Unseating an upside down primer

[RETSMSGT]

If a primer was seated in a case upside down on a progressive press, how would you extract it from the case? A decapping pin could act as a firing pin. No, I have not done this but got me thinking....

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

This is a common occurrence. If you have a single stage press, you can use any decapping die for a cartridge larger than the one you are working on. and the correct shell holder. A 300 Win mag makes a great universal decapping die. You can also just run it through your progressive press again. This is most likely caused by one of 2 things. 1) filling thee primer reservoir in too big of hurry. or 2) due to excessive "vibration" the primer was flipped after it went into the cup. Most of the time someone is banging the press too hard or the bench is not stable enough. Ivan

 

[jaymoore]

Good time to wear safety glasses and hearing protection! I've unseated them before using the press, but have oil soaked 'em for a day or two beforehand. No dramas to date, but always proceeded with some trepidation. Not a bad idea to wrap the area with a few layers of denim, etc. as well to catch potential fragments.

Unlikely to go bang, but...

Seems worse to not do anything. Probably done the operation 10-12 times in 30 years, including a few sideways seated.

 

[rwsmith]

Do it.......

Do it very slowly and keep your head away, wear glasses, maybe ear plugs because it they go off they are LOUD, especially indoors.

 

[fouldude.44]

Put WD-40 on them and trash them. One case is not worth it.

 

[elpac3]

soak in WD-40 for 24 hours then deprime. Never had a problem with a primer going off.

 

[Bkreutz]

I'd trash it. One case is not worth the time or effort.

 

[Warren Sear]

Just de-prime as normal. No drama necessary.

Been there, done that.

 

[BE Mike]

I've removed many over the years using a universal decapping die. I always wear eye and ear protection. I feel like the risk, even if one is ignited, is very low. I reuse the primers. Throwing away a live primer, even one oil soaked, is kicking the problem down the road.

 

[SMSgt]

What's with the 24 hour business? Wet the primer if you're concerned about it going off. Then push it out as usual. It's no big deal.

 

[Seanhagerty]

Deprime it. No worries. Eye pro is called for.

Sean

 

[scattershot]

Yeah, just deprime it. As someone else said, no drama is called for.

 

[fredj338]

Ther are a lot of doubters reloading. Yes, common wisdom is to toss the case, but experienced reloaders, those that have actually done it, know if you go slow, the primer is not very likely to go off. With some cases going almost $2 each, I'm not tossing it.

 

[MN2944]

Yeah, just deprime it. As someone else said, no drama is called for.

Agree. Safety glasses and a maybe a pair of gloves. Run the press slowly and push it out.

 

[mikld]

Just de-prime as normal. No drama necessary.

Been there, done that.

Yep, BTDT too.

Nope, the decapping pin won't act like a firing pin. A primer works with an impact, crushing the priming compound between the cup and anvil. Pushing with a decapping pin doesn't supply the needed impact...

 

[rwsmith]

It it's.......

Ther are a lot of doubters relading. Yes, common wisdom is to toss the case, but experienced reloaders, those that have actually done it, know if you go slow, the primer is not very likely to go off. With some cases going almost $2 each, I'm not tossing it.

If it's a .357 case, I'll take any drastic measures (albeit safely) to restore it to health.

 

[fredj338]

If it's a .357 case, I'll take any drastic measures (albeit safely) to restore it to health.

Or 10mm, 41mag, 44mag, certainly wouldn't toss a 404jeffery!

 

[NJM15]

If a primer was seated in a case upside down on a progressive press, how would you extract it from the case? A decapping pin could act as a firing pin. No, I have not done this but got me thinking....

I've had one upside down just discard it primers are a cheap enough way to avoid any disaster

 

[SLT223]

Just pull the ram slowly and evenly. You're good to go.

 

[Twoboxer]

As most have said . . . no prep no drama necessary, though eye protection as always is a good idea.

Run the case back through your resizing/decapping die . . . slowly . . . and push the primer out.

If you've never done this before, you might feel better control by having nothing else on your shellplate.

The primer is very likely still usable, but I prefer to put it in an otherwise empty case, chamber it, and fire creating a for-sure-used primer