Spent Primers

[Sasquatch-1]

For lack of a more appropriate place I put this here. Do you save your spent primers for recycling or trash them?

I have about 10 lbs. ready to go to the recycler.

[TyGuy]

Anything brass goes in the recycle bucket. Primers are segregated by type for re-priming experiments.

[high standard 40]

My local recycler doesn't accept primers. I had to beg to get him to take cartridge brass

[Dusty Bannister]

At the local recycler, fired primers bring a little less than half what fired cases bring. That means a trip with only fired primers is not particularly a good return, but taken along with other metals, it is better than just putting them in the trash. I suspect convenience and a buyer that will take them has more to do with it than the money.

[Omega]

I keep a few on hand, in case it comes down to reloading them. Otherwise, they go in the recycling bucket with the rest of the brass.

[marlin39a]

Nope, they get trashed.

[MUSTANG]

Anything brass goes in the recycle bucket. Primers are segregated by type for re-priming experiments.

:awesome: There is a growing number in the ME TOO MOVEMENT developing their skill in "Reloading" primers.

[Shepherd2]

I have over 20 pounds of spent primers and a 2.5 gallon bucket of scrap cartridge cases. I need to get motivated to take them to the scrap yard.

[Lakehouse2012]

Guess I'm unusual here... I keep all mine, they are brass and just as viable melted as casings. I make all kind of things with the brass recovery

Sent from my T799B using Tapatalk

[Scrounge]

Guess I'm unusual here... I keep all mine, they are brass and just as viable melted as casings. I make all kind of things with the brass recovery

Sent from my T799B using Tapatalk

Ain't quite there yet, but headed that way, plus saving some for reloading if necessary.

[Traffer]

There are people who would like to buy them here:
https://mewe.com/join/primerreloading

[shaggybull]

They work as pellets in pellet gun

[richhodg66]

I keep mine, not sure what I'll do with them. They make good filler for shooting sandbags, a lot cheaper and not as heavy as bird shot.

[Plate plinker]

I used some for tumbling media. Worked fine.

[gwpercle]

I learned how to "reload " them ...
Forgot the primer shortage so soon ?
My what short memories some have .
Gary

[bangerjim]

I shoot them out of my 22 cal air rifle.

Live primers will actually go bang against a hard wall/surface! But the shrapnel is unpredictable. Live ones do work for chasing off unwanted animals, as long as they are in front of a brick wall. But with the price of primers these days, I do not so much of that.

[richhodg66]

I used some for tumbling media. Worked fine.

Interesting idea, I'd have never thought of that.

[Huskerguy]

Save mine, take them to recycle when I get a big container of brass.

[white eagle]

mine go in the junk
I have enough bad habits saving spent primers isn't going to be another

[Fitz]

yes saving and reloading them with H-48 homemade compound , they are as accurate as any factory primers

[15meter]

Shotgun primers go in the scrap steel bucket to be sold when the pile gets big enough.

That's better than the whack job at the club who used to drop one spent primer into the shot cup as he was reloading. He loaded reduced skeet loads and used the primer to take up space. Too cheeeep to load a correct load.

Not something I'd do, run steel down my barrel even if it's inside of a plastic shotgun was.

Like I said, whack job.

He was also the guy who was outraged when he got kicked out of the club for game law violation(s)---5 dead deer and 1 license, AR-15 in a shotgun only area. Didn't think it was "fair" he got kicked out.

He's since past away, not a whole lot of mourning for him.

The rifle and pistol primers go in the brass bucket to be sold for scrap. Local scrap yard views it as just more brass.

[slim1836]

I have over 20 pounds of spent primers and a 2.5 gallon bucket of scrap cartridge cases. I need to get motivated to take them to the scrap yard.

Sell them on eBay, they'll buy anything.

Slim

[kevin c]

I keep mine, not sure what I'll do with them. They make good filler for shooting sandbags, a lot cheaper and not as heavy as bird shot.
I did that for a couple sets of suede shooting bags I made up, casing them in plastic first to kept the primer residue from leaking out the seams.

The rest my metals recycler will take, paying a bit less than the scrap cartridge brass I bring in (I'm honest enough not to mix them together).

A friend who sells prepped brass literally has an overflowing 5 gallon bucketful of spent primers. It's one heavy sucker that isn't going anywhere until he shovels out half of it.

[remy3424]

They are metal, landfills get plenty trash without add them to that mess. The local scrap metal buyer wants nothing to do with them as brass, they want the brass cases de-primed to pay brass price. All my spent primers go in with the misc scrap steel...same as wheel-weight clips, steel WWs, etc.

