The major difference between boxer and berdan primers has to do with flash holes and the anvil. Hit the booksthere are plenty of good books on reloading, but in this. We sort out all berdan primed 308 brass out to ensure we supply at least 98% reloadable boxer primed 308 brass. How many times depends on the cartridge type, caliber, and load used. It is easy to remove and replace boxer primers using standard reloading tools, facilitating reuse. Created by edward boxer, this popular ammo was patented in england in 1866 and in. I cannot remember if shooting a case with a split neck can hurt the gun or. I thought most of it was berdan primed, and figured he was bsing, but. Even if not berdan primed, steel cases were never meant to be reloaded. If they dont, the reason is likely related to the reloading issue. This is a discussion on how i reload within the reloading forums, part of the gunner forum category. Converting berdan primer pockets to boxer archive cast boolits. Steelcased reloads, cracks, and fireforming wildcat cases. Berdan primed ammo has to opposing flash holes closer to the edges of the primer cup hole.
Each 149 grain fmj projectile is lead core with a bimetal jacket and loaded into a boxer primed brass case. Nosler reloading glossary nosler bullets, brass, ammunition. Here are a few safety tips that can help you keep your reloading process safe and. Its decapped any and all berdan brass on hand but the south african brit 303 is tough to decap and i busted my decap pin having it too long. Steel cases should be checked to make sure theyre boxerprimed if. Here is the only tool i have used in decapping the brass. May 04, 2010 if its one of those brass ts or the flange fitting, replace it. You can almost count the number of dents to determine how many times the brass has been reloaded.
Reloading used cartridge cases can save the shooter money, or provides the shooter with more and higher quality ammunition within a given budget. Reloading steel cases how to reload steel case ammo. It is a bit stouter, heavier, thicker in my experience too so you might have to mind your charges a bit more than in a lighter, thinner walled case as you have less powder space and pressures can quickly creep up on you. Sort by position name sku price velocity avg ballistic coefficient power factor sku set descending direction. If, after the shot, the brass casing is cracked you may have a bad powder load or have seated. Historically, handloading referred to the private manufacture of.
This has had the result of making berdan primers expensive and hard to find in the usa. When belling or seating the new bullet the i can tell by the difference in the effort required to push the leverarm down on the press when the case mouth is cracked. The mild steel can be reloaded, but isnt as ductile as brass. It was not talk that was backed up by anything solid, afaik. Indoor ranges prefer boxerprimed with a brass casing, but this can vary depending on where you live and the range operators opinions. Converting lr berdan primer pockets in brass milsurp cartridges to sr boxer primer pockets over the years ive thrown away i dont know how many thousands of very good brass cases of 7. I had never tried, but after receiving their inquiries, i thought, why not. So, it helps to take a quick moment to understand these parts of a cartridge. If it was spring or summer, i would do what that guy on you tube did with his lee press, i would use water and pop my 303 berdan brass primers and let the brass sun dry. Handloading or reloading is the process of loading firearm cartridges or shotgun shells by assembling the individual components casehull, primer, powder, and bulletshot, rather than purchasing completely assembled, factoryloaded ammunition.
Tools to reload berdan primed brass gone outdoors your. When cci first developed the aluminum cases they reloaded them 15 20 times to prove their durability, so, technically, they can be reloaded. This overrun ammo from lake city is some of the best on the market, so make sure to buy some in bulk while it is. As i bought that brass decades ago some has upwards of ten tiny dings in it. As is the case with all new brass, its recommended that you resize the neck before loading to ensure that you have consistent neck tension. Why is it so difficult to reload berdanprimed brass. Our videos are strictly for documentary, educational, and entertainment purposes only.
The cases tend to split, though can often go through reloadings first. If its one of those brass ts or the flange fitting, replace it. Feb 01, 2010 in this video, we discuss the difference between berdan and boxer primed brass. Remanufactured xtreme brass goes through several rigorous steps to ensure you are getting a quality component at a great price. However, some factory steelcased handgun ammo is advertised as noncorrosive and features boxer type primers. Cci blaser aluminum cases 9mm38 caliber brian enoss. It has a single hole in the base of the brass to ignite the powder charge. There are a number of tools i havent used them that remove the old berdan primer supposedly like the old church key beer can opener, and while i havent ever bought them you could hunt down berdan primers and reprime the cases with them. Fine cracks such as the one above on the neck of the case render it useless. I had several hundred rounds of 1947 turkish 8mm ammo that had a high rate of cracked cases, so i just pulled them all down. The talk i have heard is that blazer brass is thin.
