reloading berdan primed ammo

billy · 10-30-2006, 06:43 AM

has anyone tried doing this? i know you can buy the primers,and apparently americans are the only ones that dont reload this stuff. i have a ton of fired brass for 303 brit ect. just curious..

Dale · 10-30-2006, 09:15 AM

I've not tried but I've entertained the idea.

However, I dropped interest when I realized the effort needed to, first, de-prime or de-cap the Berdan cases and then trying to find the scarce Berdan primers.

For all the added effort I'd rather spend the money and time in obtaining new or gently used Boxer cases.

There have been attempts to manufacture special decapping tools to deal with the two tiny holes associated with Berdan primed cases. There have even been attempts to struggle with hydrolic removal of the primers and with other ideas of primer removal.

There has even been detailed instructions on how to drill out the Berdan primer and to drill a flash hole for use with Boxer primers. However, even the primer pockets are of different diameter when comparing the Berdan primer with the Boxer primer.

To me it's just too big a pain in the butt to work with.

billy · 10-30-2006, 03:12 PM

yeah as long as i can get surplus ammo im happy but if it gets really scarce maybe ill try it i ,dunno....

JBS · 10-30-2006, 04:34 PM

Billy, Dale is 100% right. It isn't worth the trouble and added expense to mess with Berdans. If you'll watch E-Bay, you can get some pretty good deals on Boxer Primers and brass...bullets too.

billy · 10-30-2006, 06:16 PM

thanks you guys! thats why i subscribe to this site.so that i can get sound advice.

JBS · 10-30-2006, 06:31 PM

Billy, Dale is 100% right. It isn't worth the trouble and added expense to mess with Berdans. If you'll watch E-Bay, you can get some pretty good deals on Boxer Primers and brass...bullets too.

Sorry, durn phone rang while I was typing and I lost muh mind. I did not mean to say that you can get Boxer Primers on E-Bay. Far as I know, you can't.....BUT what I was trying to allude to is that it's much more economical to load for the .303 than buy ammo...even surplus ammo. Most of what's left of surplus .303 is corrosive anyway. Just ain't worth it. Reloading's the olny way to go. If I can help you, just let me know. JBS

billy · 10-30-2006, 09:22 PM

jbs, ive never reloaded anything before but i want to start. ive been thinking of getting a lee classic turret press kit. ive heard good things about them. money and space are the two biggest concerns. i have a tiny house but ill make room for that!

JBS · 10-30-2006, 09:52 PM

If you don't mind, I'd like to PM you. Then we can talk more and exchange e-mail addresses. I assure you that you don't need lots of money or space to reload. I know you can read. That's all you need to be able to do in order to reload. Do you want me to PM you ?
JBS

billy · 10-31-2006, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBS

If you don't mind, I'd like to PM you. Then we can talk more and exchange e-mail addresses. I assure you that you don't need lots of money or space to reload. I know you can read. That's all you need to be able to do in order to reload. Do you want me to PM you ?
JBS

yes pm me! thanks so much!

ninwnc · 11-12-2006, 06:56 AM

You can take that berdan brass to the scrap yard and they will pay you for it. I recently took a 5 gallon bucket of non reloadable brass to them and came away with about $50.00.

Just a thought.

Nick

Dale · 11-12-2006, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninwnc

You can take that berdan brass to the scrap yard and they will pay you for it. I recently took a 5 gallon bucket of non reloadable brass to them and came away with about $50.00.
Just a thought.
Nick

You're absolutely right, Nick.

I keep all of my old berdan primed cases, cases that are too bad for reloading, etc.

I took two five gallon buckets to the recycler not too long ago ( thinking brass was $.60 a pound then) and got far enough for some more reloading material.

toolman · 11-12-2006, 09:24 PM

Billy, one option to look at is the Lee Loader. They usually run around $10-$15 and all you need is a mallet and components to reload a single caliber. It is slow but is a good learning tool and, in a pinch can be used in the field or at the range to work up loads.

Full MeTal Jack · 11-13-2006, 09:03 PM

Toolman if you can find berdan primers, go for it! What esle you gonna do in the winter in North Texas, have sex?

toolman · 11-13-2006, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Full MeTal Jack

Toolman if you can find berdan primers, go for it! What esle you gonna do in the winter in North Texas, have sex?

I done gave up on that, bro!

