[SEL] OT: How to de-primer shells

[Rob Skinner]

On Jul 16, 2012, at 2:37 PM, Best, George wrote:

> I've got a 5 gallon bucket full of somewhat corroded military rifle shells.
> Was going to melt them down for the brass, but when looking at them realized that someone years ago had started to reload them and they have primers in the cases.
> 
> What can I do to make them so they can be melted down?  I don't want to toss live primered casings into my crucible ;-)
> 
> I don't have reloading equipment, nor have a rifle that the casings would fit.
> 
> Don't know if you can safely press a primer out of a casing or if it needs to be fired.
> 
> Maybe just toss them in a bonfire a few at a time :-)
> 
> George



Hi, George.
I’ve deprimed plenty of “mistakes” and never had one go off. However, I wouldn’t be keen on letting a bunch accumulate in the catcher.

Something to think about… and I don’t remember what I was doing to figure this out, only that it was repeatable. Sometimes residual powder is on the walls of the casings. Exposing this powder to fire will make it burn. It’s not violent, but it might splatter if it’s in a pot full of molten brass. 

Rob