Can I discharge a bullet primer?

Question

I got two of .308 caliber bullets from my friends. I know that bullets can be dangerous to keep because these 2 bullets are use-able. So I used a bullet puller and I already took out a heads, powders, and two brass shell. I threw the powders away then I put everything back, so they look like a normal bullets. However, my brother told me that the primers can be dangerous because they can explose. I dont want to hit the primers with nails because I want them to look like un-used. So anyone please help me to discharge the primers without hitting them. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Heat will do the job, not too sure how much is required. If the bullets and powder have been removed placing the empty cartridges on a hot plate turned up to high will do the job. Just make sure to keep your face and eyes away from the open end. Report will be similar to a cap. Nothing much at all.

For the record it takes quit a bit of energy to set off a modern Boxer primed cartridge. Without powder even if the primer is set off the bullet won't even be able to penetrate a sheet of cardboard. What would happen is being heavier the slug will pretty much stay in the same place while the shell will jump a couple feet.

I wouldn't try this at home but I once seen a video where a person placed a LIVE 7.62 round on a hotplate and covered it with a large heavy cardboard box. When the shells exploded the box hopped up a couple feet but NONE of the fragments from the exploding rounds made it through the cardboard.

Answer 2

They don't explode. What you could of done is lighted the powder while still in the casing and it would of set off the primer. People do this with .22's as a nice little noisemaker, kinda stupid to do. But a .308 is a bit bigger so it might be dangerous.

Answer 3

Only thing I can tell you is take the tip of the bullet back out before you even try to take the primer out.  Maybe if you soak it in water it may neutralize the powder in the primer.  Check with a sporting good store they may be able to tell you a way to do it safely.  

Answer 4

With the bullet removed from the case put a couple of drops of gun oil, penetrating oil or 3-1 (not WD40) that will neutralize the primer compound.  

Answer 5

You can pull the bullets and chamber the rounds and discharge as normal.  Do not point it at anything, but it will not harm anything, but maybe stretch the neck of the case a little.  Its not even that noisy. I have done it many times with bad loads.  I did then discard those cases.