SmythBusters: Can Primers Be Reused?

[@georgewilliamson5182]

I've done this multiple times on my over 40 years of handloading. In pistol, rifle, and shotgun ammo. Yes, wear eye protection, which you should already have on. And, yes, slow is good.

[@RobinP556]

When I first saw the title of the video I thought that someone had asked if they could re-use a spent primer! 😮

[@edwardphillips8460]

That’s exactly what I thought.

[@rosswitte]

This is actually an R&R, remove and reinstall. To reuse them is to take a primer that has been set off, fix the firing pin mark, add new chemicals, and reinstall the anvil. Then you reinstall it and fire it again. That's reusing a primer.

[@wslrichards]

There's a us training manual that describes how to reactive spent primers w match heads.

[@TuttleScott]

I wouldn't hold much stock in that. If someone would like to try it that's a youtube video I'd watch though :P

[@sinisterthoughts2896]

@@TuttleScott KZbin wouldn't show it for being reactive chemistry, and for being reloading and constructing ammo. and it can work.

[@moushunter]

rolled paper caps from toy cap guns too. I think even the plastic caps that the dollar store sells with cap guns will work.

[@TuttleScott]

what I'm thinking mostly is that when that manual was written the formula for matchheads was different than now, strike anywhere type heads.

[@maosw]

@@TuttleScott There's at least one video I've watched in the past where someone did just that about 15 years ago. Search for Ammosmith - Making Primers Part 1 and 2. Great channel, sadly he has not uploaded anything for years now.

[@Christoph1888]

It's not re-using primers it's swapping out primers

[@Futurase1]

Agreed

[@3dtexan890]

I cannot believe they used "reuse". Totally wrong. I have done this for many years.

[@rbm6184]

Yes what they are talking about is swapping a new primer out from one case to another. Not reloading a fired or used primer.

[@antonioadinolfi4052]

I suppose once a primer is seated they consider it used but not fired.

[@leewilkinson6372]

Gents, I would like to pose a challenge to you, if you are willing. Can you document 1 case of a live primer ever exploding when being pushed from a case? Honestly, I've done this a couple hundred times with no boom. I will state that I only do this with cases that I primed, so I know they are not crimped. Thanks!

[@Squat5000]

Done it with no issues. It takes impact to set them off. Sketchy but worth it. It's also possible to reload primers. The compound is water based and not very dangerous to work with. The nitro cellulose lacquer to seal it is the hardest part

[@yeayeasautoadventures]

short answer is yes it works, done it many times, shotgun 209s, pistol etc, Steves answer at 2;30 is right on

[@johngalt2506]

You can reuse fired primers too.....the process is just a bit more involved.

[@LoremIpsum1970]

I find it funny, that it's fine for people to reload their own brass, using tools made for the job, but reloading primers is seen as being too way out there 🤣

[@6Sally5]

Back when primers were plentiful and $30 for 1000, I’d soak the cartridges like Steve said, then toss them. Now, if you can even find them, they are north of $80 per 1000, so absolutely….I carefully push them out and save them. And yes…I also have reloaded/recharged them. It’s friggin TEDIOUS and about 70% successful, but if there are no primers to be found, this is acceptable for plinking. A side benefit of 30% failure is practicing malfunction clearing in your training sessions.

[@LeuCustomKnives]

I remember in 2000s primers were $15/1000 when I was reloading.

[@larryreinke6136]

I've done this a few times. Did it exactly like you guys said. Slow and easy.

[@erickaracsonyi4415]

Same, put the primer in backward, and definitely engage the safety squints.

[@anthonyrstrawbridge]

Brilliant! Also, remember to always stir counterclockwise to avoid unmixing.

[@grob25]

I have screwed up bad enough on the reloading bench that, I have had to knock out live primers. Clean your decapping die and go slow. Not my favorite mistake to make, but doable.

[@SuperSneakySteve]

I have reused and reprimed primers with cap gun caps, Prime-All and some other home made mixtures. It works and a good skill to have in tough times.

