How to remove live primer?

[treefarmer]

I have a 30-06 cartridge with a primer that failed to fire 5 times. If I remove the bullet and powder, what is the safe way to remove the primer?

 

[DaveB]

Decap it like normal, as if it fired. If you are concerned about the primer lighting off, then spray some wd40 inside or use water.

Please use care. Eye protection if you have it.

If no reload equipment, remove bullet, dump powder on yard as it is a good fertilizer, and toss brass in garbage.

 

[treefarmer]

Thanks Dave, I'll do it, probably with water.

 

[BobTail]

Why all the fuss over one piece of brass? Toss the thing for crying out loud! I know folks who regularly deprime live primers, but unless there is a moderate quantity involved I can't see taking the risk.

 

[DaveB]

Yes, most that I screw up on I toss. However I've decapped quite a few with no issue at all. This happened recently: I primed 500 223 using Wolf primers. Go to range I had about 5 Fail To Fire. In my opinion the primers are junk. I decapped the whole mess. I got tired of being careful and one lit off. To my big surprise, most of the flame went down the center of the Ram and out the hole where the primer pops out.

With today's brass shortages decapping one instead of tossing it isn't a bad choice. Just remember to be careful.

 

[GOODWIN]

Decapped several without problem. did have one fire off when it got stuck in my priming tool on the press. Was using forceps to pull it out. Lesson learned.

 

[BobTail]

I primed 500 223 using Wolf primers. Go to range I had about 5 Fail To Fire.

WTH were you doing trying to use Wolf primers in the first place? Primers are CHEAP. Use quality components and these things don't happen.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I primed 500 223 using Wolf primers. Go to range I had about 5 Fail To Fire.

WTH were you doing trying to use Wolf primers in the first place? Primers are CHEAP. Use quality components and these things don't happen.

I'm not DaveB, but not too long ago primers were almost unobtainable. I'd expect it was in that time that Dave bought what he could get!

 

[BobTail]

Yeah, I know about the shortage. I've been reloading longer than most here are old. I always keep at least a brick on hand just in "case". That prevents having to scratch and gouge for components. And the "shortage" will happen again ... you can bank on it.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I agree. With Hillary looming in our future, the likelihood of another gun/ammo shortage is practically guaranteed. I need to do another primer inventory myself. My LR and LP stock might need a boost. SR is ok at nearly 20K. Shotshell 209's are somewhere around that too. You can't have too many though. It's coming as soon as Hillary gets the nomination............

 

[BobTail]

My LR and LP stock might need a boost. SR is ok at nearly 20K. Shotshell 209's are somewhere around that too. You can't have too many though.

1st off, I don't think Hillary will be elected.

2nd, you might want to CAREFULLY inquire to your insurance agent and local authorities about the amount of primers you can store at your residence and the manner in which they must be stored. I'd hate to see your house go up in flames, but even worse see your insurance company fail to pay because of the number of primers you have on hand stored in the structure. I read somewhere that most insurance companies and local ordinances top out at about 10,000.

Just saying ......... Better to be safe than sorry, and you can't plead ignorance with the insurance companies.

 

[Hunter 257W]

My LR and LP stock might need a boost. SR is ok at nearly 20K. Shotshell 209's are somewhere around that too. You can't have too many though.

1st off, I don't think Hillary will be elected.

2nd, you might want to CAREFULLY inquire to your insurance agent and local authorities about the amount of primers you can store at your residence and the manner in which they must be stored. I'd hate to see your house go up in flames, but even worse see your insurance company fail to pay because of the number of primers you have on hand stored in the structure. I read somewhere that most insurance companies and local ordinances top out at about 10,000.

Just saying ......... Better to be safe than sorry, and you can't plead ignorance with the insurance companies.

Insurance is not an issue with where I have them stored. I sure hope you are right about Hillary. Her as the president would be gun owners worse nightmare.