Domestic Berdan Primed Ammo

[CCantu357]

Perhaps I am showing my ignorance here, but I just noticed that both Hornady and CCI Blazer load Berdan primed ammo. The ones I saw were in .25 ACP and 9mm. I always thought Berdan primed ammo was a European thing, as most ammo made in the United States seems to be Boxer primed. Does anyone know what the deal is with that?

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Just a guess, but I suspect that the Berdan primers in Blazer aluminum ammo are intended to assist in discouraging people from reloading the aluminum cases.

 

[DWalt]

I do not know if the CCI Blazer ammo still uses Berdan primers, but it probably does. And indeed the purpose was to discourage reloading. Aluminum cases won't withstand the pressures that brass does, and who knows what kind of pressures a handload could reach. CCI does not want to get involved in a blowup in which someone is injured.

 

[scattershot]

Blazer aluminum cased ammo was previously loaded with Berdan primers, but all I have seen lately (admittedly not much) has been primed with Boxer primers.

 

[desi2358]

The Hornady 25 ACP I have seen that had Berdan primers was brass case not aluminum. The label stated that it was loaded with Berdan primers or I might not have known till I tried reloading them (yes, I reload 25 ACP). At the time I figured they simply bought primed brass from one of the foreign makers, most likely S&B, which had been selling various metric calibers to Winchester for some time. Hornady has also sold some other calibers such as 5.45X39 using foreign cases and their own bullets and powder.

 

[rwsmith]

I never looked.....

Aluminum cases in with my range brass goes immediately in the trash.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I was not aware any American manufacturers loaded brass cases with Berdan primers. The old aluminum stuff was always loaded with Berdan primers. Just to say I had done it I have reloaded some of the newer, boxer primed aluminum cases. Generally speaking I ashcan them.

 

[TomkinsSP]

It's not just pressure. Aluminum does not stretch or flex. It develops fatigue, then it cracks. And yes people reload rimfire too.