View Full Version : Drilling a live cartridge Show armandolo 10-08-2008, 9:25 AM I keep a collection of different handgun and rifle cartridges for reference and comparison. They are all live and I would like to make them inert. Is there a problem of me drilling the side of the shell to empty the powder? Could the powder ignite and the cartridge explode if I drill? Cobrarlc 10-08-2008, 9:40 AM Buy a bullet puller hammer. Gunsrruss 10-08-2008, 9:41 AM Yes, your asking for trouble. We had a guy in Thailand that drilled 20 MM HE rounds to get the powder out. One went off in a crowded area. It blew all the fingers off one hand and put a huge hole in his leg. There were fingers and meat hanging from the ceiling. Bad part was it was a High Explosive round. The head bounced over into the radar shop. Lucky for us a EOD truck was going by and they heard the blast. The EOD guy came in and the first thing he saw was the bullet. He grabbed it up and ran out the back throwing it into a ditch. No do not drill the rounds,Please:eek: FEDUPWBS 10-08-2008, 9:51 AM Yes, your asking for trouble. We had a guy in Thailand that drilled 20 MM HE rounds to get the powder out. One went off in a crowded area. It blew all the fingers off one hand and put a huge hole in his leg. There were fingers and meat hanging from the ceiling. Bad part was it was a High Explosive round. The head bounced over into the radar shop. Lucky for us a EOD truck was going by and they heard the blast. The EOD guy came in and the first thing he saw was the bullet. He grabbed it up and ran out the back throwing it into a ditch. No do not drill the rounds,Please:eek: :useless: armandolo 10-08-2008, 1:55 PM Buy a bullet puller hammer. I looked into that, but wouldn't the hammer damage the bullet? and most importantly how whould I properly place the bullet back? bohoki 10-08-2008, 2:05 PM I looked into that, but wouldn't the hammer damage the bullet? and most importantly how whould I properly place the bullet back? not if you put a bit of styrofoam or a little cleaning patch at the bottom maybe drilling it underwater would keep the temp down and brass is not likely to spark sorensen440 10-08-2008, 2:06 PM I would not drill into a metal case full of gunpowder. Two Shots 10-08-2008, 2:22 PM It is risky to drill a live round, You can use a Impact Bullet Puller http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=215517&t=11082005 sargenv 10-08-2008, 2:35 PM Yuu could just put out a notice on here asking for those of us who reload to MAKE you up various dummy rounds for a small fee to cover bullets/brass. I could make: 20 gauge I think that's about it... um.. anyone else? :D Tumerboy 10-08-2008, 2:54 PM anyone doing 5.45x39 or 5.7x28? CSACANNONEER 10-08-2008, 3:09 PM Even if you drilled the case and dumped all the powder, you still have a live primer! Either collect live rounds or, inert dummy rounds. Please don't remove powder from a live round and think it's safe. While powder is a propellent, primers are explosive! If you want dummy rounds, I load a variety of calibers from .25acp to 50BMG. Oh, you can include .2 1/2" .410s in there as well. American_pride 10-08-2008, 3:35 PM anyone doing 5.45x39 or 5.7x28? yes on the 5.7 CSACANNONEER 10-08-2008, 3:45 PM yes on the 5.7 I've got a friend who has dies and brass but can't find bullets or load data. Can you either post any info you can give me or, PM it to me? Thanks in advance! bohoki 10-08-2008, 3:49 PM i'm always working on a bullet board but i always run out of room armandolo 10-08-2008, 4:23 PM So far I have only the calibers I have guns for. They are Rifles handguns I'll be happy to exchange the live ones with inerts given they are in good shape. fusionstar 10-08-2008, 6:58 PM Pull the bullet, dump the powder, soak in motor oil to kill primer, drill, seat bullet = Key Chain. EBR Works 10-08-2008, 7:20 PM I can do 7.62x54r & 7.62x39 dummy rounds for you. No need to exchange. Just PM your address to me. mike100 10-08-2008, 7:21 PM It would be best to seat a bullet into a case that had no primer in it. That way you would know it was a dud. Tumerboy 10-08-2008, 9:48 PM Couldn't you just fire the primers off? fusionstar 10-08-2008, 10:52 PM Couldn't you just fire the primers off? yes but some prefer it as if it were loaded. ar15barrels 10-08-2008, 11:51 PM I could make: 20 gauge I think that's about it... um.. anyone else? :D Amatuer... :D I load for: 32magnum, 380, 9x18, 9mm, 38 super, 357sig, 38spl, 357mag, 357max, 40s&w, 10mm, 41mag, 44mag, 45acp, 45colt, 17rem, 20tactical, 204ruger, 22hornet, 218bee, 222, 223, 222mag, 22-250, 6ppc, 6-223, 243, 6mm rem,
