[b]Re-Priming:
1. Examine one of the primers - you will see that it has an open end with a lillte
piece of metal in it, and a closed, rounded end. The open end goes into the
cartridge first, so that the closed end sticks out of the back of the cartridge.
If you have any doubts, look at a regular bullet - that's what the end of the
cartridge should look like when you are done.
2. Set the opening of the Vise-Grips, or the water pump pliers so that you
can squeeze the long dimension of the cartridge when you close the handles.
( Don't squeeze hard - you will deform or crush the cartridge and ruin it ! )
( NOTE: FROM THIS POINT ON, YOU SHOULD BE WEARING REASONABLY HEAVY CLOTHNG ON YOUR R BODY, AND SAFETY GLASSES OR OTHER EYE PROTECTION - IF YOU
ACCIDENTALLY SET OFF A PRIMER THERE WILL BE SMALL METAL BITS FLYING EVERYWHERE.
THERE IS NOT A LOT OF POWER HERE, BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO DAMAGE AN EYE !!!!!!!! )
3. ( This is the tricky part ) Set a new primer into the pocket ( opening ) in the end of
the cartridge with the open end of the primer facing INTO the cartridge, and press
on it with your fingertip to get it to stay in place. ( The primers are small, slippery,
and sometimes difficult to start this way - practice makes perfect ).
4. GENTLY !!!!!!!!! (This is also a tricky part ) use the Vise-Grips or water pump
pliers to squeeze the primer into the pocket.
( NOTE: COMMON PLIERS, NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS, ELECTRICIAN'S OR LINEMAN'S
PLIERS ARE REALLY NOT SUITABLE TO USE FOR THIS - YOU CANNOT APPLY
THE STRAIGHT LINE SQUEEZING FORCE REQUIRED. )
DO NOT SQUEEZE SUDDENLY OR HARD !!!!! - YOU COULD SET OFF THE PRIMER !!!!!
Slow steady pressure is what you want !!!. If the primer gets cocked to the side,
or is not going in straight, tease it around with the pliers until it slides straight
in. The primer must be squeezed all the way into the pocket, or the cartridge may
misfire because the primer is not solidly seated. ONCE THE PRIMER APPEARS TO BE
MOST OR ALL OF THE WAY STRAIGHT IN, Y SQUEEZE AS HARD AS YOU CAN WITHOUT - REPEAT - WITHOUT DAMAGING THE OPEN END OF THE CARTRIDGE. This is
about the right amount of force needed to fully seat the primer and insure
reliable firing. ( This is all a lot easier than it might sound, and a little practice
will allow you to re-prime a hundred cartridges during an episode of Gilligan's
Island. )
( NOTE: IF YOU SHOULD ACCIDENTALLY LOAD A PRIMER BACKWARDS - WITH THE OPEN END
FACING OUT OF THE END OF THE CARTRIDGE - YOU CAN TRY TO PRESS IT OUT AS
WITH A SPENT PRIMER, BUT DO NOT - DO NOT - DO NOT TRY TO HAMMER IT OUT.
IF IT WON'T COME OUT WITH GENTLE PRESSURE, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY DISCARD
THE CARTRIDGE - REMEMBER - IT ONLY COST ABOUT A NICKEL, AND EYE SURGERY
COSTS A LOT MORE - A LOT MORE !!!!!!! ABOVE ALL, DO NOT TRY TO FIRE IT
IN YOUR GUN - ESCAPING GASSES AND METAL PARTICLES COULD CAUSE SERIOUS
INJURY !!!!!!!! )
Reloading the cartridges:
1. Set your oven to the lowest possible temperature setting and warm the wax blocks
until they are fairly soft, and can be easily bent without breaking.
( NOTE: This is not REALLY necessary - it just makes things a lot easier - cold wax is
difficult to penetrate. )
2. Set a warmed block of wax on a flat surface and press the open end of a
re-primed cartridge all the way through the block so that the cartridge is filled
with wax.
CONGRATULATIONS ! You have just finished your first wax