[ioon44]

The last I sold spent primers at a local scrap yard I received $1.90 per lb, the scrap yard wanted them separate from the other shell brass.

[tdoor4570]

Sweep them up when floor is swept and into the trash they go.

[dale2242]

They go in the same bucket as junk brass and sold to the recycler for the same price as cartridge brass.

[Dunross]

I do save them, but not for any particular purpose - yet.

I suppose it might one day come to having to try reloading them, but not at this point.

A one liter soda bottle will hold a LOT of spent primers so it's not like they take up much space.

[PhilC]

Save mine since I have a clear plastic tube that runs from my press to container of spent primers. Have no interest in reusing them, just doing my part in recycling when container gets full.

[upnorthwis]

My local scrap guy wouldn't take my half a 5 gallon bucket of 209's. I used them as gravel in driveway. All the pieces in them are magnetic, so they aren't brass.

[lightman]

I save them to recycle. I just sold two 5 gallon buckets of cartridge brass and 2 gallons of fired primers for $280 a pound. Only rifle and pistol primers, as shotgun primers are not all brass. It was a pretty good payday!

You need to call around, some yards won't take cartridge brass.

[TyGuy]

I save them to recycle. I just sold two 5 gallon buckets of cartridge brass and 2 gallons of fired primers for $280 a pound. Only rifle and pistol primers, as shotgun primers are not all brass. It was a pretty good payday!

You need to call around, some yards won't take cartridge brass.

$280/lb?!? I want to go to your scrap yard! Haha

[Vrjistaat260]

No, in South Africa scrap metal yards dont accept primers or cases with primers still present police policy ....

[Eddie17]

I’ve made money on spent primers.
Save them in used an cleaned PB jars.
Was well worth the effort!

[lightman]

$280/lb?!? I want to go to your scrap yard! Haha

I called several places. A few would not touch cartridge brass and the others offered from 50 cents up to $2. So it paid to call around.

[dondiego]

My local scrap guy wouldn't take my half a 5 gallon bucket of 209's. I used them as gravel in driveway. All the pieces in them are magnetic, so they aren't brass.

209's are half and half. The outer collar are often steel and the primer cup is brass. Most scrap yards will only give you shred prices which is about 6 cents per pound.

[jessdigs]

They get melted in the forge and then turned into ingots or things like brass apples for the kids teachershttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210724/2063e0f59fb31af9ab5effb4217e5021.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210724/95c27fd4822cf70318ac0410e1ac79d1.jpg

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

[trapper9260]

I save my for reloading . My primers 209 and SP and LP for how things are going on the price . When I am down on factory ones and the price is not going down like it should within reason , I will reload all of my .

[Sasquatch-1]

I save them to recycle. I just sold two 5 gallon buckets of cartridge brass and 2 gallons of fired primers for $280 a pound. Only rifle and pistol primers, as shotgun primers are not all brass. It was a pretty good payday!

You need to call around, some yards won't take cartridge brass.

Can I have the phone number of this yard? It would be worth the trip even if it is on the "Left Coast".:bigsmyl2:

[Bigslug]

Trash 'em.

At the point I'm saving used primers, I figure it's a short trip from there to saving my pee in a jar for the black powder works.

[lightman]

Can I have the phone number of this yard? It would be worth the trip even if it is on the "Left Coast".:bigsmyl2:

I guess I need a decimal point in there someplace! :) I would like to blame spellcheck but it was probably me that fumble fingered it!

[dondiego]

Trash 'em.

At the point I'm saving used primers, I figure it's a short trip from there to saving my pee in a jar for the black powder works.

Yea, but then you have to have a "pot to piss in!"

[Hanzy4200]

My scrap yard accepts mine along with my brass. They filter down in nicely, making for very heavy buckets. Some people think I'm crazy. I went through about 15,000 primers last year. That weight adds up! And what effort does it take? You dump into one bucket instead of a another. Stupid not to save them.

[Taterhead]

I keep them in the same box with other scrap cartridge brass. They get recycled wvery few years when I have another occasion to visit the metals recycler. Primers sell for the same price as the other cartridge brass.

[Taterhead]

I keep them in the same box with other scrap cartridge brass. They get recycled every few years when I have another occasion to visit the metals recycler. Primers sell for the same price as the other cartridge brass.

[wmitty]

Plate Plinker brought up something in post # 14 I had wondered about. Is there any reason why they should not be used as tumbling media?

[sureYnot]

Plate Plinker brought up something in post # 14 I had wondered about. Is there any reason why they should not be used as tumbling media?You can't separate them with a magnet.