6.5grendel, 260, 6.5x55, 7tcu, 7-08, 7mag, 30carbine, 300whisper, 30herret/30HRT, 30-30, 308, 30-06,7.62x39, 338federal, 375jdj, 50bmg. Moonclip 10-09-2008, 1:00 AM Yuu could just put out a notice on here asking for those of us who reload to MAKE you up various dummy rounds for a small fee to cover bullets/brass. I could make: 20 gauge I think that's about it... um.. anyone else? :D I have owned or own guns that could chamber all those rounds but 2:) Buy a bullet puller hammer. +1. AJAX22 10-09-2008, 7:13 AM don't trust oil to destroy the primers, occasionally one will be very well sealed with varnish or something and will not be damaged by the oil. makes for a bit of a surprise. Tumerboy 10-09-2008, 7:59 AM Forgive my ignorance, but how much oomph is actually in a primer? You guys make it sound like even when the powder is gone, the primer could be quite dangerous. I'd imagine that an empty case with a primer and a bullet, when fired, would dislodge the bullet, but I didn't think there was enough in the primer to do any serious damage (explode the shell, fire the bullet at any dangerous velocity, etc.)? ar15barrels 10-09-2008, 8:08 AM Forgive my ignorance, but how much oomph is actually in a primer? Aguila makes 22 ammo with NO powder and the bullet makes it out of the gun around 400fps. Primers are more powerful than you think. Tumerboy 10-09-2008, 8:12 AM good to know. Never realized. Beelzy 10-09-2008, 9:07 AM I do know that a magnum primer has enough force to push a 44 cal bullet (BB caps and other no powder low Vel. rounds have more primer mix than Bruce3 10-09-2008, 9:16 AM Forgive my ignorance, but how much oomph is actually in a primer? You guys make it sound like even when the powder is gone, the primer could be quite dangerous. I'd imagine that an empty case with a primer and a bullet, when fired, would dislodge the bullet, but I didn't think there was enough in the primer to do any serious damage (explode the shell, fire the bullet at any dangerous velocity, etc.)? i accidentally loaded a 115gr 9mm with no powder before and the round made it halfway down my Glock 19 barrel if that helps. That was how Brandon Lee Died during the making of "The Crow" They had Blanks for the firing sequence, but wanted some rounds to look real when the gun was pointed at the camera (It was a revolver) All they had were some live rounds, so someone pulled the bullets out and drained the powder then replaced the bullet in the cartridge. I can't remember but I think they also fired the primers before inserting the rounds, only later to find out a few had not been fired off. Anyways during the filming when Brandon gets shot in the head one of their "So-Called" Dummy rounds was left in the gun. when they pulled the trigger he was shot in the head and died. That's at least what I remember from to documentery.... ***Edit*** Sorry I just looked it up to , but Brandon lee was not killed by a bullet placed in a empty cartridge... Blank goes off, dislodges the bullet and Brandon gets shot.... ***End of Edit*** Sorry, figured I'd correct what I wrote.... Now back to topic CSACANNONEER 10-09-2008, 2:11 PM Aguila makes 22 ammo with NO powder and the bullet makes it out of the gun around 400fps. Primers are more powerful than you think. and, centerfire primers probably have more power than a .22lr. LewDog 10-09-2008, 3:27 PM and, centerfire primers probably have more power than a .22lr. Last time I went shooting I got curious about how loud the pop would be from just a primer and loaded my AR with a casing that had no powder or bullet. I was actually surprised that the sound was comparable to a .22lr. Pretty good puff of smoke too from such a small thing. sargenv 10-09-2008, 3:31 PM Yep, Primers are more