[@christianlarson6708]

Done it many times slowly and carefully 👍

[@christianlarson6708]

@@LakeSanctuary740 🤣🤣

[@SasquatchComposites]

Yup, I’ve done it with hand loads that were leftover after doing pressure build-ups. Safety glasses and slow decapping and it went fine. They all fired fine when I used those primers a couple months later, too.

[@freedomlover8535]

I have reused primers as discussed - mostly pistol cartridges. Federal primers have dried gel primer compound that breaks up after getting punched out of the brass. Once that priming compound cracks, it starts coming out of the priming cup and becomes unreliable if reused. The W-W and CCI primers had different type of priming compound that was more forgiving when “reused.” in my experience

[@schinderiapraemeturus6239]

I thought this was about reloading spent primers, which Ive been doing for three years now. Not terribly hard, 1-remove anvil 2-clean cups ( steel pins and rotary tumbler work well) 3- remove indent with brass punch and mallet, 4-resize cup if necessary- it will be necessary with SRs, 5 reload with your favorite primer compound ( I prefer FA-70 or Dynamit Nobel's SINOXID), 6 reseat anvil or just center in the cup when case priming. If your recipe is good most failures are mechanical and it's best to keep anvil and cup types matched if possible. Most FTFs will be related to insufficient crush depth. Oh, I am a chemist- that has helped. Reliability has been 98-99% so far, still learning

[@radomguy9678]

I'm glad that you gave an honest answer. An honest answer is one that is given without letting the CYA factor overtake the answer. Reloaders are generally skimpers anyway so I actually would be surprised if there are many seasoned reloaders who have not done this. Especially given the price and availability of primers going up every time there's anything remotely political going on in the world. It is really hard to waste a primer when that's always in the back of your mind. And as Caleb said, if you do happen to ignite the primer in the process, as long as you do not have any powder or explosives around you, you will be okay (except for the soiled underwear).

[@moushunter]

I have recovered primers from damaged cases that slipped by initial inspections. I decapped some Starline brass that I had put large rifle primers into but after a few test loads decided to replace them with large rifle magnum primers. The removed primers from the tight pockets of the new starline brass came out dented outward from the decap pin but reseating them in some 30-30 brass flattened back in shape and they worked fine...maybe a tad loose but they stayed in and worked as expected. I'd like to caution the use of water to deactivate live primers. I had 2 trays of small pistol primers get flooded out. I accidently dropped them into a drip pan from my furnace. They were there more than ten minutes before I found them. I took them out of their trays and let them sit open side up in a flip tray for a few days and almost every one of them worked when reloaded. If you add your spent primers to your scrap brass pile for recycling take the time to smash damaged live primers with a hammer. They will detonate in the scrap recovery process and could cause a fire or injure workers.

[@timrobinson6573]

The only malfunction I ever had with an AR was caused by a popped primer from AAC ammo. A primer popped out during shooting and unbeknowst to me fell into the cam track on the BCG. Next shot nothing trigger didnt reset. Tried to pull the charging handle and it wouldnt move. I had an empty fired case in the chamber. Everything was stuck. Took the rifle home and had to beat the BCG out with a cleaning rod through the barrel. In the cam track was a smashed primer.

[@user-gb8gg6ho4q]

Yep have had to do with cases that I realized were damaged after priming my fault for not inspecting better. And have had to with cases I could not get primers to seat below flush. And had to press out and uniform primer pockets. But thankfully it's been small amounts. Good topic for sure

[@ishnifusmeadle]

Definitely. Done it many times. Ive also reloaded em with various compounds. Neither are hard with common sense, alittle research, and some basic safety considerations.

[@hylomane]

Wear ear protection too! It will make your ears ring if it goes off.

