Milsurp After Hours

My RCBS Bullet Puller arrived yesterday but I am still waiting for the Collet........... Very frustrating!

Dies arrived this morning - 22€ Customs Duty to pay but they came free so that's a good deal.
The collet I ordered was out of stock and looked like a long wait but found another on Amazon of all places. Due mid September

7 seconds ago#31
Back to the Berdan / Boxer problem.
Having now managed to get hold of a couple of 7/32" - 5.556 mm drill bits I opened up the primer pocket in the 'working case' and inserted a .22 lr spent cartridge to 'sleeve' it for a boxer primer.
Looks like I over did it - I always do! - to be removed with a Dremel or if not practical, a junior hacksaw........

If the cases use standard size Berdan primers, why not use those and save the faff of converting to boxer? I use Eley or ICI old No.81 Berdan primers and RWS 5620 Berdan primers to reload .303, 7.92x57, 7.62x51, .30-06 and 7.5x55 swiss. I missed out on an auction lot of 7000 RWS 5620 primers at an auction recently. They would have lasted me quite a while. I reload Boxer primed cases also.
Regards
Peter.

http://www.dave-cushman.net/shot/berdan ... sions.html
Some interesting info there, need to read it.
How do you determine what size primer you need?
They are advertised in some gun shops here but stocks are patchy!

I found 500 Sellier & Bellot 5620 which appear to be the correct size. $142 shipped, $0.28 each.

Is that right? $142 shipping? Less than three or four ounces in a eight by ten envelope or box?

The usual size of large rifle Berdan primers is 5.5mm or .217 inch. There are some odd sizes but most relatively modern Berdan primed rifle cases cases will be 5.5mm. I forgot to add that I also reload old 1940 dated Bulgarian 8x56R military cases with Berdan primers. All the Berdan cases I reload are 5.5mm primers. I have some .303 cases that have the big .250 inch primers. I have not reloaded any of those yet, though I do have 600 odd of the primers to suit. The only difference between reloading Berdan or Boxer is the decapping process for Berdan primed cases. Just don't forget to remove the decapping pin when sizing Berdan cases.
The primers in your photo are noted as RWS 5620 on the hand written label. It looks like RWS primers repacked in S&B boxes.
Regards
Peter.

"$142 shipped" ....... I'm pretty sure he meant $142 including shipping, that's the total price.

.

Guess that part didn't register. Well....it was 6/31st skype chat night and I had consumed a few brews. Even so those primers are pretty pricey.