powerful than most people realize. A shotshell primer would likely be the most powerful of them all. CSACANNONEER 10-09-2008, 4:04 PM Yep, Primers are more powerful than most people realize. A shotshell primer would likely be the most powerful of them all. 209 primers are wimpy compared to the 1000 CCI#35 that are on my kitchen table right now! They are the only centerfire primers I deal with that can make me nervous. Of couse, the friction primers we use for muzzle loading artillary are even worse. Also, AJAX22 is right. I know a few people, with the proper testing facilities, who have soaked primers with oil for extended amounts of time and then tested them. Only to find out that they were still active. DON'T TRUST OIL TO DEACTIVATE ANY PRIMER! Why bother? They're perfectly safe just the way they are. fusionstar 10-09-2008, 6:19 PM well with 2 holes drilled in the side of the case, a primer going off would not push the bullet out with great force if at all, and since its not confined in a barrel, there would be no lethal velocities to worry about. BUT the primer might blow out and bounce around the house. you could cook the primed case till the primers pop then put a bullet on top. Just a suggestion, sounds idiotic but its crazy enough to might just work. Ill start my own line of 7.62x54r key chains. Ill call them soviet dingle berry emporium. jamesob 10-09-2008, 6:45 PM if you decide to drill your case, let me know because i want to watch. ciscosixgun 10-09-2008, 9:56 PM Dude, I must be crazy! Here is how you do it. I slowly and carefully drill a hole in the side of the case. Brass doesn't spark and the case is not that thick. It doesn't take much to drill through it, just take your time. After I shake out all the powder I grab the case with a pair of pliers and point the the primer in a safe direction. Then I hit the back of the case with a torch until the primer goes off. You gotta be pretty careful because that primer comes out with some serious velocity. Of course I also wear eye and ear protection. Most of you will probably think I'm nuts, but thats how you do it.
EBR Works 10-09-2008, 10:21 PM Really the only safe way to accomplish this is to use a kinetic puller to remove the bullet and powder. Then place the empty case in a weapon and fire the primer. Alternatively, you can put the empty case in a padded vise and tap the primer with a punch to discharge it. Wear hearing and full face protection during the process. Replace the bullet in the case and you're done. I made this keychain accessory/bullet button tool using this procedure. I drilled the hole for the key ring as the final step. http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/impactco/76254krMedium.jpg Two Shots 10-10-2008, 6:54 AM Dude, I must be crazy! Here is how you do it. I slowly and carefully drill a hole in the side of the case. Brass doesn't spark and the case is not that thick. It doesn't take much to drill through it, just take your time. I believe he wanted to keep the cases for display thats why I recommend the bullet puller. Brass won't spark, Steel cases could (Murphy's law). This is were you would need to use caution, Loose powder falling on your work area fromm a drilled case. Grains of powder that got missed in clean up could be fuel for future sparks (Murphy's law) again. After I shake out all the powder I grab the case with a pair of pliers and point the the primer in a safe direction. Then I hit the back of the case with a torch until the primer goes off. You gotta be pretty careful because that primer comes out with some serious velocity. Same as above he wants the cases for display. It's not the power of the primer going off, I had many go off using those lee loaders were you use a mallet to seat the primer (Glove/eye protection) when they pop it's the pieces of the anvil/insides of the primer that can fly out and the flame/flash. Of course I also wear eye and ear protection. Good man Most of you will probably think I'm nuts, but thats how you do it. No, I don't think your nuts Your method would work. There is many way to do it. I saw a program years ago were they took 6 rds of 30-06 and place on a Hotplate and covered it with a cardbord box. When the rounds went off the frags didn't pierce the box. The reason was they weren't confined. 