[@daviddrago9360]

I’ve done this a handful of times and no issues, of course inspect the anvil that you haven’t disturbed it. But yes it does work and yes this is only if you have to. If they were hard to seat then they are going to get torn up removing them, if they go in smooth then they will come out smooth. Remember, case prep is key. And yes you can reload primers, there’s a product you can purchase and make the primer compound. It’s loading the cup and resetting the anvil is the tricky part. You can even reload primers with cap gun powder, it’s a little volatile and should only work with small amounts but again can be done. I’ve loaded a few hundred 9mm this way when primers couldn’t be found. Makes for a little extra smoke at discharge but I can say it definitely works. Every one I loaded fired.

[@jamesdaniel6081]

It’s not reusing, it’s swapping. I’ve done this several times with absolutely no issues. Just have to take your time. It CAN BE done.

[@CrashRacknShoot]

I've definitely been guilty of this a few times. Got my brass all annealed, sized, trimmed, cleaned up. And as im rocking away and making up some ammo, *CRUNCH!* Damn. Accidentally had the powder-thru die just off center, or the brass not fully seated in the shellholder. Spin over to the universal depriming die, *GENTLY* press the mangled casing into it, and pop out the good primer to be seated in another. You have to strike them surprisingly hard to set off. They're much more resilient than people give them credit.

[@Jet2416-Reloading]

When primers were extremely hard to get I did deprime some .223 cases without crimps to use in some other rounds but I went at it very gently and certainly wore eye and ear protection in case I popped one off. I successfully got them all out but it is not something I recommend and would not do again as long as I have more unused primers on the shelf.

[@H.R.6688]

I've done that a few times, going slow is a must.

[@johnluke1490]

I actually had a bunch of 223 I primed and decided I was going to switch to 300 Blackout. They worked fine.

[@whatsmolly5741]

Depends on how the primer looks. Sometimes something goes wrong and the primer and the primer slightly deformd and i pull the primer and set them off to the side. I had built a rifle and grabbed one of these primers and put it in a case without powder just to test the rifle, pulled the charging handle and let it go and it went bang. Took me a really long to time to figure out this was a pulled primer and even though it looked fine it clearly wasnt. It was a muran 5.56 primer which tend to be harder than any other 5.56 specific primer so i was in shock at the slam fire. Was scared because i always thought shock is shock who cares what the shape looks like but ya it does make a difference. Decided to never use them in live ammo and now go out of my way to point the barrel away from myself so i dont get shrapnel in my shins just in case.

[@KBell119]

At today's prices, I absolutely salvage my unused primers

[@BM-gy3ty]

The "old concerns" in regards to this are: cracking the primer pellet and changing its output in some way; changing the anvil location in some negative way. Because you can, you should. Experiment and tuck knowledge away. You never know when you might need to use helpful knowledge.

[@dr.froghopper6711]

That’s an interesting take on the matter but you certainly don’t hear me arguing with the notion! My grandfather was a Depression Era blacksmith and well driller in the heart of Dust Bowl New Mexico. He had two theories that he shared with me that stuck. 1.) If anyone has ever done it before and you have all of the original pieces, it can be done again. 2.) You measure a man’s wealth by the size of the junk pile in his backyard, the collection of tools that he has to work with that junk pile and the amount of knowledge that he’s willing to gain from simply giving a job his best shot! God gave us brains and being willing to fail equates to being willing to learn. It’s not a failure if you learn from it!

[@zedirich7]

Done it a few times. Somehow the primer flips and is set upside down and then I have to pop them back out.

[@lawaia14]

I’ve done it several times with no explosion and put it in another case and did fire several rounds but make sure you get all of the powder out before you de prime and be very slow in doing it

[@tacticalrabbit308]

If you are using the cases again you can back out the decapper rod to resize the case .

[@davegrimm1392]

I’ve decapped lots of live primers and loaded them in different cases over many many years of reloading with ZERO problems. I’ve never had one go off when decapping and they all went bang when reloaded. It’s a non issue to me.

[@LoremIpsum1970]

It's not as unusual as you think and it's been looked into quite a bit by certain people, no worse than those that make and use their own BP. I do agree it's probably something you should do only in desperation, like .22RF repriming, but it is do able all the same.

