Reloading Berdan Primed Steel Case AK Ammo: Video (12 Minutes)

Step by Step

Not as hard as I was lead to believe…

By Johnny ParatrooperPublished On: November 29, 2021Categories: Ammunition, Weapons4 Comments

About the Author: Johnny Paratrooper

EMAIL is JOHNNYPARATROOPER@GMAIL.COM Born and Raised in Baltimore City, Maryland. History Degree. 8 Years Airborne Infantry and Scouts Platoon. Iraq Veteran. 4-5 Years as a doorman, bar back, and bouncer in Baltimore. Worked in Construction, Heavy Equipment, Demolition, Corporate Security, Sales, Forest Service contractor, and the Hospitality/Entertainment Industry. Raised Catholic Crusader. Hobbies are race cars and sport bikes. Side projects are HAM Radio, Reloading, and Long Range Shooting.

4 Comments

Tator November 29, 2021 at 09:59

The problem isn’t getting them out. The problem is having anything to put back in. Unless you learn how to remanufacture the ones you took out (save all your spent primers). Hard enough finding boxer primers (hope you stocked up when times were good). Course you are talking about steel cases too in most cases, at least what is shown. Not that they can’t be reloaded. Was kind of nice at least when some of the Russian stuff started coming over with boxer primers. Tula what I had seen mainly. Hopefully !PSA! (yeah, love me some PSA!!!! Leastwise when prices are good.) will use boxer primers.
- wwes November 29, 2021 at 10:53
  
  I have seen old military 7.62x54R brass drilled out to accept a 209 shotgun primer. Not good for high pressures, and probably not something you would want to put in a semi auto, but works well loaded with low powered cast bullet loads.
  I have also seen berdan pockets swaged to fit a boxer primer, with a flashhole drilled after removing the anvil in the center of the casing. A boxer primer is then seated. It is a lot of effort, but can be a way to make some usable ammo in hard times if you have no other options.
boss21 November 29, 2021 at 11:16

You would have to be pretty desperate to be doing this. I have torn down 7.62 R from the ‘50s to replace the powder leaving the original primer with no problem.
- Johnny Paratrooper November 29, 2021 at 11:51
  
  Obviously. But it’s an interesting lesson none the less.
  Looks like a day’s work to do 100 rounds.

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