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Thread: safe/fast way to fire off primed cases?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy




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    safe/fast way to fire off primed cases?

    Anyone know of a simple way to fire off primers from primed cases that you don't own a firearm for? Or that don't easily chamber unloaded for whatever reason.

    I have some oddball primed brass I would like to sell/ship and have enough of it that I might as well figure out a way to do this. The primers prevent you from shipping usps which kills the deal cost-wise so firing them off is more economical.

    Was wondering if anyone has come up with a way to safely/easily detonate or remove the primers in an empty case.

    My first thought would be to make a mechanism that holds a standard shellholder and strikes through the hole in it to fire the primer, but without anything containing the case so it couldn't be called a firearm. Is this idea valid? Do you think it would be completely safe providing the cases are visually inspected to make sure nothing is in them beforehand? I wouldn't think there is any pressure with the case mouth completely open to the world.

    Any thoughts or other workable solutions would be appreciated, maybe I am overthinking this and there is a much easier way. I have deprimed brass on a press with a plywood shield before but never felt great about it and thought there must be a better way.

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    Spray them with wd40 let sit overnight and deprime with a lee universal deprimimg tool.

    Wear eye protection and ear muffs just in case.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master

    rancher1913's Avatar
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    you can ship primed brass with no hazmat, its only loaded rounds that are a no no.

  4. #4
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    When I first started reloading, it was with .357 mag. To deprime the brass, I used a 1/16" punch. I took a block of wood and drilled a hole slightly smaller than the outer diameter of a nut whose inside threaded opening was large enough for the primer to go through. I might have drilled out the thread, but I don't remember. The hole only needs to be as deep as the thickness of the nut. Place the nut over the hole and with a tap or two of a hammer, the nut will set into the block of wood. Drill a smaller hole through the center of the nut so that the primers can drop through. Then position the cartridge over the hole and drive the primer out. If I was doing it with live primers though, I would probably use something that provided a steady even pressure instead of the impact that would be generated by a hammer and punch.

  5. #5
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    farmerjim's Avatar
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    Lee universal depriming tool. Eye and ear protection. I have deprimed thousands of live primers and not a one went off. But it does rarely happen.
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  6. #6
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    Loaded or primed brass can be shipped. No hazmat on either.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by farmerjim View Post
    Lee universal depriming tool. Eye and ear protection. I have deprimed thousands of live primers and not a one went off. But it does rarely happen.

    Agreed.. I've deprimed plenty.. I go slow.. have yet to have one go off, though I know it does happen from time to time.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master maxreloader's Avatar
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    Rcbs has a "universal" decapper that worksile a regular die with the appropriate shell holder. Also barber makes a hand deprime unit.
    Looking for Ideal mold 419181 (44 Evans Long)
    "Joined Dates" are deceiving if you factor-in "lurk" dates.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master maxreloader's Avatar
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    Works like. Harvey, not barber. Cellphone autocorrect is strong today.
    Looking for Ideal mold 419181 (44 Evans Long)
    "Joined Dates" are deceiving if you factor-in "lurk" dates.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master Speedo66's Avatar
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    As mentioned, no hazmat fee for primed brass, ships the same as deprimed. You'll probably get a better price for it as well.

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master



    M-Tecs's Avatar
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    Shipping primed brass is not a problem and legal with UPS and FedEx. With USPS it is a no go. About a year ago I checked all the references and they were still current.

