Are they available and what is a normal price now for 100? Who has them?
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Berdan large rifle primers
- Thread starter Igiveup
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Ivan the Butcher
Member
There are several sizes, some almost twice the diameter of a LPP!
Kynoch quit taking orders for them in 1962.
Ivan
Kynoch quit taking orders for them in 1962.
Ivan
Alk8944
US Veteran
Berdan primers are classified by their diameter in millimeters. There is not a metric equivalent to the boxer large rifle size. Different technology, different method of sizing.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
But why? Asking for a friend.
DWalt
Member
They are probably available somewhere, but I don’t know of any sources, and I have never seen Berdan primers for sale anywhere. Maybe more available in Europe. The other problem is that depriming fired Berdan-primed cases is a hassle best avoided unless you are reloading some oddball metric cartridge that is available only with Berdan priming. Berdan primed cases are definitely not designed for ease of reloading.
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I think I still have a couple of hundred around from AGES ago. They are a major PITA to use. Deprimeing is monsterous. I tried it a little bit just so I could say I had done it. Even the tool is hard to use.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
They used to sell RWS Berdan Primers in the US. I have several sizes that total about 1500. You need to know what size and what cartridge they will be used in, then check with The Western Scrounger to see if they have them. (Older RWS cartridge info says what primer they used)
Primers are considered an explosive by many countries, so by themselves they are harder to get through most customs inspections without "Paperwork & Permits" (AKA Bribes)
I have a 450 3 1/4" NE double rifle. In the mid 80s I picked up 100 Kynoch empty brass and 4 sealed tins of primers (250 per tin). [This was at an OGCA meeting, not many gun shows like that!] All were brand new in 1962! They were and are stored properly and still look new. This is the "Hottest/largest primer Kynoch made, and was used in everything large! including 600 NE. After production stopped, the ammo manufactures switched primers to the Federal 215. (now the hottest primer in small arms) My RWS primers on the other hand were in cardboard sleeves and sat open at a gun shop and before that is unknown and quite suspect!
Ivan
I have the RCBS Berdan Decapping tool, you are better off with a tight fitting steel rod and use a center punch on the edge. Hornady makes (special order) a decapper for each cartridge that you fill with water hand hit with a hammer to push the primer out. This system is what Lapua uses to reload Match 6.5 by 55 ammo at the factory.
Primers are considered an explosive by many countries, so by themselves they are harder to get through most customs inspections without "Paperwork & Permits" (AKA Bribes)
I have a 450 3 1/4" NE double rifle. In the mid 80s I picked up 100 Kynoch empty brass and 4 sealed tins of primers (250 per tin). [This was at an OGCA meeting, not many gun shows like that!] All were brand new in 1962! They were and are stored properly and still look new. This is the "Hottest/largest primer Kynoch made, and was used in everything large! including 600 NE. After production stopped, the ammo manufactures switched primers to the Federal 215. (now the hottest primer in small arms) My RWS primers on the other hand were in cardboard sleeves and sat open at a gun shop and before that is unknown and quite suspect!
Ivan
I have the RCBS Berdan Decapping tool, you are better off with a tight fitting steel rod and use a center punch on the edge. Hornady makes (special order) a decapper for each cartridge that you fill with water hand hit with a hammer to push the primer out. This system is what Lapua uses to reload Match 6.5 by 55 ammo at the factory.
I have some 6507 used in my 475 Jeffrey with Kynoch brass much easier to regulate gun, than Bell brass with 215 Fed primers. If interested let me know, I will see what I have.
As stated the water method of de-priming is much better than trying to pry out a spent primer
As stated the water method of de-priming is much better than trying to pry out a spent primer
gwpercle
Member
I have seen them for sale at Powder Valley ...
PMC Large Rifle Berdan #217 ... $95 per 1000 ...
of course they are marked "Out of stock" but call and see what they can do for you
Reloading Supplies & Outdoor Gear | Powder Valley Outdoors
They are a legit. company ... I have bought from them several times ,
fast shipping ... if in stock but they may back order for you .
Gary
PMC Large Rifle Berdan #217 ... $95 per 1000 ...
of course they are marked "Out of stock" but call and see what they can do for you
Reloading Supplies & Outdoor Gear | Powder Valley Outdoors
They are a legit. company ... I have bought from them several times ,
fast shipping ... if in stock but they may back order for you .
Gary
gwpercle
Member
Located another Berdan Primer source ... David A. Cushman
Berdan Primer Suppliers and Dimensions ...
Bee Keeping & Bee Breeding, along with other interests of Dave Cushman
It appears they are not suppliers but have a list of suppliers on the site
Not sure how helpful this will be but it is worth checking out .
Good Luck in your Berdan Quest !
Gary
Berdan Primer Suppliers and Dimensions ...
Bee Keeping & Bee Breeding, along with other interests of Dave Cushman
It appears they are not suppliers but have a list of suppliers on the site
Not sure how helpful this will be but it is worth checking out .
Good Luck in your Berdan Quest !
Gary
DWalt
Member
I recently sold my Portuguese 8mm Kropatschek rife. I had managed to find around 50 original military cartridges for it. Bullets were not a problem, as they used the normal 8mm Mauser size. But the Berdan primers were a problem. What I did was drill out thie case base so that 209 shotshell primers would fit. I had to grind a drill bit to the proper hole diameter. I just neck sized the case and used Pyrodex. That worked OK for the limited amount of shooting I did.
For those unfamiliar with the Portuguese Kropatschek rifle, it is very similar in design and operation to the 71/84 Mauser bolt action.
For those unfamiliar with the Portuguese Kropatschek rifle, it is very similar in design and operation to the 71/84 Mauser bolt action.
Am down to my last 6000 Tula's, which were the last berdans seen for sale. Using surplus 308 brass and berdan primers kept me shooting through earlier shortages. and before learning about "stocking up". After the original primer and sealer is removed, not not that tough to do with the RCBS tool. And like anything else, it's a lot easier after practicing on thousands of em.
I’ve used Tula large rifle Berdan primers with excellent results for my Swiss ZFK 55. The RCBS decapper does a good job and I’ve found it easy to use on the GP11 cases.
I haven’t seen Tula Berdan primers available lately but I haven’t been looking for them either. The RWS primers weren’t available when I was looking for primers and I had read about good results using the Tula in the GP 11 brass. They’ve worked great for me.
I haven’t seen Tula Berdan primers available lately but I haven’t been looking for them either. The RWS primers weren’t available when I was looking for primers and I had read about good results using the Tula in the GP 11 brass. They’ve worked great for me.
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gwpercle
Member
How about posting a Want To Buy in the "buying & selling " section .
Might be some have sold their rifle and have a few Berdan's squirreled away and no real use .
I just checked there is a "Want To Buy" in the Classified Section , a post there may be your best bet !
Gary
Might be some have sold their rifle and have a few Berdan's squirreled away and no real use .
I just checked there is a "Want To Buy" in the Classified Section , a post there may be your best bet !
Gary
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