[kevin c]

Plate Plinker brought up something in post # 14 I had wondered about. Is there any reason why they should not be used as tumbling media?

Every spent primer container I've emptied has a powder of burnt priming compound (lead styphnate) all over the interior, knocked out of the cups.

I gave up dry tumbling because of the lead contaminated dust coming off the corncob and walnut hull, and that was a few hundred cases with the primers still in. I don't think tumbling brass cups will produce airborne metal particles, but loose primer residue (and I'm estimating that a tumbler full of thousands of spent primers knocking around will have a lot), finely ground, well...

Maybe if they're washed to remove the residue?

[MUSTANG]

Every spent primer container I've emptied has a powder of burnt priming compound (lead styphnate) all over the interior, knocked out of the cups.

I gave up dry tumbling because of the lead contaminated dust coming off the corncob and walnut hull, and that was a few hundred cases with the primers still in. I don't think tumbling brass cups will produce airborne metal particles, but loose primer residue (and I'm estimating that a tumbler full of thousands of spent primers knocking around will have a lot), finely ground, well...

Maybe if they're washed to remove the residue?

Your observation is why I clean my spent primers in an Ultrasonic cleaner and flush the spent water down the drain (into the septic tanks at either property) to dispose of the residue cleaned. Spent primers are dried then stored in plastic containers.

[oley55]

They get melted in the forge and then turned into ingots or things like brass apples for the kids teachershttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210724/2063e0f59fb31af9ab5effb4217e5021.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210724/95c27fd4822cf70318ac0410e1ac79d1.jpg

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

miniature brass cannon barrels would be cool.

[bedbugbilly]

What!?!? Nobody saves them to load in shotguns in place of expensive lead shot? :-)

[Super Sneaky Steve]

What!?!? Nobody saves them to load in shotguns in place of expensive lead shot? :-)

I actually loaded some shells with sprew before. Makes some very odd patterns but should be effective in across the room distances.

[Hanzy4200]

In the scrap brass bucket. I cashed in my smelted bullet jackets today. Ready for it?! 3 1/2 buckets full, $508.

[MT Gianni]

What!?!? Nobody saves them to load in shotguns in place of expensive lead shot? :-)

I remember a conversation on the board a decade or more ago that seemed it would do well at self defense ranges. A lawyer would object probably.

[mvozz]

I never used to save them but I started about a year ago just to see how many I have used. I like to see the pile grow just for fun, sadistic humor for me maybe because of all the people that thought I was crazy for reloading 9mm, 380, 357.......... Just a reminder that I am still shooting and they aren't!!:p

[echo154]

I recently started saving mine.....was trading it for range lead but that source dried up!

[r80rt]

Mine blend in with the gravel in front of my shop nicely.

[Castloader]

I am getting setup to reload them. Here's what I found:

about $100 in equipment: stirring hot plate, two pyrex beakers, stirring rod, an eye dropper and a ceramic mortar &pestle plus some little plastic cups to put stuff in
$89 in chemicals: two primary chemicals available on fleabay plus ground glass and a teaspoon of leftover reloading powder (any will do, it's all nitrocelluose)

this will make approximately 225,000 primers. That's 84 cents per thousand. I'm not sure if that's supposed to be large or small format primers, but even if I'm off by a little, the savings is enormous. The time commitment is something to consider, but we're all familiar with that. Safety is another one, but the primary hazard is the lead nitrate as a poison. If you are familiar with lead hazards already (and if you're reading this you should be), there's nothing new. Be careful and wash up well, and you'll have nothing to worry about. The explosive hazard is fairly small depending on which formulation you make, the numbers above are for what is called "EPH 20" This formulation does not become explosive until after it is placed in the cup and tamped. Is is wetted with a tiny amount of water that makes a chemical reaction inside the primer cup that, when dry, is explosive. in other words, you aren't making more than a microscopic amount of explosive at a time, once in each cup.

The hardest part is removing the old anvils. Some primers are easier than other. I find that throwing a couple of pounds of primers in my tumbler for a few hours yields 1-2k primers that have lost their anvils. This saves a ton of time. I do not use the stainless media, just add water and your detergent and they come out ready for dimple removal and charging.

I'm interested in this because I'm out of SPP and also in case this becomes important for patriotic purposes in the future. I'm starting to sort my primers when normally reloading into types (LR, SP, SR etc. Sorting by brand would even be helpful to help getting the anvils back into the same brand cups.

