[1982flh80]

Saw an interesting video on youtube. The guy posting it is iraqvet8888. Shows how he removes berdan primers using a Lee decapping die (universal) and water. A little messy perhaps but he gets it done. Watch the vid this guy is very knowledgable. Never reloader ammo that was berdaned primed. Anyone here ever reload for this type?

[TheOldMan]

There is actually a deprimer tool for berdan primers but typically it's such a pain no one even bothers.

[Overkill0084]

Unless it's some caliber that is so obscure and unobtainable any other way, why bother?
Just because you can do something, it doesn't mean it's worth the trouble.

[canebrake]

Berdan primed brass cases are not only harder to reload, but they do not lend themselves to reuse due to their design.

The Berdan primer requires the brass case to provide the anvil for the ignition of the primer.



Each new Boxer primer includes a fresh anvil as part of the primer.





With each ignition cycle, the anvil (in both primers) is at the center of ignition and deteriorates from this action. Boxer primers replace the anvil with each reload. Berdan primers depend on the brass case's anvil to ignite the new primer.



If reloading surplus ammo (Berdan primed ammo) I recommend you go with aftermarket brass designed for Boxer primers.

[JonM]

ive never seen berdan primers offered for sale. its common in a lot of european countries where reloading is highly discouraged

[hiwall]

unlike boxer primers that are only in two sizes, berdan come in many sizes. Another point against them.

[jpattersonnh]

Just finding berdan primers is a pita. Wolf makes them, and they are imported a few times a year by some companies. Just not worth the time. I wish I could reload my surplus 7.5x55 brass. You can still save your berdan brass and take it to the scrap yard. Brass is at 1.65 a pound, that is an hour at the range. I shoot the power lines near my house. We pick up lots of brass. None that I would shoot, but we can usually get about 5lb w/ 3 shooting sessions w/ my 2 sons. We take it down when we have a 5 gallon bucket full, about once a year and I use the money to buy new brass to reload. That is about 65lb of scrap.
2 years ago w/ the $ I got from scrap brass, my own and brass left in public places I bought 100 pieces of 6.5x55 Winchester, 60 pieces of Norma 7.5x55, 40 pieces of Norma 6.5x55, 100 Pieces of .44-40, plus powder, primers. It breaks down to $150.00 in new cases for 0 $.

[TheOldMan]

Originally Posted by jpattersonnh

I shoot the power lines near my house. .

You WHAT???

(lol)

[deadin]

I've reloaded Berdans on and off for years. Unfortunately my supply of primers is getting low and, as mentioned earlier, they're getting harder to find.
The Berdan extracting tool works quite well if you get it adjusted right. It's just a pain to get it right. As for the hydraulic (water) method, I've never been able to get anything except wet when trying it. (It's also real easy to deform the case mouth in the process.)

One other thing to remember.... If you manage to get the primer out and have some berdans to insert, be sure to remove the primer pin from your expanding die before sizing the case.... ( Don't ask me how I know this..)

[c3shooter]

Dead- now and again, I find a Berdan primed 9mm case the hard way. Good reason to keep a supply of spare decapping pins on hand.