Does anybody know a source of Berdan Primers?

[gandog56]

I'm getting a little jig that's supposed to blast out old Berdan primers using water pressure. If I works, I'm going to try to reload my 7.62X564R.

[tiriaq]

Find the US distributor for RWS. They should be able to supply.

[K31]

Just buy an RCBS Berdan decapping tool. They work quickly and easily, that wet method doesn't usually work at all on military primers. I was just discussing this subject with another reloader on Friday, and we both agreed that most people that suggest using the wet method have probably never tried it!

[oozlefinch]

Just buy an RCBS Berdan decapping tool. They work quickly and easily, that wet method doesn't usually work at all on military primers. I was just discussing this subject with another reloader on Friday, and we both agreed that most people that suggest using the wet method have probably never tried it!The so-called "hydraulic method" of de-capping Berdan-primed cases is a rite of passage that novice re-loaders must perform. It's like the hazing that pledges must suffer to be accepted into Greek fraternities, or the humiliating "snipe hunts" that Cub Scouts endure for the amusement of their fellows.

To be fair, it can be made to work on the second and subsequent loadings, after the crimp has been removed and the primer pocket swaged to full size, but only at the risk of flooding the basement floor.

Get the tool. Stay dry. Good luck.

[Claven2]

If you lathe the pin to tightly fit the brass, it DOES work - despite the crimp. I've done it time and again. Eventually I bought the RCBS tool. It really IS the way to go.

[K31]

I tried custom building my own pins, too, but it still didn't stop the garage from getting soaked! If you do this, be sure to wear your army issue poncho, and your Newfie rain hat.:)

[gandog56]

Boys, boys, all that does me no good if I can't find the Berdan Primers to reload with.

[skeet1]

Not to long ago PMC was selling .217 Berdan primers. I'm not sure if they still do , if not maybe you can find somone that still has some.

[K31]

My friend has a bunch of RWS Berdan primers, what sizes do you need?

[zurihegel]

gandog; what you are looking for are 5.5 mm (.217 inch) diameter Berdan primers. The RWS 5620 is one type.
Zurihegel

[gandog56]

gandog; what you are looking for are 5.5 mm (.217 inch) diameter Berdan primers. The RWS 5620 is one type.
Zurihegel

I believe so. But I can't find a US source to buy any.:banghead:

[Maxwell Smart]

Just buy an RCBS Berdan decapping tool. They work quickly and easily, that wet method doesn't usually work at all on military primers. I was just discussing this subject with another reloader on Friday, and we both agreed that most people that suggest using the wet method have probably never tried it!

Well, I have been using the wet method for decapping Berdan Primers for over 20 years. I also have an RCBS decapping tool.

In my experience, on Australian made .303 and 7.62 with military crimped primers, the RCBS tool is utterly defeated. The hydraulic method gives me a quick clean and reliable way of getting the military primers out. Trim the remaining crimp out of the primer pocket, and then it is a breeze to use the RCBS tool on subsequent reloads.

[gandog56]

gandog; what you are looking for are 5.5 mm (.217 inch) diameter Berdan primers. The RWS 5620 is one type.
Zurihegel


Good to know, but I still can't even find a source. Oh well, I found some boxer primed milsurp 7.62X54R. It weren't easy, but I done it.

[Ian Robertson]

Last time I checked North Sylva had Berdan primers.

[gandog56]

Last time I checked North Sylva had Berdan primers.

Got a web address? All I saw was like archery stuff.

[cimegloly]

Ellwood Epps Sporting Goods Web Sight (www.ellwoodepps.com)
Have in stock
Good price for hard primer to find 30$ Can for 200
thanks
Cimegloly

[NuJudge]

If you are loading 7.62x54R, the only brass that uses .217 Berdan primers is Albanian. All the rest of it has primer pockets that take .254 Berdan primers.

There are a zillion Berdan primer pocket diameters and heights. The most common is .217, which fits all the 7.62x51, 8x57, 6.5x54, 7.62x39, and 7.92x33 I have come across. The .303 British takes mostly .250 primers, but some takes .217 (FN and late South African).

Extract some primers, and measure your primer pockets.

CDD

[dsmc1]

Hi Guys
I just dragged my old 577 Snider out of the Guncabinet after 20 years, and thought I'd put a few rounds thru it. Had some cases I'd bought 20 years ago and they were Berdan Primed, and lined with a cardboard tube to reduce the case volume, I assume.
Anyway I MADE a decapping tool by placing a 1/2 inch dowel into the case, then using a number 18 drill, one at a time, drilled out to enlarge the flash holes in each case, with the dowel clamped in a vise, and the cartridge over it. AFTER DRILLING EACH HOLE, I TOOK AN 18X 3/4 INCH FINISH NAIL, CUT OFF THE HEAD, AND TAPPED IT THRU THE FLASH HOLE, AND INTO THE PILOT HOLE DRILLED INTO THE END OF THE DOWEL. WITH THE FIRST NAIL IN PLACE, I DRILLED OUT THE SECOND HOLE (so it would be properly alligned), AND PLACED A DEHEADED NAIL IN THAT HOLE TOO. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE DRILLING straight, as the pins MUST be parallel to allign in the flash holes. AND do not drill too deeply into the dowel, as the nails need to be held firmly in place to work.

