Depriming Live Primers

Depriming live primers is hazardous, as it is very easy to set one of while depriming. If you must, first dump the spent primers out of the spent primer catcher cup. Fill the cup partway with water. Now very gently deprime them. The reason to fill the cup with water is so that if you detonate a primer while depriming, the other primers already in the cup won't ignite.

If you are going to dispose of the brass fill cases with penetrating oil and let soak then crush the mouths so you know not to reuse them, or you can load the primed cases into your firearm pointing in a safe direction and pop the primers. This can still be dangerous at the barrel end but will expend the primers so they can be safely decapped.

I'm not going to use the term safe when using equipment for something it was not designed for, but I believe the safEST method of removing the unfired primers is just to treat them in the same way you would fired primers only when removing these unfired primers after putting on a pair of safety glasses, wrap the cartridge in a towel and use a slow steady pressure until the primer is removed.

I don't mean to imply this is a particularly dangerous procedure as I have used it on several occasions over the years without a single primer "firing".  It would probably be best not to attempt to use these primers once removed as they have small seating "legs" that are now flattened and the anvil could also have be damaged by the depriming tool during the procedure.  Take it slow and I don't believe you will have any problems.

F. Prefect

I have read that WD40 will kill the primers, if you are following the instructions of perro who gave an option for disposing of the cases.

Snake

Good topic for a newbie like myself to read.
I like the idea of WD40 killing the primers and then de priming them but would not like to test the theory.
Im reloading 9mm and a new brass 9mm costs me 36 cents, for the sake of safety i think id Soak them in solvent and dispose of them safely.
Shell casings can be replaced eyes and fingers Can't

My Club Captain told me a story of one of our EX club presidents depriming live primers with a 6 inch nail.
Idoit had to have a primer cup surgically removed from his hand.
Happy loading

WD-40 will "desensitize" primers, after 48-72 hours of immersion, it will not permanently kill them. Eventually the WD-40 will evaporate, and the primers regain their sensitivity to shock. This can take as little as several weeks.

Don't do i!

If you want to reuse the shell then fire the primed cartridges in your gun (like shooting a blank starter pistol). 

Depriming live primers is one of the most hazardous things you can do in reloading.

Remember, a primer is like a small hand grenade with the pin pulled!