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I have been given a handful of live 5mm pinfire ammunition and I am curious to see how they break down, has anyone pulled pinfire apart in the past?

Yes, I've taken them apart in the past. I started by easing out the bullet (it was already loose) It was a heeled bullet, like a .22lr but about 7mm. The black powder was very fine and compacted. The case was totally rimless and made of copper. The firing pin was about the size of an old gramophone needle and the percussion cap, inside the case was brass.

In hindsight it might have been better to draw the firing pin first, it was just a push fit in the side of the case but as the bullet was loose that was an easy option.

Thanks for the tips 1066 - I will pull one apart tomorrow for the printers case. It will be interesting to see if the black powder has any go left in it.