Primer Question

[Jimfix44]

Good evening all - I was depriming some 30-06 cases with a Lee depriming die when the pin bottomed out in the case well before full stroke. Having read this forumn for a while now I was pretty sure I had a case with a Bertran (sic?) primer. Hopefully the picture is attached to this post. Are the 2 cases on the right a Bertran? The 2 cases on the left are Boxer primed but the flash holes are off-centered. Has anyone seen this before? Thanks!

 

[Dave T]

It's "Berdan" and yes, that's what those two are. You made the hole in the middle with your die. Normally there are just the two holes to the side.

Interesting bit of history, Berdan (hope I'm spelling it correctly) was an American and his primer design is used throughout the rest of the world. Boxer was an Englishman and his primer design is used in the USA. (smile)

Dave

 

[Alk8944]

The two on the right, with the FN headstamp, are Berdan primed. The decapping pin has punched through the center of the anvil.

You're lucky you were using Lee dies. They have an extremely strong decapping pin, most other makes you would have broken the decapping pin!

 

[mtime7]

throw out the berdan primed cases, or put them in the recycle bin

 

[kingranch]

While you've manage to "retrofit" two cases on the right...keep them. The two on the left military crimp has got to go before you reprime'em.

 

[Rule3]

While you've manage to "retrofit" two cases on the right...keep them. The two on the left military crimp has got to go before you reprime'em.

Good eye!

Those will need to be reamed or swagged out as a primer will not fit. Unless you have a whole lot of them and no other source of commercial rather than military brass, I do not think it's worth the time and effort.
I had a bunch of crimped 223 brass and bought the RCBS swag die. It was a pain. I ended up trading in that brass for regular brass and saved a whole lot of extra work.