Stuck Primers

[sjs]

With components in short supply I bought a large number of once fired nickel 38 SP cases from an online commercial vendor. Several cases were unable to be decapped. Most of the primer would be partially pushed out but a portion remained stuck in the case securing the whole primer to the case in a manner similar to a partially opened tin can lid. Forceably removing the primer by hand tool reveals a thin rim of the primer metal still stuck in the primer hole.

Most of the cases were OK but finally, sizing one of the difficult cases resulted in a bent decapping pin. I have close to a hundred cases left which I do not want to try and resize due to this problem.

I have never seen this before but I assume the cases are so old that it is corrosion that has seized the primer to the case. I am thinking of soaking these cases in Kroll oil for a few days and then in solvent to remove the oil; then trying one more time to decap them.

Any suggestions? Anyone see a safety issue with my soaking plan?

 

[rockquarry]

Soaking them in solvent might work and would do harm as long as the brass was degreased and dried. I can't recall ever having such a problem. I'd probably put them in the scrap pile, particularly if there aren't many.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have had this happen to me one time out of many thousands of reloaded .38 special. I just threw the case out and continued. If you are getting a fair number of them out of one batch of brass I would chuck them unless you are really desperate for .38 special brass, in which case your plan is probably as good as any. I suspect your analysis of the cause is probably correct.

 

[3wire]

You don't say how you clean your cases before reloading, if by chance, you clean them with an ultrasonic cleaner, the wet solution in combination with the ultrasonic vibration may loosen any corrosion around the primers prior to resizing and decapping.
I primarily don't reload a large amount of nickel coated cases in any caliber because they are harder on the resizing die, but I have used them in limited quantities for special load testing sessions.

 

[torizus]

I think your plan will work, a good cleaning afterwards and you should be good to go.

There are crimped 38 spec cases out there, LC, & W-W to name a couple that crimped primers (military spec). Don't recall seeing nickle though.
They are usually stronger in construction than standard commercial brass.

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

THOSE ARE CALLED RINGERS. THE PRIMERS ARE CORRODED IN PLACE. THE CASES WERE WET AT ONE TIME. I'D REQUEST A REFUND . IF YOU LOOK ON THE DILLON WEB SITE THEY TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

I JUST HAD IT WITH A BATCH OF 45 ACP. WASN'T WORTH IT. ASKED FOR A REFUND . DIDN'T GET THE REFUND. SOLD THEM AS SCRAP TO RECOVER SOME OF MY INVESTMENT.

THE PERILS OF BUY USED BRASS FROM THE INTERNET. JP

 

[outta_ammo]

You know how you get the first glimps of something and your brain decides what it says, but your eyes are saying "brain, I'm not done yet."

I thought this was about Starbucks Primers for about 12 miliseconds...

 

[Cdog]

Pictures?

Are you sure these are Boxer primed brass?

I have encountered Berdan primed brass in range pickup before. If I feel any resistance depriming, I check and usually find Berdan primed twin hole brass.

It gets culled.

 

[sjs]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I ordered 500 cases from Capitalcartridges and have not counted exactly but I had about 400 come out OK. Out of those about half a dozen had the problem. When I got to the last 100 or so it was occurring every case and after about another half dozen I bent the decapping pin. I stopped at that point and do not know how many of that last 100 have the same problem.

Photo shows a progression from a case that decapped OK, to one with the primer residue stuck to the primer pocket, to primers not fully removed.

I sent a message to them on their website and hope to hear something next week.

 

[teletech]

Kroil and solvent sounds like a lot of expense and effort compared to the resultant value of the brass. You'd also have to decap while oily and then wash since the most important place to get the oil out of would be the primer pocket.
If I were really hard pressed for brass and had to make to work, I'd grab a punch from a Lee kit or other source and decap them with a hammer and punch, toss the ringers (or at least ream the primer material out) and then resize as per usual.
If you have an ultrasonic bath that might help loosen things up. Don't have a bath, this sounds like a good excuse to buy another reloading item. Just tell the wife it's for cleaning silverware and jewelry.

 

[mikld]

As PPCSHOOTER mentioned, "ringers". The cups are "stuck" in the pockets mainly from corrosion/galvanic corrosion. The cup bottom is pushed out with the cup sides remaining in the pocket. On some I have set cases, head down, in a bit of penetrating oil for a while then deprime. If in need of brass the rings can be removed, after soaking a tap of appropriate size can grip the ring and loosen it. A cape chisel can be used to cut/collapse the ring then pick it out. Mostly just to see if I could, but lots of work...

 

[flycaster]

I've only experienced this problem with .38 Special brass. Never had it happen with 9mm or .45ACP. It could be frustrating to have to stop reloading, hammer the primer remnants out (so the case would then slide off the shell holder). Curiously, this was happening a fair number of times 1-2 years ago, but not once since then.

Chuck

 

[sjs]

I have an update on this thread. I submitted a comment on the Capital Cartridge website informing them of my issue. However, I did not request a refund because the cases were clearly sold as used cases without any warranty and most of the shipment was OK. Today, with no comment from the company I received a priority package of replacement cases at no charge. I think that was an outstanding response.

 

[stansdds]

I have an update on this thread. I submitted a comment on the Capital Cartridge website informing them of my issue. However, I did not request a refund because the cases were clearly sold as used cases without any warranty and most of the shipment was OK. Today, with no comment from the company I received a priority package of replacement cases at no charge. I think that was an outstanding response.

Wow! Talk about good customer service! Just sent you a bag of replacement cases in this time component shortage? Make sure you send them a thank you message and give them a good Google review.

 

[gwpercle]

Lee makes a Universal Decapping Tool made for removing crimped in military primers .
The corrosion is holding the primer "rim" and the pin is just pushing out the primer bottom or bending .
Lee makes a Die , used in your press and a manual decapper with a metal rod / heavy duty pin and steel base that you drive the primer out with a mallet / hammer ...this one is Tough as Nails !
Soak in a good penetrating oil ... for a week if need be . Best penetrating oil ever devised is 50-50 mix of ATF and Acetone

 

[Engineer1911]

OK, put on your big boy pants, and call RCBS. Ask to buy 5 decapping rod assemblies or just decapping rods for 38 / 357 dies and a 50 pack or replacement small pins. I have never had a decapping rod crisis after my parts arrived.

I have 3 spare rods and about 35 pins still in the package. A permanent solution to a problem that never occurs during normal business hours at the LGS or reloading store.

 

[Golphin]

Get your self a Mighty Amory decapping die. Reloading Dies



– Mighty Armory

 

[sjs]

My cup runneth over. I also called RCBS just to ask which of their pins I should buy because I couldn't figure it out from the website. Before I got around to ordering one I got an email notice that they were shipping it to me free under the warranty. I got it today. I never even asked to make a warranty claim (it never occurred to me that I could). What industry is there that gives the service the gun industry gives?