Reusing Primers?

Guys,

I've worked up loads for my 6.5 CM and identified a couple of loads that worked well. I used Small mag Primers and I also used reg small rifle Primers. I screwed up and primed more cases than I should have and now that I've identified the load and primer I'm going to use I have brass primed with Primers that I'm not going to use with this load. So after punching the Primers out of the brass can I use them in the future? Or should I discard them?

Thanks

I never use them again. I always discard them.

Of course you can. You can also eat razor blades, but why would you?

Your nickname fits...always a smart a

I don’t see why you couldn’t reuse them if they felt right when pressed in. It might depend on how many primers we’re talking about too. I’d just toss them if only a few.

I would reuse them.

I hate being wasteful.

I also reuse them never had an issue

Thank you! I too HATE to be wasteful.

I have thought about reusing primers, but I'm the type of person that would second guess the choice.

I'd probably wake up in the night wondering.....

I would then be at the mercy of a $0.03 decision.

.

Can you reuse them- yes*, (with an asterisk behind it).

After the primer is seat in a case, the anvil is flattened out into position. When knocking out the live primer, it often loosens the anvil enough to cause it to become unattached from the primer cup, and can move out of place or not seat correctly on the next case. If all works out, it should go off. But I have had some not go off after being reseated (Personal hunting ammo that I was plinking with). I also, do not like to waste primers. But at $.03 each, I'll throw it away for customer ammo. If it's ammo you want to plink with, it "should" work most of the time. I would not use a re-used primer on ammo that was for an important shot, for sure.

Wow, most of the responders would use them again, I guess I am being wasteful.

I just want to make sure that the round won't have any ignition issues by using a new primer. But its your preference to reuse them. Side note, I rarely have to pull them out so I don't have much to worry about being wasteful.

I was hoping Chad would respond. I didn’t consider that, the anvil thing. I may have to do some testing now.

I might would reuse them but only for range ammo, hunting ammo gets new primers. Also fail to ignite or hang fire could result.

If the priming mixture and anvil are in place without damage or cracks most likely good to go.

I have re-used them, but as mentioned previously, I don't trust them for "critical" applications, like big game hunting or rounds I make for self defense. I've never had one fail, but as Chad mentioned, you increase your chances of having a round not go "BANG" because you will most likely do some amount of damage to the primers you remove.

Is there an easy way to tell the difference 'tween Magnum and Non Magnum primers? ....or does it make any difference when reusing them for less than max loads for range practice rounds?

I've reused recycled primers for years after inspecting them, sometimes with a magnifying glass with no ill effects or issues looking for what Chad was talking about in loose anvils and any other "alterations" caused by the decapping process. ???'ble primers get mounted in empty unloaded brass, chambered and fired so nothing that could be construed as a live primer gets thrown in the trash.
Ron

???? Anybody know the answer to this....stripped several hundred rounds of primers early last year out of left over ammo I'd made for rifle's I'd sold/traded off going into my downsizing with a move to a new house in the planning...more hassle to safely trash them than it is to be able to reuses them...and got easy 1/2 hour away access to a nearby range now days to relearn my eroded shooting skills.
Ron

As mentioned, the anvil gets damaged. Use them for practice rounds.

Depends on the brand of primer. A Fed 210 has a red painted color around the anvil and a Fed 215 has a purple color. If it's a Win or Rem primer, I'm not sure you can tell the difference, unless you can see a difference in the amount of primer compound inside the cup. A CCI #200 and #250 look identical, but the 250 may visually have a little more primer compound. I've never mixed them up and keep detailed records of what I've used.

I reuse them to make sure I am on paper while sighting the rifle in or changing my zero.

All are WW's & RP's ...of course...with RP's being Magnums and WW's non magnum's. Time to get out the magnifying glass and spend some "quality time" looking at these things on a nice really rainy day...this winter.

Stuff with a loose or damaged anvil's or funny looking interiors were tossed the first time I picked them up. Thx for the response's.
Ron

Yep, loaded my own ammo for close to twenty years and had never needed to do it before but once I did I was curious. And no, I'd never use them with hunting rounds or self defense rounds. Frankly, I'm not sure I will use them but was curious.