[@nightshadefern162]

I have heard of actually reusing rimfire and percussion cap primers. They used strike anywhere matches, cut the tips off and used that white striker stuff, mixed with rubbing alcohol to form a dough and pushed a small amount into either the case rim or percussion cup. To me that is “reusing primers” more so than just taking live primers and putting them in another case. I have reused live primers a time or two, just dont be stupid and have powder open nearby. None went off.

[@SailfishSoundSystem]

I thought the way you were going was if there was a primer/reloading supply shortage, like 2009, you could take the used primers off spent brass, use a solvent to extract the primer and maybe make it work in a grid down situation?

[@timnelson75]

Caleb would make for a good Chester via Gunsmoke ... He makes me think of a young Dennis Weaver.

[@emptybottleof151]

Ive done this.

[@oldschoolnewschool6270]

I would just load up the primed cases and move on. Is there such a thing as too much ammo?

[@jtuttle11]

Punching out an unspent primer can be done, You MUST use a slow, steady pressure VERY carefully. There have been times when loading the bullet doesn't go exactly as planned and for some reason the shell case is lost. Primers are Expensive in many places and difficult to get.

[@alecubudulecu]

Oh. I was hoping this is an analysis on why

[@davidstuck2866]

been there, done that. but, yeah, BE CAREFUL!

[@siestatime4638]

I just empty out the powder, resize the cases (without the primer punch), and save the primed cases for the next time I load that caliber. The only time(s) I can remember having to punch out a primer is when I damaged (crushed) the case during bullet seating and couldn't/wouldn't run the case through the sizing die.

[@trapperjohn7571]

For people who want to know about re-using detonated primers; it IS possible. This is how the people 3D printing guns in countries where they can't buy ammo are getting primers for reloading, and it's probably been done long before that Basically, you take the anvil out and use a punch to flatten out the firing pin divot, then you put new priming compound in it (usually harvested from nailgun blanks) and replace the anvil. Obviously, this isn't a very safe process and is far more tedious than it's worth, but people in places like Myanmar don't care

[@eastvantony]

ive done it few times by mistake not paying attention to where the press cycled when ive been inturrupted lol

[@detritus23]

Even at $0.08 per primer, is it worth the risk? I am sure some genius has done this in a progressive press with the powder hopper full. Use the largest depriming pin you have, that way you distribute more of the force across more of the anvil's suface. I guess this is another advantage of Berdan-primed cases.

[@cigartexan6368]

My Dillon 650 punches out live primers very well. I've done it hundreds of times!

[@474dalton]

I could see this be some what ok if a primer some how was installed backwards

[@Buckshothill]

Well some how i ended up with one of my 40cal casings that i primed that didn't get sized so i just threw it in a cup of water for about over an hour then took it out and sized it. I just can't see pushing the depriming pin on a live primer guess i was just tought safty over and over.

[@paulbingville6485]

Think the only time I might consider doing it would be with shotgun shells because it can be done without pressing on the anvil when decapping.

[@thecrusaders2516]

It doesn't hurt to put a towel over your press while you're doing it to absorb anything if it does go off.

[@TNGUNGUY]

It can be done but its about like reloading 22LR......its a PITA with a low percentage of performance.

[@kenrasmussen4270]

can you re-pack used primers and use them again.

[@TheEaglekun]

Better question can you reload the primer itself as in remove used primer remove anvil re flatten inside of primer clean put a new priming compound in it put the anvil back in and reload the bullet with reloaded primer

[@lynnanderson2683]

Have done it to wreck shot shells

[@srspammenot]

Make sure you remove each one SEPARATELY into an EMPTY CUP , Not a full cup of explosive bits. Maybe add a damper to the press rod base.

[@lanedexter6303]

Interesting, but not planning to try it. I have had a few primed cases left on a shelf for a decade or two, then added powder & bullets and fired them just fine.

[@LeuCustomKnives]

20 years ago I used to get rounds the automatic reloading machine accidentally loaded backwards. Upside down primers and bullets. I’d pull the bullets using an RCBS kinetic bullet puller and occasionally deprime a live primer using my Dillon Square Deal B press. No primers ever went off. Probably deprimed 100 cases that the reloading company guy would bring me for free.

