantity, I'd have a can of WD40 to hand, and put a squirt into the bottom of each case before putting it in the shellholder. Then wash the dases in detergent water and dry them over the radiator before repriming.

Regards,
MikB

[EMcC]

Just de-prime as normal using a steady smooth stroke.
Done it a few times with no problem.
I wouldn't bother too much about the primers, if I had a few I would do as previously suggested take the de-capping pin out of the die and re-size and carry on from there, unless you intend using them in a 600yd competition!!lol

[Marlin.45]

When I first had this problem I used to fire off the primed cases. Later I found that careful use of the depriming pin in the press worked fine. I must have pushed out a 100 or so over the past year without incident.

Just don't leave anything flammable or easily ignitable around the press - just in case

[bob64]

decap as normal in the press with out any problem at all.same as the rest have said on here
bob64

[stalker1]

what do you do with the live primmers once you have removed them,if you know what thay are can you re-use them ???

OK OK if you dont ask you don't know

[Hares Ear]

what do you do with the live primmers once you have removed them,if you know what thay are can you re-use them ???

OK OK if you dont ask you don't know

Being a born and raised resident of Gods County I hate waste, so any primers that I have removed from loaded cases get used in my Black Powder rifle. It isn't as primer fussy as my .243.

[roughshooter]

Don't let them get into the garden bonfire - makes for an exciting moment or three

If unsure of their make/age etc, soak the lot in oil, then scrap them.