Resources:

https://aardvarkreloading.com

https://rumble.com/user/helpmenowmark

[Castloader]

As soon as I've actually made some, I'll post results as I go. I've just finished assembling all the equipment.

[AlaskaMike]

Castloader--please do. I'm very curious about this.

[GasGuzzler]

288014

[Wilderness]

Yes.

Quite a while ago a friend was making what he called "bullet pens", making up a Christmas order. The material choices were definitely extravagant.

The plan was to drill into the back of a fired 7.62 case, solder in a (new brass) .30-06, put a biro insert up the middle with a bullet looking tip on the writing end, and chrome all but the bullet. The .30-06 had to have a fired primer, which was to be achieved by priming the cases and firing off the primers. Of course the fired primers looked pretty limp without any pressure in the case. Time for Plan B - who would have primers that had already been fired?

The trade was 5000 Federal Large Rifle primers for my bucket of fired primers (number unknown), since referred to as The Deal of the Century.

The finished pens looked pretty good.

Since then my fired primers have gone for scrap. I still have one scrap dealer who will take fired cases and primers.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

The trade was 5000 Federal Large Rifle primers for my bucket of fired primers (number unknown).

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgflip.com%2F1pvtno.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

[LAH]

I have jars of them sitting round just to look at in the loading room.

[ioon44]

I have jars of them sitting round just to look at in the loading room.

I would look at them as money in the bank.

[LAH]

I would look at them as money in the bank.

And a remembrance of the joy they brought.

[Alferd Packer]

I inlet them in the stock of my lever action rifles and glue them In designs on the stock like the Indians used to do.
A lot of people have asked me to decorate their lever action rifles with a design.

[Sasquatch-1]

I inlet them in the stock of my lever action rifles and glue them In designs on the stock like the Indians used to do.
A lot of people have asked me to decorate their lever action rifles with a design.

Not true without pictures![smilie=1::smile:

[Beagle333]

Trash em.

[Sasquatch-1]

For those of you who say trash them...I took some old bullet jackets, that I melted the lead out of, to the recycler yesterday. They were paying $2.10 a pound for dirty yellow brass. Most primers are brass.

[GregLaROCHE]

I trash mine, but I don’t have as large a volume as others.

[44Blam]

Well, I have some of the stuff to to make H-48 primers... BUT I've been reading about EPH-20. Diving in - $4/1000 primers with an unlimited supply? SOLD!

[RKJ]

Interesting idea, I'd have never thought of that.

I was thinking your idea was good. I used rice in my last ones I made and they're still too heavy. Who'd have thought? :)

[hawkeye1]

I do save them, not too sure why. I guess I keep thinking I can use them someday. Do some of you actually reload them?

[lightman]

I do save them, not too sure why. I guess I keep thinking I can use them someday. Do some of you actually reload them?

There have been a few threads about reloading primers. I don't know how many actually do.

[G W Wade]

Yup, haul them and unusable brass casings to recycler. They buy for $2.20 / lb Use the cash to buy more supplies GW

[archangel2003]

The thing to keep in mind is, recently we were, and I still am, unable to buy (most types of) powder and primers, and if the trend continued, or got worse, you would be regretting letting them go as they can be re-manufactured at home just like reloading brass with powder, bullets and primers.
I have all the reloading equipment, instructional videos and files on how to make brass cases, gun powder (yes crappy old school black powder) and various types of impact sensitive compounds used in making primers so that if things were to get really desperate, I (and my descendants) can cast bullets, make a gun powder, and can rebuild primers and black powder caps.
I have recently found a powder supplier (with a VERY limited selection), but have yet to see any primers, and I'm sure that when they become available, the price will have most likely quadrupled.
And yes, black powder, especially the home made variety, would not be the preferred powder for gas operated guns, but my revolvers (modern and old BP cap and ball), 1911's and Glock clones, along with my pump and dbl barrel shotguns, as well as all lever guns will work with it, so we have options.
Also, don't forget Zinc and Pewter can be used in a pinch for bullets.

[jsam]

Took 40 # of spent primers and bad cases to the scrap yard two weeks ago. $1.50 per pound.
I bought 58 # lead plumbing at $1 per pound from them that trip.

[Dieselhorses]

I do save them, not too sure why. I guess I keep thinking I can use them someday. Do some of you actually reload them?

Yes and it’s not too difficult. Not talking about match primers or snap caps either.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Charlie Horse]

At first I thought, "who would save them"? Then I remembered a neighbor who bought a camper with money from aluminum cans.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

I'm saving mine to turn into a nice "gold" brick someday.

[JimB..]

I just some 20lbs to a guy that wants to prepare to reload them. Suggested that he find this place for some first hand experience.

