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A notice appeared at the club a little while ago of a list of items that had been donated by a member for sale to club members, the proceeds to go to the club. No prices are listed, just open to offers. Among the items is a Wamadet Berdan decapper.
This has been used as the top of the larger punch is hammered a bit. The smaller tube still has the original dried on preservative on it and it still has the pimple on the top from when it was machined. I printed off the instructions from the late David Cushman web page.
I don't really need this as I have boxer primed cases for all the calibres that I reload for but I thought it would be nice to have so I got it. I haven't been able to see the chap dealing with the money, so I have not paid for this yet. What should I offer, £20? I don't think anyone else is interested in it.
I had a go with it with mixed results. I tried some South African .303 head stamped A81 7.7 R1M3Z.
I managed to decap 11 of these, some just would not decap.
I tried some .303 head stamped 303MK8Z nny-81. This used to come loose in 250 round cardboard boxes and were covered in a greasy substance that you had to wipe off before shooting.
I had the same result as the SA stuff. I decapped 10 but some would not decap.
I tried some .303 HXP 73. These are boxer primed but I tried them anyway. These all decapped but sometimes needed more than one thump.
I tried some 7.92x57. These are head stamped nny 1980. These along with the nny .303 have a red primer sealant. I could not get any of these to decap.
I tried some 7.62 RG85. These all decapped but some needed more than one thump.
I tried some 7.62 MEN cases. I only got one to decap. I have used the Prime reloader hydropunch on these and some would not decap but most would.
Lastly, I tried some 7.5x55 Swiss G11. These all decapped easily on the first blow. What a relief. I was beginning to think I was doing something wrong or my thumping method was at fault.
I used a 1 1/2 pound claw hammer at first. The ones that did not decap often resulted in the punch bouncing up and falling into the tank or outside the tank. The Swiss G11 decapped using the Lee hard plastic hammer.
If anyone has any experience of using this decapper, I would be interested in any advice on how to decap hard in primers. I presume once they are decapped and reloaded, the primers will pop out like the Swiss G11.
A few pics. The successful items. On the left the SA .303, the nny .303 and the HXP .303. On the right the G11, The RG85 and the sole MEN. It was fun and there is a future in the G11 reloading. There are also 2000 berdan primers to go with this, a mix of RWS an No.81. I have not got those yet or offered a price.
Regards
Peter.

You need to use a 'lump hammer' and be prepared to give it a wallop!
I rarely have primers refuse to budge.
Fill the cases with water before putting them in the Wamadet to make sure there's enough in the case.
PM me if that doesn't work

Right, I got a 2 1/2 pound lump hammer and had another go at the cases that would not decap at my first attempt. Success!! They all decapped. A few needed a second thump but all deprimed. The nny 7.92x57 that I could not get a single one to decap when I first tried, mostly decapped at the first blow with the lump hammer. I think I have got this thing sussed now. I have a better feel for the effort needed to make this work. Now to load up a few of these cases to take to the range.
Regards
Peter.

Glad to be of service.
Have you got berdan primers??

I have 1500+ of No.81 Berdan primers. I have my name against 2000 Berdan primers that go with the decapper, a mix of RWS and IMI so I am told. I hope to get hold of these in the near future. I also have a tin of 250 No.69 Berdan primers and a tub of 600 odd of the big 1/4 inch primers, mixed in December 1973 and packed in January 1974 according to the label.
Regards
Peter.

I have one as well however mine looks to be a different model. They do work well, just do it outside on a warm summers day as you are going to get wet at some point:)

PeterN wrote:I have 1500+ of No.81 Berdan primers. I have my name against 2000 Berdan primers that go with the decapper, a mix of RWS and IMI so I am told. I hope to get hold of these in the near future. I also have a tin of 250 No.69 Berdan primers and a tub of 600 odd of the big 1/4 inch primers, mixed in December 1973 and packed in January 1974 according to the label.
Regards
Peter.

Great result

Ovenpaa said - I have one as well however mine looks to be a different model. They do work well, just do it outside on a warm summers day as you are going to get wet at some point:)

You don't get wet with the Wamadet. Just below the holes in the tube is a rubber O ring. This stops any water coming back up past the plunger. You only get your hands wet tipping the case out over the container.
Regards
Peter.