Just made a reloading mistake. Need advice

[classichunter]

I just made a "STUPID"reloading mistake. I was loading 45ACP and sized and expanded as normal. I went to install the primers, I use a RCBS hand primer and grabbed 2 100ct boxes of primers out of my ammo container used to hold all my primers. I started priming the case but noticed the handle was harder to pull to seat the primers. They seated normally so I figured it was just my hand. I did 58 cases before I realized I had been priming large RIFLE primers in 45acp case. I used WLR instead of WLP primers. I immediately stopped and separated all the RIFLE primed pistol case. Switched to the correct pistol primers on my remaining case and all was normal.
What will the rifle primers do in a pistol case? So what do I do with these cases? I suspect the rifle primers burn a lot hotter. Will that increase pressure in the case if they were charged and shot? Can I de-prime a live primer in my press?
I usually double check all steps in my loading. I got in a hurry and didn't this time. I use a single stage press. Made a STUPID mistake. Now how to I rectify the situation?

 

[eb07]

Run the cases through the depriming/sizing die again and move on.

 

[Geno44]

You're going to get all kinds of responses on this and some will even be right. (Not necessarily mine!) Bumping out live primers on a press is not a great idea because of the chance of detonating them. My guess, and it is only that, is that if they are seated flush and you use them with a moderate powder load, you will be ok. The rifle primer is probably harder and your gun may not fire them. You might want to try a few primed cases before you load the rest. The absolute safest procedure would be to fire off the primed cases and start all over.

 

[OldChief]

Ditto eb07, I've resized and deprimed a few cases in my time with no problem.

 

[arjay]

They are harder and a little hotter than a pistol primer.Ive deprimed a few cases in my press.Go slow and protect your eyes if you do that.

 

[StakeOut]

Are the LRP seated fully seated in the .45acp cases and not protruding?

Are they light loads for target shooting?

Is your gun a modern weapon able to shoot +P/

If all answers are yes then if it was me I'd load and shoot a single round as a test.

After shooting the 1 round examine the case for anything abnormal including bulging.

I've loaded small rifle primers in .38spl cases for target shooting with no problems when fired in a Models 10-6 and 19-2

 

[Trooperdan]

'choot 'em!

 

[StakeOut]

'choot 'em!

I'd shoot them but telling another person to do it is iffy.

 

[classichunter]

The primers all seated below flush and I'm not to comfortable de-priming live primers. Sounds like a good idea to load up a couple and shoot them. If I can find the cases, I will inspect them for pressure signs. I'll load them a bit lighter than normal. I don't load to max charge anyway. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Luke Duke]

oops

I've found that LR Primers are a tad taller than LP . If the primer pockets are not cleaned, you get a high primer that will hinder a cylinder from turning, or maybe a slam-fire in a Semi-Auto.
I've done this once before { w/ Primers }. I would error on the side of caution and de-prime them. I feel the chances are slim for a detonation, I did 50 w/o a bang " wear safety glass's "!
We have all made a mistakes. When you catch them that's means your still paying attention.
There's a lot of juice in primers. I wouldn't risk any sort of chance blowing up a gun even if it is a slim risk.

 

[GB]

I fall in line with StakeOut. If the primers are flush or below, then a moderate to lite load should be good to go. Load and shoot a couple. If they pass the test finish them off. Might want to make an adjustment to your primer storage procedure.

 

[38SPL HV]

dont charge and load the cases. Pop the unloaded cases off in your pistol in safe place where you would normally shoot.

 

[jculloden]

I'd load and shoot them, you won't know the difference, I use rifle primers for everything

 

[springer99]

I fall in line with StakeOut. If the primers are flush or below, then a moderate to lite load should be good to go. Load and shoot a couple. If they pass the test finish them off. Might want to make an adjustment to your primer storage procedure.

This, under the above stated load conditions. ^^

If you are close to max. then I'd suggest just firing them as primed cases and starting over. You would probably be safe in de-priming them in your press with slow, deliberate operation, but since you've altered the position of the anvil in doing so, I wouldn't want to reuse them anyway.

 

[Twoboxer]

Decapping the live primers, especially using a universal decapping die so that there's no resizing die pressure, works just fine.

If that bothers you (as apparently it does), loading the primed-but-empty cases into your pistol, firing them, and then decapping them obviously works.

If the primers are set below flush, and if you're not at a maximum load, you can probably load them and shoot them just fine with only a small risk from extra pressure.

 

[gwpercle]

I have safely EASED the primers out with a decapping die on more than one occasion . Just go slow and gently ease them out. Wear ear protection just in case. I have even reused the eased out primers. Use a universal decapping die so you aren't sizing and decapping, gives you a much better feel .
I have never had one pop while doing this, the secrete is be gentle and slow on the ease out. Try one or two and see if it works.
Gary

 

[DWalt]

Surprising that the LR primers set flush in a LP primer pocket. My experience is that they won't, and generally stick out enough to bind the cylinder in revolvers. Maybe OK in a semi-auto. If they don't cause problems, just use them. Nothing bad will happen, but they do require a heavier firing pin strike to get sure ignition. So you may get some misfires.

 

[Big Cholla]

Don't be an alarmist: load and shoot the darn things. Use a couple of tenths of a grain less powder, but even that probably isn't a problem. I have used thousands of rifle primers in 45 acp. Never could tell the difference. ..............

 

[growr]

Mistake? yes, stupid?? not at all....(If that is the only reloading mistake you have ever made you are doing well indeed!)

If they are seated flush or below go ahead and use your standard load and go on from there, won't harm anything at all.

I am surprised that rifle primers would actually seat at or below the surface of the primer pocket, usually they are slightly taller as mentioned above.

As far as decapping live primers...think about it for a moment..we all know what kind of firing pin spring pressure is required to make our ammo go boom...resizing gently to deprime a casing doesn't generate even a fraction of that. Furthermore, you are not pressing on the primer face but rather on the anvil....very difficult to ignite a primer that way.

I have decapped many upside down primers as well as live primers for one reason or another and have never had a primer ignite. Used gentle prssure in doing so however....

Surely, someone on here will know someone that knew someone that heard that it might happen.

Anyone on the forum have any ACTUAL first hand (it happened to me) experience with that?

Randy

 

[moxie]

I've found that LR Primers are a tad taller than LP . If the primer pockets are not cleaned, you get a high primer that will hinder a cylinder from turning, or maybe a slam-fire in a Semi-Auto.
I've done this once before { w/ Primers }. I would error on the side of caution and de-prime them. I feel the chances are slim for a detonation, I did 50 w/o a bang " wear safety glass's "!
We have all made a mistakes. When you catch them that's means your still paying attention.
There's a lot of juice in primers. I wouldn't risk any sort of chance blowing up a gun even if it is a slim risk.

Anything's possible, I guess, but I think a slam fire in a .45acp auto is highly unlikely.
Slam fires are usually associated with free-floating firing pins (e.g., AR-15s), not with inertial firing pins (1911s) or striker fired guns (Glocks, M&Ps).