Henry Rifle Forums

OK guys and gals, I decided to try a hand primer and set a primer upside down due to either missing seeing it or it flipped while in operation. What is a safe way to remove it? Thanks in advance, Dave.

been there, done that ..... I put it back in the press and very gently pushed it out just like it was a spent primer .... just make sure you are well away and the opening in the bullet seat is open .... if you have concerns, you can always crush the casing and discard it

No such thing as a dumb question. But I as well have done that and did exactly the same as JEbar. Never had an issue with removing one its happened to me more that once. Al

Thanks guys, I got it out. I put a five gallon bucket over the head of the press so there was a barrier between it and my hand on the lever. The hand primer is sure a lot faster than my single stage Herters press primer but you sure have to watch close in case any flip over. Glad it didn't go off, the wife was already in bed and she might have been grabbing for a weapon if a bang went off in the house. Dave

Thanks for the update, Dave. I've had to remove an inverted primer, too. I think everyone who reloads has had to do it at least once. It was a little scary, but ultimately not a problem. I put a heavy towel over the de-capping die and held my breath as I gently pushed it out. Then, I breathed again.

For the three + years I've been reloading, I have always used a Lee hand primer. It came with the kit I bought and I'm very comfortable using it. I can tell when the primer is properly set by the feel of the lever. I also use a Lee single stage press and enjoy the simplicity of reloading with it. I don't think I'll ever change my process, largely because I only reload .38/.357s and I've grown ever more at ease working with my equipment.

I've had a primer go off while loading and it was not a fun experience. Glad you removed it safely.

I've pressed out lots of live primers. Never had an issue. Usually it's when one of those pesky .357 cases gets mixed in with the .38 special cases, and I don't catch it until I try expanding the case mouth. Since I use SPs in .38 and magnum SPs in .357, that little guy's gotta come out of there.

I've had to remove a couple live primers for various reasons. I've also heard of primers going off while trying to do this and damaging ceilings, presses, dies, and ones hearing. Whenever I need to remove a live primer, I fill the cartridge case with a little penatrating oil and let it soak into the primer for a few hours. This makes the primer inert so it can be removed safely and discarded. Then simply clean the case with a degreaser and its ready to be reprimed.

50 or so years ago I decided to get into reloading and bought a Lee Loader .... this video shows how to use one ==> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeEl9wZyabc .... yep, you insert a new primer by hammering a rod to push the casing down over the primer .... yep, in spite of being as careful as you can be, every once-in-a-while one will go off .... the first time is pretty startling .... at no point did the primer explosion blow the rod out of the casing, nor did it cause any problems .... well, none other than testing ones nerves and making one's heart race

I'm not a reloader, so I can't relate to the "first-time experience" you've described.
However, I recall those moments in one of my hardest and most-disliked high school classes --- soph year chemistry.
I think I understand your comments now. And maybe it's a good thing that I don't reload........

JEBar wrote:50 or so years ago I decided to get into reloading and bought a Lee Loader .... this video shows how to use one ==> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeEl9wZyabc .... yep, you insert a new primer by hammering a rod to push the casing down over the primer .... yep, in spite of being as careful as you can be, every once-in-a-while one will go off .... the first time is pretty startling .... at no point did the prime explosion blow the rod out of the casing, nor did it cause any problems .... well, none other than testing ones nerves and making one's heart race

just to make sure I don't give the wrong impression, a Lee Loader is still a cheap way to get into reloading .... when you use a hammer to set a primer, its understandable that every now and then one could go boom .... I'm not knocking them, I still have mine .... reloading with a press is a different world .... since the mid 60's we have loaded ten's of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of rounds ... I have messed up and put a primer in wrong and have never had one explode when removing it .... we haven't been using our Hornady multi stage press for anywhere near as long but we have loaded thousands (if not tens of thousands) rounds with it .... I don't recall installing a primer wrong but sooner or later its bound to happen .... its easy to understand the concern folks thinking about getting into reloading or who have just started may have .... from our prospective, its just not that big of a deal

dman, What Herters press do you have? I started out with an O Model Super in 1969 and still use it. Along the way I trade for a 234 Turret press. The two of them plus my Herters powder scale make up my handloading equipment.

this week end,
I had to remove two primers, the first inserted upside down by error, the second which was blocked across...

no problem with the LEE sizing and decape die, mounted on a rockchucker rcbs.
As a precaution, you have to go slowly and tighten the decape needle, but it works without any problem. Primers seems to be less explosive than we think....
BruniX

I just toss them. I'm not losing that much $ vs safety.

Shakey Jake wrote: ↑

Wed May 15, 2019 2:10 pm

I just toss them. I'm not losing that much $ vs safety.

Agreed.

I have messed up and put a primer in wrong and have never had one explode when removing it

Yes - it happens eventually to all of us who reload and as several previously mentioned just run it (gently) through the decapping/sizing die and pop it out.

I have pulled 100s of rounds (unknown reloads, old ammo for the bullets etc.) and deprimed them with no problems.

As JEBar mentioned consider the hammering process of priming with a Lee Loader and suddenly there is NO issue removing them with a press!

I've removed a few primers for various reasons. At first, I was cautious when using the decapping die, even putting a towel over it and looking away for the first couple. Gentle pressure; never a problem.

Has anyone here ever had one detonate while inserting or removing an improperly (or properly) seated primer?

Has anyone here ever had one detonate while inserting or removing an improperly (or properly) seated primer?

Never REMOVING but I had a detonation once SEATING one.
I think it may have somehow got off center or at an angle and pressure from the seating procedure possibly 'popped' it free and detonated it.
One of the reasons I went to a hand priming system (Lee) as the advantages outweigh press priming.

I have never used my single stage press to prime. Like you, I use the Lee hand primer. It provides a tactile feedback that I know and that I trust.

What was the result of the detonation? Any damage to persons or property?

Mistered wrote: ↑

Wed May 15, 2019 6:19 pm

Never REMOVING but I had a detonation once SEATING one.
I think it may have somehow got off center or at an angle and pressure from the seating procedure possibly 'popped' it free and detonated it.
One of the reasons I went to a hand priming system (Lee) as the advantages outweigh press priming.

What was the result of the detonation? Any damage to persons or property?

A loud pop and that was it.

Some have a misconception about primers. They do not posses enough priming material to do much of anything. They are not going to 'blow' anything apart or put holes in anything.

Remember peeling green paper caps off and sticking them on your capgun? Probably not much more than the biggest 'caps' once available.