[@fourkings7897]

I reuse primer all the time,

[@falconcowboy9995]

I've done this in small batches....only had one pop......wouldn't recommend......do people reprime and reanvile primers?

[@CannibalWarthog]

When in a post apocalyptic scenario, it is cool if one reuses primers ✔

[@TuttleScott]

make sure to wear eye pro cause ambulance aint coming :)

[@sherlock1895]

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Cheers!

[@MegaRiffraff]

Be very careful with that water soaking thing , i have a small machine shop , couple years ago a customer wanter me to cut the caseheads off some 30-06 unfired cases about 6mm up from the base for an art project. , he said these have been soaked in water for a few days , so their dead , but he-was wrong ! When i went to remove one of the cases from the lathe the primer went off , went into my right hand just above my thumb , had to be cut out, I did cut the rest of-them later, 60 altogether, but i ran the coolant on the lathe and had no more problems.

[@LoremIpsum1970]

I was always told to oil soak.

[@jerroldkazynski5480]

This video question would be mo betta having a reloading press showing this process. $0.02

[@judelarkin2883]

Wear safety glasses if you’re going to do that.

[@paulmilsaps4476]

What if you accidentally loaded a primer backwards?

[@paulmilsaps4476]

@@LakeSanctuary740 If I do that, Won't I end up shooting myself?

[@floridabeardedwoodworker]

Now teach us to reload the primers!!

[@jimmywilliamson8540]

I don't quite get this one it seems like it would be a horrible idea. I have indeed heard of people reusing primers, putting new priming compound in them and then putting them in a different case after they had already been fired so they're certainly not volatile during that time. I've never heard this version

[@1Alexville]

For public safety, lower the price and increase the availability of reloading components. If it saves one life, eyeball or finger, isn't it worth it?

[@tedlofland3446]

Probably a pain to try refurbishing a primer afterwards.

[@glockparaastra]

a match can burn twice!

[@snowgorilla9789]

As someone who has had 97 small pistol primers go off at once on an automated press I strongly advise against it. But hey who am I to give advise.

[@coloradoguns]

Some things you just can’t cut corners on 😅

[@tommcqueen3145]

Think I saw a guy on KZbin who was recharging black powder primers during the covid shortage

[@dalehazard8016]

I thought that this video would have been about reusing and reloading a spent primer. Obviously not. It's about swapping new, fresh unused primers from one caliber to another. I'm kind of disappointed.

[@chrisgunsandguitars1403]

Sure you can remove live primers gently so they don’t go off, but it’s not common to even need to do it frequently for most people.

[@paulmartin6895]

I done it with all primers , shotgun are the easiest . One need to take things slow and go from there.

[@KingLoopie1]

Yeah... No. A. You're in your reloading area with explosives around, in a confined space, already nervous because you're waiting for that really loud pop which will make you flinch and fumble. And B. Even though primers are 500-1000% of what the used to be, they're still cheap. You're not in a movie, and you're not saving the day. Either save those cases in a labeled zip lock with some desiccant and get some new primers. C. Neutralize those and start over Or... Go ahead, wear eyes and ears protection and while you're at it, mix up a nice batch of nitroglycerin...

[@ericstites9470]

Whatever the CASE may be... dude, you said yourself you gotta lay off the dad jokes.... 😁

[@glockparaastra]

can be done if you used a SPP instead of a SRP, by mistake for example. But keep your eyes away!

[@jongreen5638]

Classic example of just because you can, doesn't mean you should

[@Mikey_Mac]

I’ve dismantled a 30-06 round and dumped out the power, put the case in a vise and replaced the projectile into the case and with a hammer and small screwdriver punched the primer and it sent the projectile across my tool shed and hit the wall with some pretty good velocity. Don’t try this at home, I’m what you call a professional lol

[@seven_sixtwo]

Y'all missed out on an opportunity to close with "if you don't wear your eyepro, you probably won't see us"

[@BertShackleford]

_"I also like to reuse my condoms."_ Said nobody. Honestly, who thinks of this stuff...?! [SMH] Stay classy my friends.

