[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Berdan decapping pin breaking... help !!

Posted: 8/14/2013 3:56:19 PM EDT

I have broken 2 RCBS Berdan decapping pins.

The last was on some GP11. All will go great for awhile then...POP...game over

What am I doing wrong??

Any and all help is appreciated.

BGF

Posted: 8/14/2013 4:35:56 PM EDT

[#1]

Attempting to decap a berdan primed case with a decapping pin sounds challenging. Tag for future developments.

Posted: 8/14/2013 6:08:25 PM EDT

[#2]

He is referring to the pin on the RCBS Berdan decapping tool. This is a heavy steel pin cut with a wedge tip that fits into the firing pin dent on a fired berdan case as part of a prying out procedure efectuated by the tool.

I broke mine too.

RCBS said they would send me one for free, but if I wanted to get several at one time (so as to have extras) I would have to pay for them and for shipping. I took the one for free and finished the batch of cases I was working on. The pin in the tool might be made stronger and out of harder higher grade material which might make it last longer. But if RCBS is your supplier, you get what they provide. I think this is something that is just going to happen once in a while. How about getting some drill rod that is the same diameter as the berdan tool pin and grinding a chisel tip and cutting it off to length? It may be easier to just call RCBS.

(BTW, gotta love that Swiss GP11 brass. Like jewelery and well worth reloading with the now more available berdan primers.)

Posted: 8/14/2013 6:54:53 PM EDT

[#3]

DISCLAIMER: I don't do Berdan, so I have no idea what you're talking about.

BUT, does this help?

Posted: 8/14/2013 7:10:59 PM EDT

[#4]

For those who don't know what we are talking about, here is the decapper, you can see the pin sticking out.

OP, is your pin adjusted so you are not hitting the anvil when you decap?

You don't want it to hit, but also needs a little bit of clearance for the primer cup.

Without clearance, you can break the pin.

After about 3k decapped primers with my bought used decapper, the end of the pin broke off. I readjusted the pin and kept going.

Next day I emailed RCBS and said I broke my decapping pin. Couple days later they send me 2 spares.

Great CS, and I didn't have to wait on hold for an hour.

Posted: 8/14/2013 8:04:01 PM EDT

[#5]

df3

Thanks for the help. The anvils all look fine, however, I think I will set the next pin just a bit shallower.

BGF

Posted: 8/14/2013 9:54:02 PM EDT

[#6]

I have not strayed into reloading berdan cases yet, but ran across a video of a guy using hydraulic pressure and water to force out the primer. Here is one guy's method

although there are a few other variations.

Posted: 8/15/2013 6:59:50 AM EDT

[#7]

I tried the wet method, it's a mess. No thanks.

Especially using steel cases in 7.62x39.

Posted: 8/15/2013 10:28:51 AM EDT

[#8]

Also tried the "wet" method......Got tired of getting a shower!!

e-mailed RCBS last night about replacement pins per df3.

I'll be interested in their response.

BGF

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Berdan decapping pin breaking... help !!

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Berdan decapping pin breaking... help !!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Berdan decapping pin breaking... help !!