how to deprime random cases

[mickb]

Got a box of old brass including some 458lott which are primed( no powder or projectile). I dont have the dies or shell holder, whats the easiest way to demprime so they can be sold.

[Oldbloke]

Sounds rough, but any punch similar to the ones used by Lee classic loader that will fit will do the job. (Nail with tip ground?) Just be very gentle. Use a small plastic hammer. Perhaps wear glasses and muffs incase one goes off.

You obviously don't load. Don't toss our the primers give them to a mate to reuse.

[Blr243]

If u buy a 90 mm concrete nail , they are hardened . So u can grind a thin tip on it. That will last better than a standard nail I’m pretty sure I see long decapping pins on rebels site occasionally

[GQshayne]

Sounds rough, but any punch similar to the ones used by Lee classic loader that will fit will do the job. (Nail with tip ground?) Just be very gentle. Use a small plastic hammer. Perhaps wear glasses and muffs incase one goes off.

You obviously don't load. Don't toss our the primers give them to a mate to reuse.

Not sure whether you are joking or not here Oldbloke.

As far as I am aware, primers installed correctly, are subject to a certain amount of "crush" of the anvil into the guts of the primer. This is a one time deal, so re-using them is best avoided I think.

[Vince24]

there is also the hydraulic method, as I used to deprime my ex Swiss military GP11 with spent Berdan primers.

You put your case in a socket of the correct size, you fill the case with water, you insert something of a slighly larger calibre, you give that something a good solid whack with your hammer, and here you go, either the primer is gone or your glasses are dripping water...

I have a 95% success rate now but it took me a bit of time to get there!

there are youtube videos.

[Oldbloke]

Sounds rough, but any punch similar to the ones used by Lee classic loader that will fit will do the job. (Nail with tip ground?) Just be very gentle. Use a small plastic hammer. Perhaps wear glasses and muffs incase one goes off.

You obviously don't load. Don't toss our the primers give them to a mate to reuse.

Not sure whether you are joking or not here Oldbloke.

As far as I am aware, primers installed correctly, are subject to a certain amount of "crush" of the anvil into the guts of the primer. This is a one time deal, so re-using them is best avoided I think.

Not joking

Gently deprime, in this case using a punch and plastic hammer. Then use in another case.

I've done exactly that.

These days I would use my Lee depriming die. But if I had nothing else just tap them out.

[mchughcb]

Frankford arsenal universal deprimer. $155 and you can use it for everything else later

[deye243]

Sounds rough, but any punch similar to the ones used by Lee classic loader that will fit will do the job. (Nail with tip ground?) Just be very gentle. Use a small plastic hammer. Perhaps wear glasses and muffs incase one goes off.

You obviously don't load. Don't toss our the primers give them to a mate to reuse.

Not sure whether you are joking or not here Oldbloke.

As far as I am aware, primers installed correctly, are subject to a certain amount of "crush" of the anvil into the guts of the primer. This is a one time deal, so re-using them is best avoided I think.

Not joking

Gently deprime, in this case using a punch and plastic hammer. Then use in another case.

I've done exactly that.

These days I would use my Lee depriming die. But if I had nothing else just tap them out.

Yep I've done it to I just won't use them in one of my LR rifles .
Worked OK in my roo culling rifle .

[Oldbloke]

Or try this.

https://youtu.be/Q0q0E4GtSa4?si=qlrcVXiVzwYsIDe7

[straightshooter]

Some of the advice on this thread potentially could be very troublesome taking into consideration that primers have a well understood sensitivity to impulsive impact.
Most reloading die manufacturers make a universal decapping die.
Even the cheapest version of one of those will do an admirable job provided your operation is smooth and gradual.
The primers so removed will be completely reusable provided the primer itself didn't get damaged in the original seating process.

[deye243]

Just get one of these
7/8 inch -14 Work With Case a Diameter Up To 0.560"
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mN1ef6K

[Oldbloke]

Just get one of these
7/8 inch -14 Work With Case a Diameter Up To 0.560"
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mN1ef6K

Same as I use. That's a fantastic price.

P.S. I've deprimed (live primers) at least a few dozen using a punch from a Lee Classic loader. None have gone off. Like I said originally, "Just be very gentle."

Reused every one of them, no issue's.

They are designed to ignight if hit hard, in the correct direction. Sure, there's a risk we all understand that.

Be gentle. Or use the hydraulic method or buy a depriming/capping die.

[Oldbloke]

How did you go Mick?

[MrMickyD]

Lee de capping die is a winner and cheap.

[Wapiti]

I'd definitely add a Lee decapping die to your collection to do this job.
Sure, a decapping pin and mallet will do it, but if the primer fires, that pin will do a SpaceX impersonation and launch itself. The lighter the punch (like a nail), the faster it'll fly and make sure none of your handsome mug is near it...
Thing is, there'll be a mallet above the rocketing pin and it could deflect off it in any direction.

The decapping dies are also not recommended for live primers, but they are enclosed at the top and if the pre-loaded primer fires, the blast gas will flow up the internal pin, into the die and out the bottom past the shellholder, as there is clearance there for gas release unlike in most reloading dies, especially FLS dies.

I only say this, not to bag anybody's great alternative ideas, but because it happened to me early on in my reloading career using the old-style Lee Loader (mallet type) and I never found the pin. And I was being gentle as I didn't know what was being cautious. Beware.

[Blr243]

Also maybe a slow push rather than a sudden strike and the obvious precautions like not standing in line with the possible nail/ punch. And glasses.

[Oldbloke]

Also maybe a slow push rather than a sudden strike and the obvious precautions like not standing in line with the possible nail/ punch. And glasses.

Old thread.
There is no doubt there is some risk. But sounded like OP didn't have many so might be hard to justify spending,,, say $40 on a decapper.

1 box, so I assume 20. Big suckers.

But yes,,, gently goes, glasses, muffs I guess.

[madang55]

Hornady universal de-capper

[No1_49er]

I use a Lee 90045 permanently fitted with a de-capping die. That's the only task that it is set up for - just change out the shell-holder for whichever cases I'm prepping.

[deye243]

I just decaped about 700 cci400 primers as I get 187fps more out of cci br4 .
When I found out about the new lot that came in I pounced on 4000 I'm now a happy camper .