OT - Berdan Primers

[deerwhacker444]

I was just wondering why I cannot find Berdan primers? I've got some beautiful GP11 7.5x55 Swiss brass that I hate to trash. Is there some reason I'm not aware of as to why Berdan primers are not available?

[J Miller]

You don't find Berdan primers any more because 99.999999999999999999% of the ammo loaded and reloaded in this country uses Boxer primers.
RWS makes Berdan primers. Do a search on that company, you might find someone who has them. I understand your desire not to scrap good brass.

Joe

[Rusty]

I had a friend who wanted to shoot a chi com moisan Nagant he brought home from S.E. Asia. Back then 7.62X54R was scarce as hens teeth and if you could find it it was expensive. He ended up taking what brass he did have, which had berdan primers in it and drilling the primer pockets out so they would fit a 209 primer. It wasn't a barn burnin varmit round but with some cast bullets and mild loads he could at least enjoy his trophy.

[AJMD429]

I had a friend who wanted to shoot a chi com moisan Nagant he brought home from S.E. Asia. Back then 7.62X54R was scarce as hens teeth and if you could find it it was expensive. He ended up taking what brass he did have, which had berdan primers in it and drilling the primer pockets out so they would fit a 209 primer. It wasn't a barn burnin varmit round but with some cast bullets and mild loads he could at least enjoy his trophy.

I saw a post recently on drilling a center hole for decapping, and then using regular rifle/pistol (I don't remember the size) primers and the author said it worked well. Again, there is alot of flash-hole open that way, and you'd want to make sure the primer fit was reasonably snug (probably by feel as you seat it) and definitely flush so not to slam-fire. I'd stick with pretty low pressure loadings, too, if it were me.

Can you fire-form the brass from another Boxer-primed one more easily available?

[JustaJeepGuy]

You could always convert the cases:

http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsfo ... -Conversio

Worth a try, I think.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
There must be a simple solution to the berdan primer. Swage the Berdan pocket, solder in a plug, drill the vent hole, then drill the primer hole small and swage it to final fit.
Just an idea sitting here ...
Mike in Peru God Bless ya´ll

[Rusty]

Jeep guy,

I think I like your idea better.

[PaulB]

Well, instead of converting the cases you can use them as is. I have seen pictures of Berdan decappers, one kind that spears the primer and pries it out, the other is a hydraulic arrangement that pressurizes the case and pushes the primer out.

I haven't worked with Berdan primers, but have thought of it. A lot of good brass gets tossed because it is not Boxer. Sorry, I don't have any sources for tools or primers, maybe google will help.

[J Miller]

RCBS sells the decapping tools.

Don't know where to get the Berdan primers though.

Joe

[PaulB]

Huh, you're right. I googled around and found that PMC imported Berdan primers from Russia back in '05 or so (or at least planned to), and that "Old Western Scrounger" used to have them but he's now out of business. Couldn't find anyone actually selling them. Hmmm, sounds like a business opportunity...

[66GTO]

Huh, you're right. I googled around and found that PMC imported Berdan primers from Russia back in '05 or so (or at least planned to), and that "Old Western Scrounger" used to have them but he's now out of business. Couldn't find anyone actually selling them. Hmmm, sounds like a business opportunity...

+1 on the business opportunity. I have a bucket of GP11 brass from my K31. Quite a few K31's and GP11 have been sold the past few years. I'll bet there is no shortage of Berdan primers in Europe. If an enterprising web store would stock some and advertise that they have them,along with the dies and the decapping tool, they would sell. Either Redding or RCBS make 7.5 Swiss dies for the K31 chamber, I can't recall which one. The others are patterned on earlier rifles using the 7.5 Swiss round.

I just can't bring myself to scrap that beautiful GP11 high quality Swiss brass. Maybe Berdan primers will be back one day.