Wolf berdan primers dried up after an import ban against Russia, if I remember correctly, but there are other berdan primer manufacturers in other countries. I know it's a niche market here in the U.S., but it seems that someone could make a decent enough profit importing and selling them.
Why No Berdan Primers Available?
- Thread starter TreadNot
- Start date
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Go for it! Looks like you've identified a business opportunity.
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Adam Smith approves.
Blacksmith101
Grumpy Old Man
- Jun 22, 2012
- 22,252
Berdan Primers not inexpensive:
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Keywords=berdan primers
Berdan primer information:
http://www.dave-cushman.net/shot/berdan_supplies_dimensions.html
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Keywords=berdan primers
Berdan primer information:
http://www.dave-cushman.net/shot/berdan_supplies_dimensions.html
PPU has produced many boxer primed cases that may relate for the reduced demand for berdan primers. Besides berdan primers come in many sizes where as boxer comes in two. Large and small primers.
MilSUP below is usually berdan primer but PPU has produced brass that is boxer primed.
7.62X54R 7.5 Argentine
8MM Mauser 8MM Kruz
303 Brit 7.62X39
7MM 7.5 French
6.5 Swede 8MM Lebel
6.5 Carcano
MilSUP below is usually berdan primer but PPU has produced brass that is boxer primed.
7.62X54R 7.5 Argentine
8MM Mauser 8MM Kruz
303 Brit 7.62X39
7MM 7.5 French
6.5 Swede 8MM Lebel
6.5 Carcano
It's painful to toss brass cases because they're berdan primed, so I've been holding on to any just in case some berdan primers become available again at decent prices.
Besides other rounds, I've saved GP11 7.5 Swiss berdan brass hoping I'll be able to reload it some day. The PPU 7.5 Swiss brass at Grafs & Sons is sixty cents a pop, so I think I'll stick with buying the Swiss surplus rounds as they come on the market. Excellent ammo, and I still have enough to get me by for awhile.
Besides other rounds, I've saved GP11 7.5 Swiss berdan brass hoping I'll be able to reload it some day. The PPU 7.5 Swiss brass at Grafs & Sons is sixty cents a pop, so I think I'll stick with buying the Swiss surplus rounds as they come on the market. Excellent ammo, and I still have enough to get me by for awhile.
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jimbobborg
Oddball caliber fan
From what I remember, they only ship one batch of Berdan primers a year.
ohen cepel
Ultimate Member
Can make dummy rounds from the Berdan brass, get some use out if them at least. I can't see a situation where I would mess with Berdans myself.
Blacksmith101
Grumpy Old Man
- Jun 22, 2012
- 22,252
Pierce the primer and pry it out. There are some special tools that do it if you have a large quantity to do. Another option is fill the case with water and use a closely fitted piston to force them out with hydraulic pressure.
Berdan Decapper
Attachments
Muleskinner
Ultimate Member
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?143855-Converting-Berdan-primer-pockets-to-Boxer
I've done this, it works.
I've done this, it works.
Here's a short video of the water method of depriming. Not something I'd do in the winter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ0GPSE30BM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ0GPSE30BM
jmike3543
Active Member
- Sep 10, 2018
- 207
For the low low price of $0.40 each, you can own your very own .217 Berdan primers!
PowPow
Where's the beef?
That appears to be the best way I've seen. I wonder where you get the tube and plunger to do it... I guess you make'em yourself!
I think I saw a box of Wolf Berdan primers at the reloading vendor towards the back of the left side of the Gettysburg show today. I only got a quick glimpse before getting distracted by something else 
...but I'm pretty sure it said Berdan. 
...but I'm pretty sure it said Berdan. so, there is no on press method of removing berdan primers?
Is there any functional advantage of Berdan over boxer primers, or is it like so many other products, they are different so as not to be compatible with a competing product? Like VHS VS beta max.
Is there any functional advantage of Berdan over boxer primers, or is it like so many other products, they are different so as not to be compatible with a competing product? Like VHS VS beta max.
- Feb 4, 2013
- 28,175
I just find it funny, that an American developed the Berdan primer, and an Englishman the Boxer primer. But the US adopted the Boxer primer, and Europe the Berdan primer.
jcutonilli
Ultimate Member
- Mar 28, 2013
- 2,474
It depends. Berdan primers have the anvil on the brass while boxer primers have the anvil in the primer. This allows a centrally located flash hole on the boxer brass, while the Berdan primed cases have two flash holes on either side of the centrally located anvil. Typical presses use a pin to punch out boxer primers, but this does not work with Berdan primers due to the anvil on the brass.
You can use the hydraulic method to press out Berdan primers on a press.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQNDgjcgofY shows an example of this. This would not work in a progressive press.
