Un-loading as opposed to re-loading

[henry d]

I have been given some handloaded ammo, all kosher, from a friend who doesn`t shoot a 6.5 anymore. Much as I trust him, I can`t even warrant using it in my gun, sooooooo I have a kinetic hammer and can remove the heads and therefore the powder, my question is can I safely de-prime a live primer the same way as I de-prime a fired cartridge ?

I`ve done this with sub-standard shotgun re-loads but am unsure with rifle primers.

 

Cheers guys

[pavman]

ummm

 

i suspect the answer is yes but then what to do with the now deformed and live primer?

 

I have seen my gunsmith fire a primer in a shottie cart he removed wet powder and steel shot from by cutting the cart and empty the shot/powder out then fire the primer as you would a normal load, its a small poof and then a smell, bit like some guys around here

[MC]

Henry,

 

I would be very careful doing this, I remember a lad at school disassembling a 7.62 blank in metalwork class. he pushed a piece of brazing wire through the flash hole and tapped it with a hammer. The look on his and the teachers face were priceless.

 

Can you not just reload them to your spec?

[Dunkield]

H, I have deprimed and unbulleted loads of rounds (using that same kinetic hammer you now own) just use common sense and you will be fine.

It has all been said, but wear specs and take the press up slowly.

 

As for disposing of them I soaked any I couldn't use in oil for a few days and then binned them.

 

I expect to be arrested anyday now

[njc110381]

Can't you kinetic hammer the heads off and then fire the cases in your rifle? That would remove any risk of injury, and it's not like primers cost a lot. You could reload them as usual then. How many rounds do you have to take apart?

 

I don't think you can legally use them as a complete round even if you wanted to?

[henry d]

Gracias

[dunganick]

depending on if you wish to save the projectiles, i find a much easier way to pull the bullet is to use the press with no die. Put the press to the highest point, pair of wirecutters/plyers on projectile, then cycle the press down. Much better than those kinetic pullers. Plus you can pour the powder back in with absolutely no contamination. Not that i would ever used once loaded powder (unless i was 100% what it was)

[Treestalker]

Be careful depriming live primers. I blew the decapper out of an RCBS die with a Federal primer I thought I had soaked in oil!

Decapping live primers can be very dangerous as some brands are more powerful than you think. Some training hand gun ammunition is actually powered by the primer alone.

A squirt of any oil can make the primer safe but you will then have to get the oil out of the case if you are going to reload it. Your safest bet is to fire the primers off in your rifle. They will make the barrel quite sooty though.

[Floating Chamber]

FC

Edited February 9, 2009 by Floating Chamber

[auto culto]

I,ve done a fair few but make sure you have safety goggles on. If your still concerned just fire them off. You will need to feed the case manually into the breach through.