I am looking forward to reloading my aussie berdan primed 762 nato brass. All the blazer aluminum ive loaded was boxer primed. Jun 04, 2009 yes, berdan primed ammo can be reloaded, but it is strongly recommended that you do not. Several st subscribers have asked, can it be reloaded. Brass has not been polished, deprimed, trimmed or loaded unless specifically noted once fired brass is an industry term that describes used brass cases. Most factory ammunition and all reloaded ammunition is boxer primed and usually, although not always, brasscased. Look inside a berdan primed case and youll see two holes offcentered. Projectiles 62 grain full metal jacket fmj ammo casings boxerprimed brass.
Sure, reloading brass cases are much easier, but you can reload steel cases. Ok, i went and looked, the steel that i reloaded was head stamped tw 5, not tw45. I reduced the powder charge a little and loaded them into boxer primed brass. This is a crucial element in selecting your brass because only the boxerprimed cases are. A cartridge or a round is a type of preassembled firearm ammunition packaging a projectile. This ammo will attract a magnet, so make sure to check out your range rules before buying. Hi there, this ammo is loaded to the m80 nato designation and is produced on the same production lines used to supply the us military. Cheap 9mm ammo in stock by federal 115 grain fmj ammunition by federal for sale online at 50 rounds. Converting lr berdan primer pockets in brass milsurp cartridges to sr boxer primer. Boxer primed ammo, has one centrally located flash hole. The brass is full length sized back to factory new saami specs, the primer pockets are reamed, then it is checked and washed using the latest technology available only to the xtreme brass and freedom munitions line of ammunition. A good stuck at home project reloading berdan primed steel. These brass cased, boxer primed rounds are reloadable and noncorrosive, helping you keep your barrel clean and save on ammo simultaneously.
There is really only one reason most reloaders would even consider reloading berdanprimed cases anymore, and that is the unavailability or expense of boxerprimed cases for a particular chambering. Aug 06, 2015 when cci first developed the aluminum cases they reloaded them 15 20 times to prove their durability, so, technically, they can be reloaded. Converting berdan primed brass to boxer primers gun and. Mar 11, 20 all the blazer aluminum ive loaded was boxer primed. The brass does need to be trimmed, reannealed, cleaned, etc.
Not sure to go with standard brass or the shinier nickel plated cases. More brittle so may neck splitcrack after fewer reloads. A bunch of it had the mouth of the case badly dented and nearly closed. It doesnt last as long as brass and can even wear your gun. Most factory ammunition and all reloaded ammunition is boxer primed and usually, although not always, brass cased. Im fairly certain i have covered the issues in my column in the past maybe its time to revisit the issue since both cci and herters now offer aluminum cased ammunition. Diamond k brass llc now offers a small variety of brand new primed rifle brass and factory pull down primed rifle brass. Reloading glossary terms used in nosler reloading guide for instruction and. The boxer priming features 1 centered flash hole, and the primer has its own built. They are factory pull downs that are ready to reload. The boxer primers have the anvil integral to part of the primer. One benefit of reloading steel cases is you dont have to chase your brass in the winter snow. There is really only one reason most reloaders would even consider reloading berdan primed cases anymore, and that is the unavailability or expense of boxer primed cases for a particular chambering.
Tula steel 38 special is boxer primed, i have reloaded it just to see if i could. Created by edward boxer, this popular ammo was patented in england in 1866 and in the u. Sort by position name sku price velocity avg ballistic coefficient power. Ill have to plan ahead and see if i can get away sometime in the afternoonevening. I have over 1,000 pieces of once fired range brass that i just asked for. I used to even reload a lot of questionable brass tarnished, bad dents, worn out, etc. Rcbs covers that in lifetime warranty so pin is on its way to me but clearly, i was at fault.
