Berdan primer data?

[trooperdan]

Anyone have an old reference data on Alcan berdan primers? I've run across some Alcan brand marked 'cap 57' and '199B'. I'm pretty sure the cap 57 primers are intended to reprime battery cup shotshell primers but have no idea about 199B. Sure would be nice if someone had a complete chart of berdan types and intended uses! I seem to recall such a chart in Old Western Scrounger catalogs but darned if I can find one now!

[runfiverun]

iirc there were about 6 different types of berdan primers for rifle use alone.

[deltaenterprizes]

Yup and they are metric

[beagle]

I've used the #57 caps to reprime shotshells in my early days. At one time, Lyman made a decapping rig to deprime them. You reinserted the anvil and seated the "cap" and you were ready to go. I never had any missfires so it was a decent procedure.

The other number, I have no idea on./beagle

[Pepe Ray]

Hi trooperdan;
Handloaders digest #1, 1962., page 8 of Alcan insert.
Primer #199B listed w/3 others in Berdan rifle & pistol, as a rifle primer measuring .199" in dia.
Next?
Pepe Ray

[beagle]

http://www.dave-cushman.net/shot/berdan_supplies_dimensions.html

Lot of berdan data on this site as well./beagle

[beagle]

According to George Nonte's Book, The Home Guide to Cartridge Conversions, the Alcan 199 is a .199" diameter primer intended for use as a Large Rifle Primer if you can find a primer pocket that size. It is equivelant to an RWS 1680.

Can be used in the 6.5 X 55 Mauser, 8 X 54 Krag, and probably more but that's all he has measurements listed for on berdan primer pockets./beagle

[trooperdan]

Wow, thanks guys! I never thought to look at Nonte's book; I am pretty sure I still have a copy of that one.
Sure didn't remember there were any Berdan primers that size!