Live Primer Removal

[sailorb]

A while back I loaded some light cast bullets with Trail Boss and Unique for my .30-30. Long story short they didn't work well in my Marlin Micro Groove barrel. I want to pull the bullets, recover the powder and reuse the cases.
This leads to two questions. Do I need to resize the case to get proper neck tension, or can I just add new powder and bullets? If I do need to resize, what is the best way to neutralize the primers? I have cheated on single rounds before and used a decapping die to gently remove a live primer, but am not keen on doing a whole batch that way.

 

[Cholo]

You don't need to remove the primers and you'll only need to neck size the brass. If you're wanting to use a different primer, gently use the decapping die and don't let the unfired primers fall on each other! 40 or so years ago I had about 50 blow up in my face, not cool!

It goes without saying: Always wear eye protection while reloading!

 

[daveg.inkc]

Just remove decapper pin, run thru size die. I have to do this on occasion.

 

[Twoboxer]

You have several choices, but all involve re-sizing the neck.

Remove the primers and redo from "scratch".

Remove the decapping rod and FL resize.

Remove the decapping rod (if present) and neck size.

 

[Mobuck]

Over the years, I've "decapped" probably close to 100 cases (mostly ones with upside down primers) and haven't had one POP(yet). I've even punched out some crimped primers w/o a POP.

 

[wizofwas]

You have several choices, but all involve re-sizing the neck.

Remove the primers and redo from "scratch".

Remove the decapping rod and FL resize.

Remove the decapping rod (if present) and neck size.

This ^^^^^^
And as a side note, if you do decide to decap the shells, just be careful and go slow. I've yet to have one go pop on me but I always wear glasses to protect my eyes.

 

[sailorb]

Thanks for the replies. This kind of confirms my line of thinking. I think I'll remove the decapping pin and go from there. I too have removed some live ones and never had a "bang", but I hate to push my luck. I think I'll do a full length resize just so I don't have to change the die. With a lever action, I have never done a neck size on this caliber, have on a lot of others.

 

[Mobuck]

"I have never done a neck size on this caliber, have on a lot of others."

Since the cases weren't actually fired, the only part that might have expanded is the neck.

 

[sailorb]

After looking at it, I think I'll remove the decapping pin, leave the die setting alone and do a full resize. It won't really be resizing anything but the neck and I won't have to readjust the die when I'm done. Haven't been able to find any info on neck sizing .30-30 cases since a vast majority are fired in lever guns.

 

[mikld]

Thanks for the replies. This kind of confirms my line of thinking. I think I'll remove the decapping pin and go from there. I too have removed some live ones and never had a "bang", but I hate to push my luck. I think I'll do a full length resize just so I don't have to change the die. With a lever action, I have never done a neck size on this caliber, have on a lot of others.

That'll work. The necks prolly have expanded a bit from the previous bullets and unless you're set up for neck sizing, F/L sizing w/o the decapping stem is the easiest method. BTDT a few times...