5hundo 10-10-2008, 3:07 PM Buy a bullet puller hammer. If you have a reloading press, might I suggest a bullet puller die, instead of that "hammer". I was pulling some .30-06 tracers (when I lived out of state) to put regular "ball" style bullets on and one of those hammer things snapped like a twig in my hand... EBR Works 10-10-2008, 3:18 PM If someone wishes to pull the projectiles from cases in multiple calibers, a kinetic (hammer type) puller makes more sense IMO. CSACANNONEER 10-10-2008, 3:31 PM Kinetic pullers and collet pullers are two different animals and both have their place on the reloading bench. A kinetic puller can not damage a bullet but, a collet puller can. Yet, a collet puller is the only type I'd use on rounds which detonate on impact, like APIs. As far as drilling into a live round goes, yes it can be done. But, even though you can also "win" 100 games of russian roulette in a row, there's a chance that you won't be so lucky next time. Why take the chance? Do it safely instead. EBR Works 10-10-2008, 3:37 PM Why take the chance? Do it safely instead. Yep, you don't want to end up like this :eek: http://jennarobbins.com/blog/uploaded_images/ray_minus_finger4-738384.JPG Kinetic pullers and collet pullers are two different animals and both have their place on the reloading bench. A kinetic puller can not damage a bullet but, a collet puller can. Yet, a collet puller is the only type I'd use on rounds which detonate on impact, like APIs. As far as drilling into a live round goes, yes it can be done. But, even though you can also "win" 100 games of russian roulette in a row, there's a chance that you won't be so lucky next time. Why take the chance? Do it safely instead. What? What on earth is going to upset an armor-piercing-incendiary bullet in a kinetic puller? "detonate"?? A .30 API round?? CSACANNONEER 10-10-2008, 4:06 PM What? What on earth is going to upset an armor-piercing-incendiary bullet in a kinetic puller? "detonate"?? A .30 API round?? I was thinking 50cal API. Yes, there is/was a 50BMG kinetic puller on the market. Well, I really said it just to play it safe, I'll say it again, I would not recommend pulling any type of impact detonating round with a kinetic puller. NotSoFast 10-10-2008, 5:31 PM I looked into that, but wouldn't the hammer damage the bullet? and most importantly how whould I properly place the bullet back? You put the bullet back with a reloading press of the appropriate caliber. You might want to drill the cartridge. I don't like living the exciting life anymore. I'd use the hammer type bullet puller and look for a simple way to replace the bullet. diginit 10-10-2008, 7:59 PM Use a BULLET PULLING HAMMER, NOT a carpenters hammer! This called a kinetic bullet puller. It already has a pad inside to cusion the bullet. Fire the primed case in a gun or press out the primer slowly with a reloading press. Then use the opposite end of the puller or press to reseat the bullet. This is the
only safe way to do it. I'm amazed at some of the suggestions here. weezil_boi 11-28-2008, 2:30 PM would it be safe to just soak a bunch of rounds in a penetrating oil for a week or so? Wouldnt that make them inert? Test them at the range and strike each twice to make sure they are duds? Would they dry out and become live again? could you destroy the primer and power without pulling the bullet? ar15barrels 11-28-2008, 7:03 PM would it be safe to just soak a bunch of rounds in a penetrating oil for a week or so? No. vBulletin® v3.8.11, Copyright ©2000-2022, vBulletin Solutions Inc. Can you drill the primer of a bullet?It is extremely unsafe to drill into a live primer.
What happens when a primer is struck?Upon being struck with sufficient force generated by the firing pin, or electrically ignited, primers react chemically to produce heat, which gets transferred to the main propellant charge and ignites it, and this, in turn, propels the projectile.
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Can you drill out a primer?
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