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Berdan primers, invented by American Colonel Hiram Berdan in 1866 (the same year as Boxer primers), take a different approach to ignition: the anvil is built into the cartridge case itself as a raised portion in the primer pocket, with two or more flash holes positioned around it. This design is actually simpler and cheaper to manufacture since the primer is just a cup filled with priming compound. Military arsenals worldwide favor Berdan primers for this cost advantage and because the design discourages reloading—keeping spent military brass out of civilian hands. While Berdan primers make reloading impractical (removing primers requires hydraulic methods or specialized tools), the system remains popular in European commercial ammunition and military surplus from Russia, China, and former Soviet states.
| Feature | Berdan | Boxer |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Primer Complexity | Simple (cup + compound) | Complex (cup + anvil + compound) |
| Case Complexity | Higher (integral anvil) | Simple (flat pocket) |
| Military Use | Worldwide | Primarily US/NATO |
| Reload Friendly | No | Yes |
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