In a deal I ended up with about 1500 9MM reloads. They were not marked as to what powder or load was in them. Since I am not a trusting soul, I broke them down and threw the powder in the garden. Was thinking of reloading the primed cases, but they are filthy. Has anyone ever tumbled primed cases? Run into any problems? If so will load them as is....... However, I do like bright shiny cases.

TIA
AJ

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I wouldn't do it. Your tumbling media will probably pollute the primers, in my opinion.

I don't know if tumbling exposed primers might break down any priming compound or not. However, assuming that was not a problem, there's a very good chance of media particles getting stuck in the exposed flashhole on top of the primer. You'd have to check every single case, then remove a media particle now and then using a tool with a fine point.

There will likely be someone respond to your post that's allegedly performed this same chore many times without incident, but I wouldn't do it. I'd wipe the cases clean with a soft cloth occasionally moistened with alcohol or something similar that would dry quickly and leave no residue.

Unsightly brass that's clean works just as well as shiny brass.

You pulled down 1500 rounds ?

I would be afraid that either the primer flash holes would plug up or the media would contaminate the primer.

I might have tumbled the loaded ammo since you weren't going to shoot them. If you have lot of time on your hands, you could press bullets back in the cases and tumble them and pull them again.

Yep, sure did. I do not trust reloads if loaded by someone I do not know.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Reload the dirty cases, then tumble loaded ammo for 30 minutes to 1 hour, load and fire in normal manner. I've tumbled loaded ammo for 35 years without a single problem.

EDIT: I just finished tumbling 200 rounds of .308 Win after loading on my Dillon. Case lube is gone, jacketed bullets are gleaming, and the brass is almost surgically clean. Another successful tumble in the vibratory drum.

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S&WHF 366

Why go to the trouble and maybe have some duds.......... (more pulling)

It is only 9mm brass that can wait one firing to get nice and clean, again.

Put your time into loading them up for shooting.

I accidentally tumbled some primed 45 Colt once. Loaded and fired with no problem.

I have deprimed live primers many times. The technique is to do it in a single stage press and use a slow downward press on the press' handle with NO impact, jarring or quick motions. Primers don't go off on compression pressure, just sharp impact. I have never had even one go off. Even if it did the small explosion is totally contained. No harm, no foul. Don't reuse these primers as the de-priming will compress the anvil to the point there will many failures to ignite. Put them in a jar and cover them with WD-40 for several days and then dispose of them. I never did that while they were still in the brass because whatever one uses to kill them still has to be removed from the interior of the brass.

You might think about tumbling the cases with the live primers still in and then de-priming as described. I can assure you that dry tumbling cases with live primers WILL put tumbling media into the primer hole. It might go off but the standard deviation will go sky high making for very inaccurate ammo. Wet tumbling will kill some of the primers, but not all of them as one would expect.

No! Nope! Niet! Not me.

Edit. The brass does not need to be shiny. As long as it is clean.
Before I had a tumbler I washed my brass. They weren't pretty and shiny, but they were clean, and they worked without a glitch.

By the way. I never take others reloads. Not even for free.

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Expect the unexpected

I have soaked primed cases in WD 40 for a week then allowed them to evaporate. 4 out of 6 fired hard, 2 fizzled. I would use heavy gear oil.

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Front sight and squeeze

As far as I know you can't reliably "kill" a primer. Not without firing it.

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Expect the unexpected

Why do people obsess over "Killing" primers? Or even tumbling them for that matter?

Go shoot them and enjoy....Any obstruction in the flash hole will be aggressively dislodged upon firing.....

Randy

Probably the same reason people obsess with shiny brass.

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Expect the unexpected

I was given about 600 primed .45ACP cases that were pretty tarnished looking. I just loaded them all up, fired them, and then did my regular cleaning regimen of decapping and wet tumbling.

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USS Brewton FF1086
SWCA#3597

I am a cheapo and was planning on reusing the primers, cases and slugs, just was going to put in powder of my own. I trust my reloads and some of my friends reloads, but when I get a bunch of reloads from someone I do not know then those get torn down.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I have 1000's of times. any miniscule(sp) particle in the primer hole will be blown out by the primer. I do with rifle and handgun brass. Never a problem and won't be. Primer/ignition=a micro second of 1200+ degrees. Nothing can stand that. I also tumble primed cases and load them. Again never a problem and won't be.

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S&W Accumulator

Plugged flashholes are not a problem. Primers are powerful enough to push a bullet (no powder) into the barrel. A grain of corn cob will not be noticed. I've never tumbled primed cases but I don't see a problem. If in doubt, call Hodgdon's.
I definitely would not tumble loaded rounds. The size of the powder flaks controls burning rate. Break up the powder into smaller pieces could be a real problem.

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Dick

Bad idea, don't do it. If it was me I would load it and shoot it. After that you can make it nice and pretty.

You pulled the bullets because you didn't know the load, not because the cases were dirty. Just wipe them with something to knock any granular dirt/crud off them and don't worry about the staining until next round of reloading. Every time you shoot a few hundred, put them in the tumbler and into a container to await further reloading.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Yesterday I practiced safe social distancing by going to our outdoor range with some ammo I had loaded up and wanted to try. There were a bunch of 32 S&W Long rounds I had primed then tumbled then loaded, mixed with some that had been loaded untumbled. I could not see any difference... they all went bang the same way.

