corrosive berdan primers

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  • Last Post 06 October 2018
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fa38 posted this 06 October 2018

Does shooting corrosive Berdan primed brass wreck the case for future reloading?  

If so how would one go about removing the primer from the case in a safe manner?

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Mike H posted this 06 October 2018

No it doesn’t,unless the primers are mercuric,I am no expert on primer composition,the 303 British Mk 7 with the ,250” berdan primers were mercuric.I would fire what you have,it would be advisable to wash your cases well with water after firing the original load,as well use plenty of water to flush your barrel out,keep an eye on the bolt face and the firing pin as they will rust,or can rust from primer residue.

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fa38 posted this 06 October 2018

Thanks Mike.  Does anyone know if the French used mercuric primers?

The loaded cartridges are 8mm Lebel.  Pulled the bullet on one and tried filling the case with water and putting a close fitting brass rod into the neck and hitting the rod with a hammer.  The primer must be crimped in as it did not come out.  This method works with 7.5x55 Swiss cases

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Mike H posted this 06 October 2018

I have used French 30-06 military cartridges with .217” berdan primers,I deprimed them by using a chisel shaped punch to lever the primers out,took the crimp off with a small knife and then reprimed with  Vhitavouti primers,there were some lots that had an enormous crimp,so much so that I couldn’t get the primers out.In my  opinion they were not mercuric primed.

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