I should have posted that reply as a quote as I was just talking about reloading boxer cases. If anyone actually does get that bored or desperate, you can get Berdan primers here: Huntington Reloading Supplies and here: RWS Ammunition

Full MeTal Jack · 11-14-2006, 07:51 PM

Hahaha
When I was younger I thought about sex all the time..............
.....now that I'm over the hill, I think about sex most the time.

Yeah, I've got a bunch of Danish 06'.

10-30-2006, 06:43 AM	#1
billy G&G asst.dino wrangler Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 7,984 Images: 8 Blog Entries: 108	reloading berdan primed ammo has anyone tried doing this? i know you can buy the primers,and apparently americans are the only ones that dont reload this stuff. i have a ton of fired brass for 303 brit ect. just curious..

10-30-2006, 09:15 AM	#2
Dale Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Too Dang Hot, Arizona Posts: 4,284	I've not tried but I've entertained the idea. However, I dropped interest when I realized the effort needed to, first, de-prime or de-cap the Berdan cases and then trying to find the scarce Berdan primers. For all the added effort I'd rather spend the money and time in obtaining new or gently used Boxer cases. There have been attempts to manufacture special decapping tools to deal with the two tiny holes associated with Berdan primed cases. There have even been attempts to struggle with hydrolic removal of the primers and with other ideas of primer removal. There has even been detailed instructions on how to drill out the Berdan primer and to drill a flash hole for use with Boxer primers. However, even the primer pockets are of different diameter when comparing the Berdan primer with the Boxer primer. To me it's just too big a pain in the butt to work with. __________________ "It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me

10-30-2006, 06:31 PM	#6
JBS Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 737	If you'll watch E-Bay, you can get some pretty good deals on Boxer Primers and brass Billy, Dale is 100% right. It isn't worth the trouble and added expense to mess with Berdans. If you'll watch E-Bay, you can get some pretty good deals on Boxer Primers and brass...bullets too. Sorry, durn phone rang while I was typing and I lost muh mind. I did not mean to say that you can get Boxer Primers on E-Bay. Far as I know, you can't.....BUT what I was trying to allude to is that it's much more economical to load for the .303 than buy ammo...even surplus ammo. Most of what's left of surplus .303 is corrosive anyway. Just ain't worth it. Reloading's the olny way to go. If I can help you, just let me know. JBS

11-12-2006, 09:24 PM	#12
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 4,498 Blog Entries: 14	Billy, one option to look at is the Lee Loader. They usually run around $10-$15 and all you need is a mallet and components to reload a single caliber. It is slow but is a good learning tool and, in a pinch can be used in the field or at the range to work up loads. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

11-13-2006, 09:03 PM	#13
Full MeTal Jack Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,276 Images: 1	Toolman if you can find berdan primers, go for it! What esle you gonna do in the winter in North Texas, have sex? __________________ [IMG]

10-30-2006, 03:12 PM	#3
billy G&G asst.dino wrangler Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 7,984 Images: 8 Blog Entries: 108	yeah as long as i can get surplus ammo im happy but if it gets really scarce maybe ill try it i ,dunno....

10-30-2006, 04:34 PM	#4
JBS Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 737	Billy, Dale is 100% right. It isn't worth the trouble and added expense to mess with Berdans. If you'll watch E-Bay, you can get some pretty good deals on Boxer Primers and brass...bullets too.

10-30-2006, 06:16 PM	#5
billy G&G asst.dino wrangler Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 7,984 Images: 8 Blog Entries: 108	thanks you guys! thats why i subscribe to this site.so that i can get sound advice.

10-30-2006, 09:22 PM	#7
billy G&G asst.dino wrangler Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 7,984 Images: 8 Blog Entries: 108	jbs, ive never reloaded anything before but i want to start. ive been thinking of getting a lee classic turret press kit. ive heard good things about them. money and space are the two biggest concerns. i have a tiny house but ill make room for that!

10-30-2006, 09:52 PM	#8
JBS Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 737	If you don't mind, I'd like to PM you. Then we can talk more and exchange e-mail addresses. I assure you that you don't need lots of money or space to reload. I know you can read. That's all you need to be able to do in order to reload. Do you want me to PM you ? JBS

11-12-2006, 06:56 AM	#10
ninwnc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 432	You can take that berdan brass to the scrap yard and they will pay you for it. I recently took a 5 gallon bucket of non reloadable brass to them and came away with about $50.00. Just a thought. Nick

11-14-2006, 07:51 PM	#15
Full MeTal Jack Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,276 Images: 1	Hahaha When I was younger I thought about sex all the time.............. .....now that I'm over the hill, I think about sex most the time. Yeah, I've got a bunch of Danish 06'. __________________ [IMG]

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