Easiest way to remove Berdan primers?

[RooftopKorean]

I have about 100 original 7.5x54mm french rounds I had to take apart because of old primers gone bad and I'd hate to toss the brass.

Is there an easy way to remove the berdan primers? I tried the hydro method but it didn't seem to work great and just made a mess.

 

[kev74]

There's not really an easy way.

I've had some luck using a flash hole uniformer to drill out a center flash hole, then deprime as usual. The berdan primers are a little smaller than boxer, so the primer might be loose when you reprime - not really fall-out loose, but looser than normal.

I've read about closing the primer pocket by pressing it in a little with a ballbearing, then swaging the primer pocket like you'd do to remove a crimp, but never tried it.

The flash hole I used is like this one.

Lyman Flash Hole Uniformer Tool

The Lyman Flash Hole Uniforming Tool is perfect for reloaders looking to increase ignition consistency and reduce variation from case to case. When...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[E the massive]

Never tried it.

 

[Darth]

I too have heard the hydrolic method works.

What is your plan after they get removed?

 

[RooftopKorean]

I too have heard the hydrolic method works.

What is your plan after they get removed?

Drilling out the center for the flash hole and using boxer primers in it.

 

[Darth]

Drilling out the center for the flash hole and using boxer primers in it.

Too small. You need to put them in a sleeve.

 

[E the massive]

Interesting thread. During the last ammo panic, or the one before that, I researched reloading berdan primed. Then I found out "corrosive" ammo really ain't and was introduced to the spam can. Keep us posted.

 

[JohnD13]

Get a Mighty Armory decapping die. I hit a few Berdan primed cases in a reloding session, punched out the primer and made a nice centered hole at the same time. The pocket needed swaging afterwards, military cases do.

 

[218bee]

I would sell those and buy these. You never said you have a rifle for this brass but if you do, good, reloadable boxer-primed ammo is all over Gunbroker. This auction is from Rocky Point, NY.

 

[RooftopKorean]

I would sell those and buy these. You never said you have a rifle for this brass but if you do, good, reloadable boxer-primed ammo is all over Gunbroker. This auction is from Rocky Point, NY.

View attachment 81685

Woooooo, thank you!!

 

[Russ Woody]

Targetsportsusa has the PPU ammo but a little different for $14.99 per box of 20 right now on "Notify".

 

[RooftopKorean]

I just tossed my berdan primer brass in my recycle box (I trade in unusable, mangled and broken brass) when I go to Northeast Recyclers for reloading supplies.

I was given a decent amount of 6.5 norma rounds by the gun shop I frequent (they told me some old lady gave it to them after her husband passed away). I took them apart, deprimed and resized the necks. They ended up working quite well and since I didn't know what powder was in the cartridges, to err on the side of caution I just had fun and set it all on fire