Need help! Stuck primer!

[ancient-one]

I am in process of slightly belling the mouth and priming(Fed. SP 100) a bunch of of 38Spl. cases. I am using a Rockchucker Single Stage press.
I don't know what happened but I have a primer that will not go in but is in far enough that I cannot get the case out of the shell holder.

I am working from one RCBS tray(80 count) with the cases to be primed base up and on a separate stand than the one that holds the tray I am placing them in. I know that all primers have been removed. If I goofed, it would have to be that I tried to prime and already primed case but I don't think so.

My question is this, is there any way to safely back the primer out so that I can get the case out of the shell holder. I understand that Federal primers are more touchy than others. I am not all all sure depriming would be safe even the pressure was applied slowly. Any ideas on how to safely proceed will be appreciated. Before I try anything I will check to see if a a new shell holder is available locally.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Before you do anything more with that primer I suggest you put on a good set of safety glasses and ear muffs and don't stand where the primer would hit you if it went off and traveled down the same path as a spent primer does when decapped. Primers really have a good bit of power for their size.

 

[epj]

I have had the same thing happen a few times. I just gently decap and check the primer pocket. Usually they need reaming. The safety glasses are a good idea.

 

[canoe on the yukon]

It's not considered proper but I've decapped quite a few live primers over the years.WEAR EYE PROTECTION just in case and do the following.With a decap die in place,raise the ram until you feel the decap pin gently make contact with the inside of the primer.Then GENTLY push it out.I've never had a problem.

 

[oldRoger]

+1 for Joni Safety Glasses, or face shield, even welders helmet w/clear glass, earmuffs, gloves, Get a bath towel and wrap the press and apply pressure slowly.
Having made every mistake possible several times I have had this problem. Apply slow steady pressure. I never have had a primer go off, but have never regretted the precautions.
By the way it is possible to seat a primer up side down, same solution.

 

[colo native]

relieve your self first...

 

[Iggy]

Try squirting a shot of WD-40 or something in the case to drown the primer.

Then do what you gotta do.

 

[deadin]

Years ago, one of my first experiences in reloading was with one of the original Lee Loaders. I was reloading for a M1917 and had a batch of the tightest primer pocket .45AR brass I’ve ever seen. The Lee Loader required that the primers be seated via a special die base that called for the use of a judiciously applied hammer. About every 5th or 6th primer went off using this method. I wore heavy gloves, eye and ear protection, but the biggest pain was finding the priming rod after it had been shot across the room.

 

[shovelwrench]

Just deprime it, glasses, ear protection. It'll come out easy.

 

[haggis]

With the shellholder held in a vise, fill the case to within about 1/4" of the top with water. Insert a close-fitting pin punch into the case and give it a whack with a hammer. Hydrostatic pressure pops the primer right out.

This is the method I use for depriming Berdan cases. A little messy, but it works. The "piston" does have to be a close fit.


Buck

 

[OKFC05]

Read Joni's post and then just decap and discard the case. (S&B cases stick primers for me sometimes) Primers rarely blow in a good press, but they can. That's why everybody in the reloading room has to wear eye protection.

 

[n4zov]

Before you do anything more with that primer I suggest you put on a good set of safety glasses and ear muffs and don't stand where the primer would hit you if it went off and traveled down the same path as a spent primer does when decapped. Primers really have a good bit of power for their size.

Joni Lynn nailed it! Always wear safety glasses when reloading or casting bullets..........always!

 

[sar4937]

I just add a couple drops of water, and deprime gently. +1 on safety glasses.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

I had a primer get stuck part way in a case that had a crimped primer that I hadn't taken care of. I couldn't get it out of the shell holder so I took safety precautions, sprayed some WD40 into the case, waited couple hours and then I just crushed the primer into the case. It looked like it would have been ruined but even after all that I stuck the empty case in my handgun and it fired. Sure surprised me.
Be careful.

 

[handejector]

Aw, you haven't lived till a tube full of 125 primers goes off in an Ammo-Load machine, and the follower rod takes out the fluorescent fixture overhead.

EXHILIRATING!!!!

 

[ancient-one]

Thanks to all of you for your information. I intend to deprime the case when I move my reloading stuff back to my workshop. I have been reloading in a spare bedroom in the cool. I have a full face guard that I once used when doing some types of woodworking and it will be on when I attempt the deprime.

What is disgusting I could not find one place in OKC now stocking a full line of reloading equipment. I drove 30 miles to El Reno to get another shell holder. A spare won't hurt for sure.

I did about 200 brass cases(mostly Win.) with no problem. I was going to do 300 nickle Win. cases and after about 175 I ran into the stuck one and this evening when finishing up I had a couple that went in hard but did go in. Again, thanks to everyone for your information and help.

 

[imashooter2]

Just deprime it, glasses, ear protection. It'll come out easy.

This.......

 

[handejector]

BTW-
I would NOT put water, oil, WD-40, or ANYTHING else into the case.
Silly me, I just don't like the idea of hot/burning oil blowing around the reloading room.......

 

[Beans]

Aw, you haven't lived till a tube full of 125 primers goes off in an Ammo-Load machine, and the follower rod takes out the fluorescent fixture overhead.

EXHILIRATING!!!!

Yup! You just stand there for a minute wondering ***.

I left the end of the primer following rod stuck in the ceiling drywall as a reminder. BTW Once was enought.