Crushed brass & live primer - Now what?

[jedi]

So today during my reloading session I managed to crush 2 brass casings.
The brass is crushed beyond repair, the bullet I was able to save and the powder. However the brass still have a live primer in it.

So how do I dispose of this? I'm sure its not safe to deprime this case with the single stage press. Is it today to just toss in the garage? Or can I take it somewhere? (fire dept, police station, etc...)



-Jedi

 

[redneckmedic]

If you have only brass and primer, no powder or bullet...

If the brass will chamber, load it, follow the 10 safety rules and discharge the primer.

If it won't chamber, toss it in a burn barrel if you have open burn regulations follow them.

If none of these work, put it on the shelf as a keep sake

 

[ckcollins2003]

It's just a primer... without powder there's not even really much of a flash. If you're really worried about it, dig a small hole in the yard and bury it. Or just toss it in the trash.

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

Well I'm not gonna be the one to say just throw it away lol cause I'm sure that isnt what the trash company would want ya to do. You could fill a coffe can with wd40 like the ranges do and soak them in it to kill the primer.

 

[SSGSAD]

Put the case and primer, in some kind of oil, for a few days, it SHOULD de activate the primer, then "safely dispose" of it .....

 

[cobber]

Soak in motor oil, or even water...

 

[jedi]

Thanks all I do have used motor oil in the garage. I'll use some of that.
I can't put the cases back into a die they are really messed up.


-Jedi

 

[UncleMike]

Spray WD-40 in the case.
That stuff will kill the primer immediately.

 

[shibumiseeker]

Oil and water will not kill a primer. They may make them less sensitive, but they will not kill them. The key were there is MAY make them less sensitive. The primer pellet is pretty well sealed and there's no guarantee oil or water will penetrate, ESPECIALLY when it's in a case. With water, once the water dries out the primer is still as sensitive as before. Even oil will dry out over time and the primer can regain sensitivity. I posted here a couple years ago my efforts to kill primers.

Having said that, it's just a standard primer (not a .50bmg primer which has about as much energy as a .25acp). When I get that situation happen I put it in the cast iron skillet and stand them up on low heat and leave the room til I hear it pop, usually takes about 5 minutes. I do that rather than toss it in the burn pile because I recycle the brass. You could wrap it in a paper towel and dispose of it in the regular garbage, they really aren't that big of a deal, far more dangerous stuff goes into the garbage.

 

[jedi]

Ok then why a paper towel???

 

[sloughfoot]

Send them to the recycler with all your other scrap brass. Not a big deal.

 

[Caleb]

grab the brass with a pair of pliers and whack the end with a hammer...don't forget the hearing and eye protecting

 

[shibumiseeker]

Ok then why a paper towel???

So the brass doesn't tear the plastic bag or fall out of some other hole as easily. Also makes it less attractive to someone picking through the garbage. No reason other than that. I do that for many things I put in the garbage that might be a hazard to someone else like broken glass or small sharp metal objects. Just my habit.

 

[longbarrel]

Put in on a concrete floor horizontal and drop a block on it from shoulder height. Or just de-prime? They are pressure sensitive, so if you drop a block, anvil, something like that, I'm sure it will work. Or just de-prime it.

 

[billybob44]

You KNOW Why...

Ok then why a paper towel???

That's for you to WIPE with after the primer goes off+Scares the Sheet out of you..HA HA..Bill.

 

[blamecharles]

That's for you to WIPE with after the primer goes off+Scares the Sheet out of you..HA HA..Bill.

 

[NathanJefferson]

I could have sworn I was told you can just de-prime it like you would a fired primer?

 

[Caleb]

I could have sworn I was told you can just de-prime it like you would a fired primer?

You can if your case isn't all buckled up

 

[Broom_jm]

Ok then why a paper towel???

So the garbage guy doesn't see it and freak? Not sure it's really needed.

Odds are good you can "massage" the brass enough to get it in your chamber to pop the primer. No biggie. It always cracks me up when new reloaders lose a case or two and it really bugs 'em. Now, when you're working with stuff that takes a lot of work to make, like a 30 Herrett case or expensive/obscure brass, I can see it...but with 9mm or 45ACP? Heck, they're almost literally a dime a dozen. Hard to get worked up over crushing one or two.

 

[LarryHoosier]

I have this happen semi-frequently because I load alot of weird loads for cartridges which I have to cobble up myself. Your best friend is a Lee hand decapper. It is cheap and is just a steel base which you place the offending brass over and a strong steel decapping tool which you strike with a hammer, voila! Sometimes it is necessary to take snips and peel the brass back far enough to get the decapper in but never fails, and usually the primer is good to go with another case.