It will take a bit of patience to get the 2 pins to drop into the flash holes, but the tool will actually pop the primer out with hand pressure, holding the cartridge in one hand and the dowel in the other: no hammering required.

That being said, I found with the 577 snider cases, that if I placed them GENTLY in a vise, with the rim sitting on top of the jaws, I can place an AWL or ICE PICK at a 45 dergee angle into the indentation of the firing pin on the primer: one light tap with a light hammer to break the awl thru the thin foil of the primer, then press down on the handle of the awl and the primer pops out quick as grass thru a goose. (After all the work of drilling out 40 flash holes and making the tool.)

Fortunately I have a small supply of Berdan primers, that will last me a short while, but I need to find a source; did NOT see any on the website that one of you guys mentioned. May try calling them to see if they carry them.

Hope these ideas are helpful.
Dave

[Claven2]

The problem is, the sources quoted so far are in Canada. It won;t be much use to Americans.

Were I looking stateside, the two places I would look first are Buffalo Arms and Old Western Scrounger.

[dsmc1]

Thanks, Claven2
Hadn't noticed Berdan primers on their websites, but will try again. Will be traveling to the Kittery Trading Post in Kittery Maine this aftrnoon and will check to see if they have them. They're one of the largest shooting retailers around our area.

will post what I find there.
Dave

[Claven2]

I would not just rely on websites - best to actually call.

[dsmc1]

Thanks, will try that. Kittery had nothing of any use for 577 snider, or berdan primers.
However they DO have used dies and I got a sizer for $1.00 I can have reamed out to use as a neck sizer, once I determine the size I need. Ordered a 585 HB mold. and purchased some powdered sulfur, which I've read is good for making a chamber cast (plug the barrel just above the breech, then melt the sulfur and pour it into the chamber; 10 minutes to cool, then knock it out and you have an exact cast of the chamber to measure; in the Dixie Gun Works catalogue)

[gandog56]

Anyway I MADE a decapping tool by placing a 1/2 inch dowel into the case, then using a number 18 drill, one at a time, drilled out to enlarge the flash holes in each case, with the dowel clamped in a vise, and the cartridge over it

That scares me. I was warned to never enlarge flash holes, as this will drastically change pressures.:eek:

[dsmc1]

Hi Gandog
I wouldn't think that would be an issue with black powder loads, but then I'm far from considering myself an expert on the subject.
Thanks for the warning though;I appreciate it. Could be very important for anyone using smokeless loads.

[dsmc1]

Had the snider carbine out ysterday firing with .575 505 gr minies, and 60 gr pyrodex. Old girl shot great; noticed no pressure issues from the drilled out flashholes. I still prefer the aroma of true black powder smoke, to the smell of pyrodex.
Tried someone's suggestion to use windex to clean the barrel; worked reall nice; couple passes with a drenched swab, then a good coat of gun oil and the bore looks like new again.

Going to try the windex on the cases, too; am just concerned the liquid will soften the carboard tube inserts in the Kynock brass (used to reduce case volume).

If some one has a better suggestion, I'm all ears. I can just wipe out the inside of the cases, but I'm sure there is fowling between the brass walls and the cardboard inserts, that will start to corrode the brass if not removed. Suspect I MAY have to remove the inserts.

[Steve85569]

I'm curious. Why not just replace the Berdan primed brass with boxer primed and be done with the "shooting dirty" problem?

But then I guess that's really not reloading Military.

[skeet1]

gandog56,
Maybe I missed something but why would you want to load berdan cases when boxer cases are available at New Rifle Brass (http://www.blue-star-inc.com/catalog/nrbrass.htm) Hope this might help you.

Skeet1

[chucksniper]

PMC Ammo

[NuJudge]

Old Western Scrounger ran out of Berdan primers some 10 years ago, then closed and opened under new management.

There are rumors that Wolf may bring in the same .217" primers (made by Murom) that PMC brought in. You might want to encourage Wolf to do this. Please also ask them to bring in .254" (most 7.62x54R) and .250" (most .303), and maybe .175" (7.62x45).

[Gun Surfer]

Recent search of internet indicates all former sources are out of Berdan primers right now (or out of business). Recommend calling one of the suppliers and ask if they will special order a block of them.

I wonder if a non-dealer can sell and mail primers to a buyer?