Good boxer primed cases can be sourced from anywhere, but ideally. Anything usa made today is going to be boxer primed. Boxer primer is the most popular primer style in the united states, due to its ease of reloading also making it the primary choice among military and civilian ammo manufactuers. Your other major category will be the type of primer the case accepts. Handloading reuse is an advantage for rifles using obsolete or hardtofind centerfire cartridges such as the 6. Cracks can also be found between the head base and the rest of the case.
Berdan brass can be reloaded, but its a more time consuming, complex and totally different process than boxer brass. Once fired brass that can and cannot be reloaded the. My latest tinkering has led me to try something new. Although i would give you an a for effort i think i would just try and find the boxer brass i needed. The flash hole is essentially the channel through which the. You cant reload berdan primed casings, and you cant reload. Feb 14, 20 conventional wisdom says you cant reload steel case ammo, but reality says you can. Wolf ammo reloadable for the new boxer primed casings. Ive run both through rifles, pistols and submachine guns without any problems. Boxerprimed ammo is not as common outside of the united states due to the affordability of berdanprimed ammo and restrictions on home reloading in many european countries.
A heavier, higher velocity, loading reduces the number of safe loadings possible for the round. I have a ton of this stuff and figured it would be cool if it could be done. I don t knowingly fire rounds with cracked necks, but have had plenty. In this video, we discuss the difference between berdan and boxer primed brass. The expensive individual brass cases can be reused after replacing the primer, gunpowder and projectile. Nickel plated brass is just thatit is regular brass that covered by a thin layer of nickel through electroplating fun random fact, as of the end of 20, it costs 9 cents to produce a us nickel coin which is 25% nickel and 75% copper. For the difference between the two, i wouldnt waste the time with berdan. Observations so far with reloading tula berdan primers into berdan cases a. Brass is pretty evergreen and doesnt hate being fire formed multiple times as much as non brass cases. Add to all of that the relatively high cost of brass, boxerprimed. Learning how to reload ammo will save you money and improve accuracy. The same logic applies to berdan primed, steel cases, usually military rifle calibers. Handloading or reloading is the process of making firearm cartridges or shells by manually. You can probably get what you need at home despot for about the same price as a roll of solder and a can of flux.
I had a tool made from 14 steel rod that exactly fit the case mouth a little sandpaper on the spinning rod with a hole in the business end to. The primer compound deflagrates, it does not detonate that is, it rapidly burns, but. In order to get a good seal when you decap the tool must be a good snug fit. However, some factory steelcased handgun ammo is advertised as noncorrosive and features boxertype primers. Flash holes are the holes in the base of the casing between the primer recess and the space for the powder load. If it is too hard, it will crack rather than deform. For shooters who value premium performance at an affordable price, this 5. Dec 14, 2011 range results and a great price and i can use all my berdan brass stashed away all these years. Conventional wisdom says you cant reload steel case ammo, but reality says you can.
I reloaded all the cases again and will continue firing to see how long they. The part of the primer which offers resistance to the primer compound as the firing. With this great deal on five hundred rounds of m1 garand ammo, you will be well on your way to becoming a crack shot. Lots of time you can tell during resizing, belling or bullet seating ifwhen the case mouth cracks. You need special tools to deprime the brass after it has been fired. Pulled may contain minor dings pulled may contain minor dings. When belling or seating the new bullet the i can tell by the difference in the effort required to push the leverarm down on the press when the case mouth is. I have reloaded not quite a ton of pmc brass, all of it in.
Boxer primed are definitely preferable, but berdan primed can be reloaded as well just a lot more work. You can reload it, but to me it is just way too much hassle. I thought most of it was berdan primed, and figured he was bsing, but saw some cases the other day that looked boxer primed. Each 149 grain fmj projectile is loaded into a boxerprimed brass case and is reloadable. Scrap brass prices being what they are it makes more sense to just sell it and pick up boxer primed at the local range from the non reloaders. If you plan on spending a lot of time at a shooting range, first ask if they allow it. Discussion in the powder keg started by rondog, may 29, 2009. Reloading steel cases boxer primed page 1 reloading. Berdan brass can be modified to use boxer primers, but the problem is berdan primers rely on an anvil inside the brass primer pocket in the center of the pocketreason there are two flash holes. Boxer primed ammo is not as common outside of the united states due to the affordability of berdan primed ammo and restrictions on home reloading in many european countries.
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