Berdan Primer Availability

[kit_gun_fun]

Where can I purchase Berdan primers at a reasonable price. The only place I know of is "Old Western Scrounger" and at 5 or 6 cents per each it is hard to justify.

It is only a matter of time before the bureauacracy stops the reasonably (give away) priced imported steel cased stuff. I intend to purchase only brass cased imported (which is invariably berdan) against the possibility of reloading in the future.

I know. People you reload Berdan obviously don't have anything better to do with their time. But I can pick up brass at the range for the right price and Boxer commercial is close to $100 per 500.

Can anybody help?

[Jaeger]

Berdan priming is more a function of case design than primer design. If there is a difference in primers between boxer cartridges and berdan cartridges I don't know what it is. You can reload berdan primed brass with standard primers. Just make sure that what you have picked up is brass and not steel. Steel cases cannot be reloaded!! I don't know of anyone who sells berdan cases for reloading. They are such a pain to remove the primers that there just isn't a market for them. Even if you could find them I would imagine that they would be expensive.

[JA]

Berdan decapping tool is $41.99 from www.midwayusa.com It works good once you set the decapping pin depth. It takes a little trail and error to get it right but once that is done it is just like popping the cap off a coke bottle.
OWS is the only source for berdan primers,
Berdan primers are NOT repeat NOT the same size as boxer!!!! They are larger so they will not fit boxer brass. If you don't have the berdan primer spec/price sheet email me at J.A.FREEMAN@WORLDNET.ATT.NET I will email jpg of it. This sheet is a must because there are 9 sizes of primers.
I called OWS last week about my order for 3 different sizes of berdan primers they said that it should be a week before they get there container in. 2 sizes are backordered awaiting container.

[kit_gun_fun]

JA

Is that the page out of OWS's catalog? If so, I have a copy of the catalog. I'll get on the phone to midway and order up a mechanical deprimer. Thanks for the help

David

[JA]

I guess it is it has all the dementions/prices of the berdan primers.
Just remember you have to adjust the depth of the decapping pin for every different caliber case. It is made by RCBS midway #245-983 You need to check www.huntington.com for berdan primer seaters. There are 3 sizes and your shell holder has to be drilled out to a larger size to allow seater assembly to pass thru shell holder.

[kit_gun_fun]

You're right, berdan primer removal is not easy. The least painful, but most messy method involves setting up the proper trim die in the reloading press, running the case into the die. Then fill it up with water. Place a wooden dowel into the case mouth. "Tap it with a hammer and the primer "hydraulics" out. Then clean up the water and start over with the next case.

RCBS sells a mechanical remover, but its a little spendy.

The construction of the two primers types is different in that the boxer has the anvil built into it. The legs of the anvil sit on the bottom of the primer pocket in the case. In a berdan primed case, the anvil is built into the case. Primer pocket diameters may be the same though. Perhaps if I remove the anvil from a boxer primer, it would work.

Nah, that's too simple.

CCI uses the berdan system in their aluminum cased Blazer brand ammunition, primarily to keep reloaders from reusing these "one shot" cases. However they don't have any intention of marketing the primers to the general public.