[P Flados]

I have traded in "junk brass", bullet jackets & spent primers at the scrap yard to help fund buying lead in the past.

Also, I am just getting into re-loading primers. I will be using the slightly more involved non-corrosive approach. Between being retired and Covid keeping me home, I have ample time to play with this.

If you are saving back spent primers with the thought that they might get used for this purpose, do not mix them all together (like I did and just about every one else does). Rifle primers and pistol primers should be kept separate as a minimum (different cup thickness, different dimensions for LPP and LRP). Even better is to collect them in "all one brand batches". Some brands are easy to get the anvils out, others are very very difficult. Trying to sort after the fact is a PITA and of limited potential. I was lucky to have used a lot of RP 5-1/2 (SPPM) that I can visually sort out.

My preliminary estimate for cost is that even including the one time costs of equipment, I will get enough materials for 30K SPP primers for less than the cost of 1K new SPP primers (no local sources, best web based source I have spotted is $110 for 1K to my door). For more info check out:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?434882-Making-Sparkplugs-My-first-100-primers

[Outer Rondacker]

My scrap yard will not accept primers. I have always saved everything by nature. One day I loaded up some shot shells with them. Works well got a bunch of 24/25s with them. Need to be fast as they do not really reach out and touch anything. I have even made wax slugs with them. Once again, they are light but still fun.

Sorry I didn't read all five pages worth of comments.

[35 Rem]

I do have one small sandwich bag with a few hundred in it but other than that I've always just dumped them in the garbage. I've read about the various methods of reloading primers but that's not something I really want to do. Thankfully I had plenty when the shortage started. My basic mindset is to always have a big stash of everything put away.

[archangel2003]

Just as things started looking bad I started to collect Reloading dies, Bullet molds, and then just as I started collecting powder and primers, they went scarce.

[Chaparral66]

My bucket isn't full yet so I have not thought about what to do with them. Happy to donate to someone interested in reloading them.

[scattershot]

I just pitch ‘em.

[TyGuy]

So a question to others who are “reloading” their own primers: If someone hands you a container of mixed spent primers do you bother sorting them out and reloading them and if so, can you actually distinguish between small rifle and small pistol primers?

[Sasquatch-1]

So a question to others who are “reloading” their own primers: If someone hands you a container of mixed spent primers do you bother sorting them out and reloading them and if so, can you actually distinguish between small rifle and small pistol primers?

On this same line of thought, sorting the primers by size would not be overly hard. But I have found that a lot of the anvils fall out. Sorting these would truly be a task for the Gods.

[archangel2003]

The thing is at one time people thought reloading spent brass was too much trouble and just recycled the brass, but if the day ever comes that everything is no longer available, an old tub of gunpowder on the bottom shelf and those spent primers will look much more useful, especially to someone eager to repurpose them.
The few I have are mixed together, but any I gather in the future will be segregated as to pistol and rifle, small and large.

[GaryM]

I do now.

[Grantb]

I save all brass primers and sell them to the scrap yard along with .22 cases. It helps pay for my reloading.

[Texas by God]

They are a poor substitute for shot- based on this 30ft pattern aiming at the post it note[emoji16]
The wad was headed for the tree tops I guess.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220113/c5a9b93609ef7eb092451c821e74d7b0.jpg

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[BobCat]

I save them because I save everything that might potentially be useful in the future. They go in the cat-litter bucket with cracked or head-separated cases.

Local scrap dealer does not want them, he claims that the nickel-plated primers are worth almost nothing because the nickel contaminates the brass. This is even though the plating is very thin compared to the brass.

[archangel2003]

When I melt Copper and there is either Tin or Nickle contamination, it makes a sort of Golden Bronze.

[BobCat]

That makes good sense, and if you are counting on getting properties based on composition it is best to avoid any contamination.

I just griped because the total amount of nickel plating from a few primers would be lost in the amount of copper and zinc in a big bucket of brass cases. And because griping is second nature. And because I'm not creative enough to figure out how to easily remove the plating.

[tacofrank]

Nope1 Trash!
TF

[Outer Rondacker]

They are a poor substitute for shot- based on this 30ft pattern aiming at the post it note[emoji16]
The wad was headed for the tree tops I guess.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220113/c5a9b93609ef7eb092451c821e74d7b0.jpg

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

Everyone knows you don't aim for what you want to hit. :kidding: Well there is some truth to it in a shotty. You did better than my Judge did but worst then my 10g. I would give you one more thing to do with old primers, but that gun looks to pretty to shoot wax slugs down the pipe.

