De-priming Berdan brass...

For those of you who might want to reload your berdan brass... save yourself a lot of trouble and get the RCBS tool, it works like a charm :thup:

MidwayUSA - RCBS Berdan Decapping Tool (click here)

1- line up the decapping pin onto the stricker depression of the primer
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Berdan1-1.jpg

2- Gently push it in
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Berdan2-1.jpg

3- That's it...
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Berdan3-1.jpg

Now I just have to find myself some Berdan primer :o

Safe reloading,
Mike

Of course, the primary problem with your post being that Midway doesn't ship to Canada last I checked...

BTW, unlike CGN, it's ok to post links here.... ;)

Regards,
Badger

I have used the RCBS tool in the past, and have one now. It works. Sometimes the case neck can be a bit distorted, but sizing eliminates that. Berdan primers, as commonly used, are slightly larger in diameter than Boxer large rifle primers. I made another sleeve to use with the primer seating attachment of a RCBS press. North Sylva in Toronto is RWS representative, and would be the first place I would look for Berdan primers.
Apart from the hydraulic system, another way of removing spent Berdans is to drill a hole in a hardwood block that the case will drop into. Cut a slit into the hole. Place the block in a vise, clamp the case in the hole. Make a small sharp pick, drive it into the cap and lever it out.
Something to consider, with older Berdan cases is that in addition to being corrosive, they may be mercuric. Mercuric priming can cause cases to become brittle and unsafe to reuse.
MIdway does not welcome Cdn business, but the tool can be obtained elsewhere.

Personally, I prefer hydraulic depriming. The RCBS tool doesn't always work well on really well crimped military brass. The hydraulic method, on the other hand, applied alot more force to extract the primer.

I made mine with plumbing store fittings and I use precisely lathed rams to maximize the force delivery. works great. I use it all the time to deprime 8x63 brass.

And yes, North sylva DOES sell RWS berdan primers. I know first hand :)

I have used the hydraulic system to deprime unsupported .303 brass with crimped .250 Berdan primers. There was enough pressure to bulge the cases. Sizing dealt with this.

I borrowed the tool from sillymike and I am amazed how fast it is to deprimed a pile of GP11 brass.

There are very good reasons why boxer primers are used.
1. Berdan primers are damm hard to find
2. Berdan primed cases are usualy old enough to have been used by your grandfather.

Hi John

Most ammo I might agree, but:

1 Canadian RWS supplier is not too far away.

2 1984 GP11 is not all that old.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...10100351-1.jpg


3 I have quite a bit of it.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010037-1.jpg

Is there a difference in the efficiency of ignition between these two primer types? Basically, which one is better?