    http://forum.accurateshooter.com/thr...e-law.3812580/

    After a ton of confusion, misinformation (on other blogs) and general assumptions regarding the shipment of primed brass, here are the particulars/facts and the regs that back it up. I have confirmed all of this with UPS and FedEx's hazmat shipping folks and they all confirmed.
    FOR UPS AND FEDEX ONLY -
    Cases, primed (up to and including 50 caliber) are regulated for shipment by ground only through 49CFR § 172.102 SP(special provision) 50 that states:
    " Cases, cartridge, empty with primer which are made of metallic or plastic casings and meeting the classification criteria of Division 1.4 are not regulated for domestic transportation"
    49CFR § 172.102 (page 312) - http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-201...sec172-102.pdf
    Primed cases meet the classification criteria of Division 1.4c UN0379 - however they are exempted and classified as NON-REGULATED (NOT ORM-D, NOT HAZ-MAT, NOT the new "Y" Limited Quantities classification that will replace ORM-D). Some manufacturers (as per the MSDS) classify their primed cases as UN0055, but the same DOT 1.4c classification applies, as does SP50.
    Packaging for primed cases is regulated by 49CFR §173.62 - Packaging instruction #136, which specifies that the primed cases have to be in a bag or box, then packed in a UN 4G standard box - which is defined by 49 CFR §178.601 (g)(2). So - you can't just ship them to your buddy in a shoebox, but most of us out here have received boxes of reloading components from various vendors, and most/all of these shipping boxes meet this criteria. For more mind-bending regulatory details, refer to 178.601.
    49CFR §173.62 - http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-201...-sec173-62.pdf
    49 CFR §178.601 (g)(2) - http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-201...sec178-601.pdf

    There is no hazmat fee, extra paperwork, no sign-by-adult or other hoops to jump through - BUT - both UPS and FedEX advised me to clearly mark (with a sharpee) "non-regulated as per SP50" on the outside of the box to ensure that no in-transit problems occur..........because I guess their employees can be as confused as I have been on this subject and you don't want your box torn or ripped into.
    As per both UPS and FedEx - You CANNOT take packages with primed cases to your local UPS/FedEx store or mom-and-pop drop off service. They must be taken to a UPS/FedEx corporate-run package hub that has walk-in/retail shipping services.
    FOR US POSTAL SERVICE -
    Prohibited. Period.
    See page 160 at: http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub52/pub52.pdf
    ***USPS Publication 52, Appendix A, "Cases, cartridge, empty with primer"***
    They don't have to subscribe to all parts of 49CFR § 172.102's special provisions......because they are special I guess.

  12. #12
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    Lee decapping rod & base. Reuse the primers for plinking loads.

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I've deprimed lots of cases with live primers with no problem. Just go slow and easy. Safety glasses and work gloves would be a good idea. If you have a universal depriming die you don't even have to have the correct shell holder. A larger one will work, or even setting the case on top of the ram will work. Oil may or may not kill the primer.

  14. #14
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    Too many internet experts that simply aren't qualified to comment. Who woulda thunk?

  15. #15
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    I'm not an expert but I have deprimed a number of cases with a Lee universal decapping die. Note* The only Lee tool I own that I use. I do have a 9mm taper crimp die that kicks up a burr on the cases.

    I suggest that eye protection be used and you don't try to hammer it/slam it in the act of depriming it.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master


    Walter Laich's Avatar
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    I run these cases through my dillon sdb slowly while catching the primers for reuse (I'm cheap)

    Works for me just fine
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  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Pick up one of the Hand depriming tools or make one I have one thats like a set of pliers I made, theres the pope style and the Harvey(?) a you can set in the easy chair depriming the brass. Ill try and post a pic here shortly

  18. #18
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Attachment 190095Heres the Pic of the one I made with simple hand tools and a drill press.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master



    mac60's Avatar
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    Like a lot of others, I've deprimed hundreds of live primers over the years - I've actually had 1 detonate inside the depriming die. It was a non event if ever there was one. I have no reservations about doing it anymore. I just go slow as already has been mentioned.
    So many guns, so little time
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  20. #20
    Boolit Master 308Jeff's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mac60 View Post
    Like a lot of others, I've deprimed hundreds of live primers over the years - I've actually had 1 detonate inside the depriming die. It was a non event if ever there was one. I have no reservations about doing it anymore. I just go slow as already has been mentioned.
    I've never had one go off while depriming, but I did have one go off while priming with the Lee hand priming tool. Now that was exciting.

    Totally my fault. Was a crimped pocket that I must not have swaged well enough. Primer was part way in and stopped. I forced it. It was loud.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check