[Shadow9mm]

never saved them, never recycled my brass either, but I do have a scrap bucket with bad or oddly sized brass, might need to start saving primers.

[farmbif]

well Id rather live in a world where I can buy primers when needed rather than try and reload primers or 22's for that matter.

[Texas Gun]

I melting down and mak bricks they give me a lot more for them

[Bashby]

I melting down and mak bricks they give me a lot more for them

My local recycler told me they won’t accept anything that’s been melted down. I guess it’s to discourage thieves.

[Eddie Southgate]

Have always saved them as scrap brass . Now I will be keeping them sorted and will try reloading them . I have several lifetimes worth of primers and will never run out but it is a skill worth having so I will learn and teach my two sons .

[elmacgyver0]

well Id rather live in a world where I can buy primers when needed rather than try and reload primers or 22's for that matter.

Well, you don't, so when are you going to start reloading primers?

[Dieselhorses]

Just shot my “thousandth” round using reloaded primers! Batting “1000”. Cost? Under 3.00! After equipment gets paid for (next 1000) it’ll be about 1.83 per 1000. [emoji12]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MUSTANG]

Just shot my “thousandth” round using reloaded primers! Batting “1000”. Cost? Under 3.00! After equipment gets paid for (next 1000) it’ll be about 1.83 per 1000. [emoji12]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Which mix are you using?

[Dieselhorses]

Which mix are you using?

Using EPH-25 for the vast majority, I did start out with EPH-20 (no aluminum powder).

[MUSTANG]

Thanks. EPH-25 is what I thought I would try come spring thaw when I want to do some comparisons between velocities and accuracy for .308/7.62 using CCI-34 and Reloaded Primers (going to be EPH-25 given your results of 1000 successful ignitions).

[Dieselhorses]

Thanks. EPH-25 is what I thought I would try come spring thaw when I want to do some comparisons between velocities and accuracy for .308/7.62 using CCI-34 and Reloaded Primers (going to be EPH-25 given your results of 1000 successful ignitions).

Hey Mustang, are you a member of the MeWe group "Primer-reloading-for-beginners"? Lot's of useful info there. Once you get past the lead hypophosphite synthesis it's pretty easy. The guys on there (and there are a few chemist) are awesome at helping and answering questions!

www.mewe.com/join/primerreloading

I've only made a handful of compounds to load primers (next will be with picric acid), but I do know that consistent measures of any of the mixes are necessary for consistent accuracy. This holds true for commercial (which unless you get bench rest or match primers, shots will deviate).

[MUSTANG]

Yep - I have been following, researching, digesting it since last Fall.

[elmacgyver0]

If you enjoy reloading, this is pretty much the last option left, that is economical anyway.
I doubt if things will get better anytime soon.
The present regime doesn't even want you to have guns, let alone being able to produce your own ammunition.
As far as criminal having guns they don't really care, criminals will not stand against them when they decide to go all out tyrannical.

[rondog]

Mine go in the scrap brass bucket. I've sold several thousand pounds of brass over the years to scrapyards, including jillions of spent primers, they never bat an eye.

[h8dirt]

I fill shot bags with them and use them like sandbags for shooting. They are heavy but work great … very stable.

[gwpercle]

well Id rather live in a world where I can buy primers when needed rather than try and reload primers or 22's for that matter.

I just saw where primers are selling for $200.00 per brick ...
How much do they need to cost before "reloading Primers" looks like it would be worth doing .
Personally ... I'm ready to start my next new hobby ... Reloading Primers !

When my daughter was little she would help me sweeping up the floor and putting all the spent primers in zip lock bag(s) ... she's grown now but I could never throw the old primers away ( dad's is a sentimental Pack Rat) ... Now I realize how valuable those primers have become ... I have a good supply to work with .
Gary

[Talon1dude]

I rebuild my primers

[Dieselhorses]

I just saw where primers are selling for $200.00 per brick ...
How much do they need to cost before "reloading Primers" looks like it would be worth doing .
Personally ... I'm ready to start my next new hobby ... Reloading Primers !

When my daughter was little she would help me sweeping up the floor and putting all the spent primers in zip lock bag(s) ... she's grown now but I could never throw the old primers away ( dad's is a sentimental Pack Rat) ... Now I realize how valuable those primers have become ... I have a good supply to work with .
Gary

Gary, the cost of reloading/reconditioning primers (after you load enough to get your $ back for supplies) is a mere .18-.25 per 100! That's 1.00 to 2.50 per thousand! Yes, it is time consuming and I know everyone's time is valuable but I just load 100-200 a night on a casual basis and they do stack up! As per the primer reloading group on MeWe.com, haven't had anyone say anything negative about the shelf life so as long as they're kept dry.

