Insert a bore light into the neck of the empty cartridge case. Locate the “flash hole,” at the bottom of the case. The flash hole is where the spark from the primer enters the casing and ignites the gun powder. Look to see if there is a single or double flash hole. Military ammunition uses one of two types of primer: Boxer primers or Berdan primers. If there is only a single flash hole the primer was of the Boxer type. If there are two flash holes the case held a Berdan primer.

Insert a metal punch into the neck of a cartridge case with the single-hole Boxer primer. Push the punch all the way to the bottom of the case until it contacts the primer. Hold the case firmly in one hand and use your other hand to tap the punch with a hammer until the primer dislodges.

Place the cartridge case holder into the neck of the cartridge case with a two-hole Berdan primer. Slide the decapping tool onto the rim of the bottom of the cartridge case. Place the pin of the decapping tool in the depression on the spent primer. Press down on the handle of the decapping tool. The pin on the decapping tool will pierce and engage the primer, pulling it from the casing.

Remove the metal flange from the primer pocket on either style casing. Insert the deburring tool into the empty primer pocket. Gently rotate the deburring tool until the crimping flange has been removed. Use caution to not over-ream the primer pocket; if you do, the new primer will not seat properly.