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I have read articles on converting Berdan to Boxer brass including one on here quite recently however it seems a bit haphazard, has anyone actually tried it? I ask because I have 100 rounds of 8x58RD coming which is all 1915-1925 head stamped milsurp in stunning condition, I plan to shoot some and then reload, I know the purist approach would be to Berdan prime however I have never tried loading the stuff and apart from some garden experiments to pop Berdan primers with hydraulics which admittedly did work OK I have no experience with Berdan.

So should the conversion be attempted or do I make the jump to Berdan? I will need to confirm the size as to me they just look like LR and I believe there are subtle differences in sizes.

This is something I keep meaning to try, when I get some spare time. My limited understanding is that you can get various diameters and depths of Berdan primers. I will have to try to convert some and keep you informed. I think this may be a job for over the Xmas break.

Hi David

Based on my experience in converting Berdan primer brass (308 / 223) you face a risk of damaging the case in the conversion to boxer.

If you can remove the berdan primer - try and keep then in Berdan format. Some of the tools to remove berdan primers are very clumsy so be careful.

If you going to make a hydraulic contraption make sure the case is fully enclosed in a FL die.
Unsupported cases will bulge or even split under the hydraulic presssure

Once you have to removed the primer and want to convert to Boxer the built in anvil in the base of the Berdan primer pocket is the next challenge. I have in the past tried to remove the anvil using a hammer drill press with various cutting tools
Problems included :
1. Getting accurate alignment between tool to the primer hole itself (some case may not be perfectly aligned making it worse)
2. Tool drift into the pocket edges - caused by the anvil.
3. Holding both case still and keeping cutter centrally aligned.

It would probably work best on a lathe and if the you secured the case in a consistent holder even better.
If you get the anvil out - the standard primer pocket tools should make the holes LR sized

Practice and refine the process on some Military 308 and once perfected - then do it on the intended target brass.

It is already a lot of work to reload as is,I would not bother to convert even if it were possible.The standard berdan size is 5.5 mm which is larger than boxer large rifle.You probaly would be better off to make a bushing and use small primers like cci 450 that I use in 308 palma brass by Lapua.Lot of work but relevant if brass is otherwise unavailable.
Sincerely
Filippo

i JUST CAME ACROSS THIS , SEE LINK DONT KNOW IF THE INFO IS RELEVENT FOR YOU .
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewto ... 78&t=90109
sorry cap lock

Dave

Thanks for that Dave, I am going to have a bash at reloading with Berdan primers however I will try the conversion on a few 7,62x51 cases just to see how it goes.

I have been loading with berdan primers for over 40 years and still do. I use Wamadet Hydraulic decapper, which is quick and effective. Once the cases have dried, the repriming is little different from boxer, except that my progressive Dillon 550B does not work reliably, because berdan primers are slightly shallower.

I find berdan primers more consistent, giving better accuracy with reduced powder charges with cast lead bullets, because the twin flash holes give better ignition.

If you have a hydraulic decapping tool that works and you can get berdan primers of the correct size, my advice would be not to convert to boxer, but use berdan primers. This has nothing to do with purism. I genuinely believe that berdan primers give more uniform ignition.

Alex

Alex I am also trying the conversion route but only because I am unable to get Berdan primers. Where did you get yours from or was it a long time ago?

Berdan primers are available but are VERY few and far between.
I recently acquired several hundred which will last me quite a while.
The best brass I have found is German - MEN or DAG

AL8 wrote:Alex I am also trying the conversion route but only because I am unable to get Berdan primers. Where did you get yours from or was it a long time ago?

AL8, Last time I bought No.81 berdan primers was from Henry Krank about 10 years ago. More recently, Peter Lawman http://www.peterlawman.co.uk/ had them listed on his website but does not now. I believe that the reason why they are diffcult to find in UK is that a) it is a hassle to use them and b) the price advantage has diminished. When I started reloading in the late 1960s berdan primer were half price of equivalent boxers and there were literally tonnes of once fired ex.military cases to picked for free on various ranges.

Berdan primers are still used in military ammunition, especially in Europe, and I am sure that they are available subject to substantial orders. The problem is that no one wants to invest in stock, so you might be lucky if you get together with friends and tempt a dealer to get you some. RWS is still selling them in Germany.

If you want to do that post a message here to see what the demand is likely to be.

Good Luck,

Alex