[farmbif]

I know primers are still out of stock everywhere and the most reasonable posted price now seems to be powder valley at $80/1000 even though they are still out of stock.
$200/1000 that is a bit above crazy. and to think just last week I was discussing with a local auctioneer of giving him a few thousand and maybe a few pounds of powder just to see what happens might be interesting or maybe I'll rethink the whole thing.

[Shiloh]

Recycle guy bought mine.
Along with range brass. I save whats good and recycle the rest.

Shiloh

[S.B.]

They work as pellets in pellet gun
Just what size pellet gun are you shooting these in? You're kidding right?
Steve

[elmacgyver0]

I know primers are still out of stock everywhere and the most reasonable posted price now seems to be powder valley at $80/1000 even though they are still out of stock.
$200/1000 that is a bit above crazy. and to think just last week I was discussing with a local auctioneer of giving him a few thousand and maybe a few pounds of powder just to see what happens might be interesting or maybe I'll rethink the whole thing.

You can sell eggs for 5 cents a dozen all week long, as long as you don't have any eggs.

[archangel2003]

Powder although scarce is findable if you keep checking Powder Valley and the L.G.S. shelves.
P.V. recently got me a 5 pound tub of Accurate #2 as well as an 8 pound tub of Shooters World Blackout and 7 one pound tubs of H335 on one order for a very reasonable price.
I got 2 lbs of HS6 a couple months back from a Bass Pro in Illinois, and saw an 8 lb can of H335 for $260 is range as well as a few more powders on the shelf at another sports store in Indiana.
Still looking for small pistol primers as with these prices I'm not stocking up!

[awayne]

Some powder has been hitting the shelves and primers too but some prices are out of control because of more recent price increases

[dannyd]

Yes :)

312361

[archangel2003]

Yes :)

312361

Could you imagin the BOOM if you shot it AND it were full of loaded primers?

[dondiego]

Could you imagin the BOOM if you shot it AND it were full of loaded primers?

If it were full of loaded/live primers he would be a millionaire!

[elmacgyver0]

If you save them.
Keep them segregated.
More and more people reload them, and they are worth much more segregated.
I started segregating mine, but don't plan on selling them.
I do have the means to reload them but have not done so to date.

[Minnesotam7]

Mine go in the garbage

[dale2242]

I just dumped my spent primers in with my junk brass and sold them to a recycler yesterday

[Electrod47]

Mine go in the garbage

Amen

[lancem]

My closest recycler is over 4 hours away one way, in the trash they go.

[MUSTANG]

I have probably 1 gallon of Mixed (SP, SR, LP, LR) primers. Also have 1/2 pint containers of sorted (SP, SR, LP, LR) primers. I have been "Re-Manufacturing" primers off and on over the last 3 years; experimenting with a variety of techniques and compounds.

I have been using a short piece of railroad Rail as an anvil and a punch that fits inside the primer cups to pound out the Dimple in these efforts. Not really satisfied with the process and time it takes. I recently learned that NOE Bullet Molds has introduced a die set to process the Primer Cups. I ordered a set and am waiting for arrival in the mail.


https://noebulletmolds.com/site/?s=Primer+Size+die
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/primer-die.png


Looking forwards to trying this out on some of those spent primers - particularly since I have not been able to buy a "LARGE RIFLE PRIMER" for three years.

[MUSTANG]

So; the NOE Spent Primer Die set came in the mail yesterday. I got out 20 Large Rifle and 20 Small rifle spent primers and learned how to resize & remove the dimple indentation from the Spent primers. This process was "Far More Enjoyable" than the old process of using a punch-hammer-railroad rail as an anvil.

The below picture is of nine Resized Large Rifle Primers in a square on the left; and nine small rifle primers in a square on the right. Before sizing the primers - anvils were removed from all primers. Each of the nine primer cups have been resized and the dimple removed. In between the squares of nine primer cups; is a Large Rifle and a Small Rifle primer cup that has not been sized nor the dimple removed - for comparison. Double click the picture to enlarge.

312857

The resized primer cups all have the side to side dimensions now uniformed after sizing (dependent on the Large sizer and the Small Sizer they were run through). The dimple is also removed in the picture - but the remnant "SHADOW" of the dimple can still be seen in each sized primer cup. The dimple is almost indiscernible when looking at them physically first hand, as compared to the Zoomed Picture above. I did discover that removing the dimple was better accomplished by "Two Cycles" of the RCBS press arm to give a more consistent removal of the dimple. The NOE dies also put a slight raised curve at the top (as seen in the picture) of the primer cup.

