Stuck Primers

[BILLY D.]

Originally posted by Jack
Since you are only talking about 2 cases, I would recommend trashing the 2 cases.
Pour some penetrating oil in the cases and let it sit for a few days to kill the primer, then throw the cases in the trash. Mashing them flat with pliers isn't a bad idea, either, to prevent some scrounger from running into the same problem you did.
If the cases won't come out of the shellholder, what I do is put the sizing/decapping die in the press, drape a few towels over the press opening, wear safety glasses, and S L O W L Y decap the case. So far, I've never popped a primer when doing that, but be prepared for it to happen.
Since the cases involved are 30-06, I suspect that Billy's hit it- GI brass, which has a crimp around the primer pocket.

Jack

At one time or another I've de-primed a wash tub full of brass that way and never had a mishap. It really dosen't concern me anyway because the brass is confined.

Howsome ever it would still get my immediate attention if the primer did pop. I'd probly yell for Mommy.

Theres an old story that goes with that one. We were flying a mission one dark lonely night and had a malfunction with one of our 20mm Gatlings. Had hot rounds going off in the cargo compartment where we were. After all the comotion was over and cooled things down with a fire extinguisher, told the rest of the crew, including the Aircraft Commander, every thing was fine.

We always made a joke of emergencies, so the only thing your intrepid servant could think of to say was "I want my Mommy" and all I heard on the Aircraft intercomm was all the other 9 crew members laughing. By the way I was the youngest of the crew.

Bill