British 410

[aspen80]

Hello all,

I would like to know if the British/ RFI 410 shells were Berdan primed and does some liquid destroy the priming compound in the primer, such as water or some other?
I surely am not a chemist!!!

#2.. Can inert ammo cases be sent to the UK? anyone know the procedure

Thanks for reading

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

I oiled a primer in a 7.62x39 cartridge after pouring the powder out and tapped the bullet back in place. It remained that way for a decade. Then when I had an SKS on hand I pulled the bullet again and fired the primer...with a loud bang. I don't care what the primer, military or civilian...the only way to make sure they aren't active is fire them or remove them. Don't chance it.

[Sunray]

No liquid gives a 100% guarantee of killing a primer. Lots of people try it using oil, but that doesn't always work. Water will do absolutely nothing. Killing primers needs a firing pin.
Real RFI ammo is considered corrosively primed and is Berdan primed.
Contact your State Dept. about exporting. However, I'd guess they'd say it's reloading components and you cannot export those without the State Dept. permit. Likely to be a much bigger issue on the English end though.

[green]

Obtained a box of CCI small pistol primers that had been soaked in RCBS case lube when the tube had disintegrated. Appeared to have soaked for a long time. Loaded a few up for curiosity and they all fired. Loaded the rest and 100% fired.

[rcathey]

This thread is interesting! I always heard oil will kill a primer flat out. Not just sitting on the striking surface of it but actually down into firing side.
This is some surprising information.

[browningautorifle]

This is some surprising information.

Squashing a rumor usually is...

[Sunray]

Squashing a rumoUr usually starts a huge argument too.
It doesn't hurt anything to pop a primer in an empty case with a firing pin. A lot depends on where you are though. Mom's basement didn't cause any alarms going off, but I suspect popping 'em in the current digs just might. Nosy neighbours in apartment buildings. snicker.

[bombdoc]

Oil will desensitise most explosives, and is routinely used in filling factories to handle explosive waste, however you need to separate the issues here..

Oil contamination can cause primers to fail, so as a consequence you need to ensure that you do not contaminate primers during storage, handling and loading.. You should minimise contact between hands and primers and always wash your hands before (and after! - they contain lead compounds!) use!

Primers are designed to resist contamination. Depending on the design, the explosive compound is often protected by foil seals and/or varnishes and lacquers. As a result, using oil to desensitise a primer cannot guarantee a 100% effect, particularly in cases where the primer is complete and fitted in a cap chamber, which may have had additional sealing put in place. Oiling of primers damaged during the reloading process, particularly when the explosive contents have been exposed is however a sensible precaution prior to disposal..

So... you you should always try not to let oil or grease contaminate primers that you want to work, but you cannot rely on oil to 100% neutralising primers, particularly if fitted in a case..!

Realistically, provided the propellant has been removed from a cartridge, the amount of explosive in a small arms primers is very unlikely to pose a threat, however in many cases we are dealing with the unrealistic aspirations of ignorant bureaucrats! When I deal with deactivating ammunition in environments where there is little knowledge, I prefer to do it in such a way that it is obvious the ammunition is free from explosive. My usual method to inert small arms ammo for museums etc, is to fire the primer and drill a 1 mm hole through the centre of the fired primer. I replace the propellant with a length of wooden dowel to support the base of the bullet and reassemble the round. If ammunition is to be used for drill purposes (i.e. loaded in guns for training/demonstrations) I generally drill holes through the case in three places so that it is obvious the round is not viable... (and replace the primer with a rubber/nylon block)

As to sending stuff through the post.. this is really up to convincing whoever is stopping you that you are obeying the law.. I have in the past convinced customs etc, that by drilling the anvil out of a Berdan case it is no longer a viable ammunition component..

To return to the question posed by the OP.. there is no restriction on exporting shotgun ammunition components from the US.. .410 is a shotgun calibre!

[browningautorifle]

Good to see you Bombdoc, it's been a while.

[pocketshaver]

water really doesn't do anything.. The Yorkshire diggers have been retrieving world war 1 ammunition from filled in trenches, and from inside dugouts where it had sat under 3 feet of water since the day the war ended...

Lots of it still fires.