In the next week or so I will see how these primers reload and how they work out in reloaded .308 and .223 rounds. I think they should equal or surpass the efforts I previously had in reloading primers using (a) Toy Caps, (b) Primer All Mix, and (c) H48 type primer mixtures. As the wise old sage said "We will See".

[Alferd Packer]

Please take used primers to a gunshow.
People will be glad to trade you something for them
Waste not, want not.
One man's junk is another man's treasure.

[Hanzy4200]

I have always saved them. Between worn out brass, berdan primed stuff, and .22's, it can really accumulate. Last time dropped off 3 buckets I got around $250. Those primers really fill in the cracks. Heavy buckets.

[GONRA]

GONRA wants all you guys who recycle primer cups
to wear the best safety glasses you can purchase! !!

[almar]

So; the NOE Spent Primer Die set came in the mail yesterday. I got out 20 Large Rifle and 20 Small rifle spent primers and learned how to resize & remove the dimple indentation from the Spent primers. This process was "Far More Enjoyable" than the old process of using a punch-hammer-railroad rail as an anvil.

The below picture is of nine Resized Large Rifle Primers in a square on the left; and nine small rifle primers in a square on the right. Before sizing the primers - anvils were removed from all primers. Each of the nine primer cups have been resized and the dimple removed. In between the squares of nine primer cups; is a Large Rifle and a Small Rifle primer cup that has not been sized nor the dimple removed - for comparison. Double click the picture to enlarge.

312857

The resized primer cups all have the side to side dimensions now uniformed after sizing (dependent on the Large sizer and the Small Sizer they were run through). The dimple is also removed in the picture - but the remnant "SHADOW" of the dimple can still be seen in each sized primer cup. The dimple is almost indiscernible when looking at them physically first hand, as compared to the Zoomed Picture above. I did discover that removing the dimple was better accomplished by "Two Cycles" of the RCBS press arm to give a more consistent removal of the dimple. The NOE dies also put a slight raised curve at the top (as seen in the picture) of the primer cup.

In the next week or so I will see how these primers reload and how they work out in reloaded .308 and .223 rounds. I think they should equal or surpass the efforts I previously had in reloading primers using (a) Toy Caps, (b) Primer All Mix, and (c) H48 type primer mixtures. As the wise old sage said "We will See".
This thing has evolved waaay beyond experimental testing of a few primers with matcheads and such. People have mini factories at home safely making hundreds at a time with actual commercially used priming compound. Some even have improved versions of the compound. There is a lee app setup called primer pro on etsy i think that preps the cups fast with the noe dies. There are trays used to fill them with primer compound 100 at a time too. A few have made dies that punch cups and anvils. Its american ingenuity, you arent selling primers? You try to price gouge? Ok ill find way so i dont need you anymore. I know a friend who spoke to a friend that talked to someone at the range.

[barnetmill]

My local scrap guy wouldn't take my half a 5 gallon bucket of 209's. I used them as gravel in driveway. All the pieces in them are magnetic, so they aren't brass.

Just to note many priming compounds do contain lead and putting in the driveway might not be the best idea. Mix them in concrete and the lead residue is less available to leach out into the environment. If you have a garden nearby, many plants can actively take up lead from the environment.

[elmacgyver0]

This thing has evolved waaay beyond experimental testing of a few primers with matcheads and such. People have mini factories at home safely making hundreds at a time with actual commercially used priming compound. Some even have improved versions of the compound. There is a lee app setup called primer pro on etsy i think that preps the cups fast with the noe dies. There are trays used to fill them with primer compound 100 at a time too. A few have made dies that punch cups and anvils. Its american ingenuity, you arent selling primers? You try to price gouge? Ok ill find way so i dont need you anymore. I know a friend who spoke to a friend that talked to someone at the range.

What is "etsy"?

[Rapier]

I have 1 and a half 25 pound shot bags full, i use them like sand bags. I am going to need to study up on the re-making of primers. especially the priming compound.
The NOE dies are out of stock. But loks like something I can make in my shop. Have to study on that.

[B1GB1RD]

I save um til I get bucket full then take them and the junk brass to the scrap guy, a 5 gallon bucket of spent primers is a nice dinner!

[Sasquatch-1]

I would think a 5 gallon bucket of spent primers would be very hard to lift. I have a large Coffee Mate jug that would be the equivalent of about a quart that weighs over 10 pounds. and it's only about 2/3's full.