Shotgun primers qusetion

[abunaitoo]

Why is it shotgun primers have a cup and regular primers don't????

[cwtebay]

I believe the cup holds a piece of paper or plastic that keeps finer powders from entering the primer itself. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I will help us both out shortly though!

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[rbuck351]

Shot gun hulls don't have a solid metal base, only a thin metal base that would not hold a regular primer securely. They put the extra "cup" around the primer to give the primer something solid to set in.

[M-Tecs]

Both shotgun and rifle/pistol primers have a cup. Shotgun primers have a flange since the hole is one diameter and straight through.

[RoyEllis]

Without the flanged cup or sleeve, there wouldn't be anything to hold the anvil which is necessary for function of the primer.

[243winxb]

Seen a shotgun primer seated so hard that the case head was concave. Very thin case head metal. Guy wondered why he was having misfires.

[Mk42gunner]

Shotgun primers are basically pistol primers, as I understand it, just arranged differently.

Back before I started reloading, you could buy just the primer and reprime the battery cup for shotgun use. That had to be a PITA knocking the old primer out then inserting the new primer, minus the anvil. I think they were commonly done at home at least into the 1950's.

Robert

[M-Tecs]

Very nice description of the differences here https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/back-to-basics-primers/

[rbuck351]

Back in the 60s I had a friend that rebuilt shotgun primers. You could buy a berdan style primer and his dad had made a small press that pushed the old primer cup and the anvil out. You then replaced the anvil and inserted a berdan style primer cup and pressed it in the flanged outer part.

[cwtebay]

Very nice description of the differences here https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/back-to-basics-primers/Thank you for posting this, I've been in error for quite some time!

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[abunaitoo]

I see now.
Pictures worth a thousand words.
I does look like they can be reloaded.
If you could find the correct size berdan primer.

[rbuck351]

I disassemble shotgun primers and use the berdan cup to make muzzle loader caps. They are the perfect size.

[M-Tecs]

I disassemble shotgun primers and use the berdan cup to make muzzle loader caps. They are the perfect size.

That I did not know was an option.