[@ardmoremooney4222]

During covid when primers were hard to find, necessity became the mother of invention. I have done it 100s of times, no issues.

[@BertShackleford]

@@ardmoremooney4222 Oh absolutely! I even mentioned this exact scenario to my wife. Despite that time period being fraught with logistical nightmares, we still had more than enough available ammo. People were just unwilling to pay the prices at that time. However, you are not wrong with that statement. Stay classy my friend.

[@jimv.661]

Wet the primers, drive them out, let them dry, and reuse.

[@garrett6371]

I wouldn't trust my life to the second loads, but it could and should work. Most of the time. There is a well known KZbinr who flattens out the striker indentations and reloads his own primers... Desperate times and all that, necessity is the mother of invention, and insanity. Jerk companies need to make more primers, yeah yeah we have wars to feed, doesn't mean you stop feeding your regular domestic bread and butter. Jerks.

[@kinzieconrad105]

Yes but it is a lot of work

[@biggerbehindthetrigger2814]

Just don't do it. Why take the chance in setting your reloading room on fire. It's not worth of.

[@robertjensen1438]

What transformer loves to reload? Optimus Primer.

[@dakotahills2.095]

Come on people, DON'T BE SO CHEAP. WOW!!! CHEAPASS!!!!!

[@th71-23]

Yes yes you can

[@John-zf5wc]

Hello Caleb and Steve. Great video, per usual! Caleb, I know I've seen and heard you state there's no situation in which you'd use Lok - Tite on an AR, but i wanted to ask your "permission" to utilize it in my unique situation. I'd like to apply a bit of purple Lok - Tite to the two thumb screws attaching my carry handle to my AR15. Also, would you allow me to place a touch of it to the threads of the stud before installing and tightening of the thumb screw on the picatinny rail accessory for mounting a red dot or scope on top of the carry handle? There's one last place I'd like to use it with your blessing, of course. This would be on the two set screws securing the red dot to the aforementioned picatinny rail section. Your expertise and advice would be greatly appreciated on this matter. Thanks Caleb!

[@brownells]

You're good to go, just use it sparingly!

[@John-zf5wc]

Thanks a million for your answer so quickly! By the way, if anyone is looking for an excellent rifle - gun case, I recently purchased the Savior 'American Classic" 42" model from Brownell's, at an excellent price. I've found it to be just what I needed! There's plenty of room for my AR carbine, with room for my future 20" rifle length AR, loaded mags, a Glock, my wife's Ruger .380, plenty of ammo, range tools I may find useful, targets, and tape for attaching targets to discarded cardboard boxes. All this in one easily carried package! Keep up the great work, Brownells! @@brownells

[@John-zf5wc]

Hello Caleb and Steve. Recently I viewed a video of yall's about oils and lubes which are good for use on firearms. From the time when I was just a pup, my Grandparents kept 3 in One oil on hand. Granny used it on her foot operated sewing machine and Grandpa used it on his .22 rifle he used at hog killing time and squirrel and "possum" hunting, and basically on anything that had moving parts. In your video I mentioned you stated WD 40 was not recommended for firearms because there was no rust preventative in it. So, I'm wondering you men's professional opinion on using 3 in One oil on a firearm. Thanks!

[@theblindsniper9130]

Misleading title but it happens, ive had it happen a few times on my own titles People give me ammo all the time i pull components from, including primers. Be slow, you will be fine

[@john-sutton-tn]

Can you reload mil surplus ammo cases?

[@deeeeeeps]

Keep all hazardous materials away when dealing with primers. As long as you wear safety glasses and keep your hands away one going off won't do much. This day and age every primer must be saved.

[@sbreheny]

It's not the same thing as hitting the face of the primer. You are pressing the anvil against the bottom of the cup. The firing pin compresses the priming compound between the point of the anvil and the pin indent.