I have to admit, I do like gadgets. Nifty little machines that sometimes appear to be the product of an overactive imagination, sometimes a too elaborate solution to a simple problem and sometimes… as is the case here, a useful and adaptable tool for a somewhat specialized task. In fact, I would go so far as to say Battenfeld’s description somewhat undersells this product.
It loads a lot like an inertial bullet puller… and nothing gets whacked
Not sure why that made me think of The Godfather Parts 1 thru 27… Below, image 1, a collet is selected that is appropriate for the cartridge being decapped and inserted over the decapping pin.
Image 2, the collet adjusting cap, with “O” ring, screws onto the case holder and secures the collet. The “O” ring holds the position of the cap. How far the cap is screwed onto the case holder determines tension on the collet fingers. Image 3, the cap is adjusted until the case to be decapped is centered and a light drag on the case is felt when the case is inserted or withdrawn.
The case holder is rotated downward into alignment with the front of the tool, which puts the case’s spent primer in line with a port that passes through the front of the tool and into clear primer catch tube. When the trigger is squeezed, the case holder moves forward. Movement of the cartridge case is blocked by the front of the tool, but the case holder and decapping pin continue forward, driving the spent primer out, through the port and into the primer catch tube. In use; load case in tool, tip holder down and squeeze. About the same effort and time requirement as a hand priming tool.
The primer catch tube friction fits to the tool body, so it is a quick off and on to empty and clean as is the rest of the tool with its quick wipe off surface.
Positive aspects…
The body and grip are made of cast aluminum, the case holder is anodized aluminum, the decapping pin is a common tool steel piece, the collet and catch tube are poly. The materials are appropriate and the assembly is a bit overbuilt for the task. The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Hand Deprimer Tool is manufactured in China, but to a good quality standard.
The depriming tool seemed to have much greater capacity than its promotional materials suggests, so I set out to define its limits. The depriming rod will work with case mouth .20 caliber and greater. The 17 Hornet and similar can be accommodated by swapping the tool’s decapping pin with any other smooth shank decapping pin from a 17 caliber reloading die set.
On the big end, a 460 Weatherby magnum case with a measured body diameter of 0.580″ passed through the collet adjusting cap opening and into the case holder body and was easily decapped. A 0.610″ 500 Jeffery shoulder barely cleared the collet adjusting cap and could go no farther. Increasing the opening in the cap would not increase the tool’s capacity as the interior of the case holder would bar entrance. The 500 Jeffery is an exceptionally large case and hardly a consideration for most handloaders. I could find no cartridge cases that exceeded the tool’s case length capacity, which appears to be approximately 3.100″, leaving enough room for the moving arc of the case holder.
Any case that could be decapped with this tool means any member of that cartridge’s family could also be decapped. So decapping the 270 Winchester means, 30-06 Springfield, 280 Remington, 25-05 Remington would all work. 257 Weatherby decapping means, 270 Weatherby, 7mm Weatherby, 300 Weatherby, and 340 Weatherby… which means 264 Winchester Mag, 300 Winchester Mag, 7mm Remington Mag, etc. Same with handgun rounds; decapping the 454 Casull means the 45 Colt would also be accommodated. Successfully decapped in the cartridge lineup above, by collet size –
Small Collet: 204 Ruger, 22 Hornet, 222 Remington, 223 Remington. 6.8 SPC, 300 Blackout.
Medium Collet: 357 Mag, 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Remington, 270 Winchester, 308 Winchester.
Magnum Collet: 454 Casull, 500 S&W, 257 Weatherby, 270 WSM, 45-70 Government, 450 Rigby, 460 Weatherby.
Areas that might need consideration…
Frankford Arsenal’s Platinum Series Hand Deprimer has an MSRP of $67, but it is sold through popular discount retailers within a price range of $35 to $44, a price that places it somewhere between a throw away and a repairable unit. For the person who develops handloads for a large number of cartridges and/or assembles in short batch processes, the Frankford Arsenal Deprimer could get quite a workout. The price of the unit includes a 1 year warranty, parts and labor. After the warranty period, replacement parts may be ordered by contacting Battenfeld customer service at sales@btibrands.com. The only exception part is the decapping pin, which is an industry standard and available from any of the reloading die manufacturers.
The element of the design that might benefit from a little upgrade is the method of securing the clear plastic primer catch tube. It is a friction fit and will, no doubt, wear loose over time. A twist lock would solve that potential problem. Hair splitting on my part.
I think the real competition for this decapping tool are the universal decapping dies that range in price from $13 to $40, however, this decapping tool beats long stroking a large reloading press with a universal decapping die when it comes to knocking out short run. Is there a longer term future for this tool for me? I don’t know, but if its still on my reloading bench a month from now, it would have earned the spot.
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