Need advice on a screw up

bikejunky

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Aug 2, 2007
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Ohio
I screwed up an primed about 20 308 shells before realizing I didn't check the holes for media remnants after tumbling them. They have Winchester primers in them.

What are my options.

Should I fire them in my bolt gun or can I safely deprime them with my press?

Thanks

Bikejunky
 
Options...1, say screw it and load it, the problem will be the potential for a dud. 2. Just fire them without the load...issue, you lose a primer. 3. dig out the media...problem, time consuming.

I've been guilt of this in the past...trying to dig the media out. Would have been much faster to simply fire off the primer, reprime and call it a day. But Nooooo, I've got to be an ADD/OCD dipshit and spend 10x longer removing the media...Why? Because I "need to save a primer" worth about $.04. After removing the media from a dozen of them...I just pulled the trigger and saved me the hassle.

What you can do is get a small flashlight and look to see if there is anything in the hole. If anything is present...turn the case upside down, grab the case and in a quick, rapid swinging motion rap on your bench and you may dislodge the media. If the rap doesn't do it, get an ice pick or make a pick out of wire coat hanger etc. and bust it out (pulling sideways into the media--not pushing into the media).

Yes, if you go slow during the decap process, you can push out the primer though you may have an issue where the media gets in the way and it can't be pushed out---try the pick, rapping on the bench method first. It will be a case by case basis...some will come out slapping it on the bench, some will require a pick, some will push out.