Normally I like to tumble before priming, but life got in the way and I ended up with some primed "dirty" brass. I threw it in the tumbler with the dirty unprimed brass and "let her go." Not a thing I do habitually, but not a problem.

As for not reusing primers I have pulled (live) I've done that too. Never a problem.

Just for my own peace of mind, I would not load ammo for a match or for any serious hunting or self defense purposes with either tumbled or pulled primers, but for plinking and practice? Heck yeah! Primers are too expensive to waste, with a cast bullet they are the most important part of the reload.

Froggie

Or just clog the flash hole, not good.
If the brass is dirty, tumble the loaded rds before pulling them.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Without knowing what the op is using for tumbler media, or how clean the media is, would never suggest tumbling with live primer. Frankly, wouldn't suggest it anyway.

Well done my friend. 1500 9MM. I applaud you for your effort!
Personally, I would de-prime them.

edit: tumble them with or without the old primers.

Black Hills and some other companies ran their finished product through cement mixers for the final polish. This has been discussed in many threads if you search.

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S&W Accumulator

And what is gained by removing live primers? To my knowledge they are all made in factories so no chance of them being under or over loaded by some newbie or nefarious reloader.....

Again, what is gained by this? Nothing I would say, absolutely nothing.

Randy

PS. primers seated backwards or sideways is a different story... that will start a gigantic flame session.

Why wouldn't you tumble loaded rounds? The major manufacturers doi it.

I tested the theory of powder breakdown a couple of years ago with one of my .223 cartridges. As a Service Rifle competitor, I shoot and load approximately 3,000 rounds of. .223 per year. I threw the same loaded round in my tumbler each time I tumbled brass for an entire season. It got tumbled probably 35+ times and I finally pulled the bullet and dumped the powder out on the bench and it looked just like fresh, brand new powder.

Old wife tales die hard.

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S&W Accumulator

+1

I wouldn't say "any" obstruction, but if a piece of walnut shell or corn cob did get stuck{quick look will tell you if there is before you load it.} it will get blown out on ignition.

My goodness, pretty important issue over dirty brass
What is the OPs definition of "filthy"??


If the OP has the patience to breakdown 1500 rounds then he should get a clean soft rag, some Flitz and caress each round and polish individual to a bright luster!

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Still Running Against the Wind

Here you go. Problem solved...I suppose. I would have just shot them or left them behind.

Probably was loaded quite a while ago. Cases were very dirty and tarnished.

Not a lot of patience involved. Would do 50 or so at a time. Not like I needed them to load at the time. I did fire some empty cases to see if the primers were still good.

Since you came up with the idea of hand polishing, I will provide the rags and flitz. Will pay you a $0.01 a case for the finished product.🤣😁

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Wow! A lot of wildly varying opinions (and old wives tales) so I'll jump in with my experiences, what I've learned/know;

How many have really tried to kill a primer? Or how may are going by what they have read on line? I started reloading way pre web so I didn't hear how "delicate" primers are. I handled primers with my "dirty" hands and never had a FTF. I have dropped primers, picked them up off the "dirty" garage floor, seated and never had a FTF. I have squirted primers with WD40 and seated them and had way over 98% fire, then after a few days, the rate dropped down to 97% fired. I've also tried water, and every primer fired when it dried out. So much for "contaminating primers". I have never had any primers lose compound from handling and I assume they were not "handled with care" during shipping via ,rail, truck and post office or UPS drivers. Yes I have tumbled primed cases, but admittedly, for a short time (an hour?).

One major part of my reloading is inspection. Many times (most?) I inspect after every step, so if I tumbled primed cases I would look to see if the case ID was clogged, or flash hole clogged which would be easy to unclog, taping the case on the bench top is enough to dislodge any tumbling media. If by any chance a piece isn't seen, the primer would blow it out when fired. (I've had standard large pistol primers drive a 240 gr cast bullet 4"-5" down a 44 cal barrel).

I'm not going to comment on the "Tumbling Live Ammo" debate as I saw this when I first started going to reloading forums in 2005, and there has never been, even closely, a consensus, and they often end up in hotly contested arguments..

Jes my opinion/experience since I pounded out my first 38 Specials with my Lee Loader in 1969...

All that said, to the OP; just reload them and shoot them. If they are just dirty, wipe them off, if they are crusty or corroded, either toss them or tumble them. No big deal either way. Reloading is a very personal pass time, if you wanna, then do it, If you don't wanna, don't...

Tarnish is not "dirt" it is Patina If they are only tarnished then just load and shoot move on to more important things in life

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Still Running Against the Wind

Are you turning down an offer of a paying job?🤣

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Can you be certain that the primers are standard pistol? Could be rifle, or magnum primers. Just a thought. Bob

Not sure what they are. Only know they are in 9 MM cases, so I would guess small pistol primers of some sort.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Ballistics would change using rifle or magnum. They are the same size. Not likely that is what they are, but who knows? When primers are in short supply some people tend to experiment.Bob

Iknow guys that shoot black powder cartridge that purposely install a thin piece of paper over the primer pocket, then seat the primer. It all has to do with frizzyants of something like that. Top of the line shooters too, not just knuckleheads like me that prefer to load my rifle from the wrong end. The can go on for hours about stuff like that or the hyperyoutetic properties of lead and whether or not to drop on towels to air cool or into a bucket of water to properly reach the optimum hardness. Honestly after listening to them go on for a fifteen minutes or better I was ready to kill myself with a dull deer antler.

^^^ That's what I would do.