Reloading Berdan Cases (I won't say "Brass", as I include Steel cases as well) is a simple and quick way to save Money if (1) you have tons of Berdan Milsurp cases to use (2) you have access to Thousands of Berdan Primers, (3) you are Not "Boxer Obsessed". Luckily in Australia, I fall into all three categories, plus my first handloading experiences in the 1960s were evenly divided between Boxer (M1 Carbine, .30/06) and Berdan ( .303 Brit, 7,9mm German).
I developed techniques for both types of rtelaoding, and always made sure I had "sufficient " Berdan Primers for all sizes ( as were available in the 70s and 80s) Total stock, is about 500K, with 400K .217, the rest spread between .177, 199", .250" and .254"...Given that I manufacture Movie Blanks iusing AMA, FN, Z, S&B, PPU, French, and Aussie Berdan Cases, I am well supplied, but only Just.
As to decapping, I use both Hydraulic ( for Lightly crimped/uncramped Primers) or the Chisel/icepick system for hard or tightly crimped Primers.
Chisels/icepicks are made from 4 inch Ramset Masonry Nails ( Hard, cheap, and easily ground to shape.).
Hydraulic uses a "Universal system Rifle (.444" to .560" diameter cases/rims ) and a smaller unit for Pistol and small rifle cases ( 9mm, 7,62, and even 5,56 cases).
Now for "conversion" of Pockets ( ie, .217" to .210 Boxer: The Process is feasible and useful with Brass cases ( 7,5 swiss, etc) but is a bit more labour intensive on Steel cases.
Conversion of .250/.254 cases (British and Russki) is more Problematical...a Pocket sleeve adaptor, or a new Pocket insert is required, or drill out to #209 or #245 Shotgun primers... The .217 Ball-Pocket-swage method won't work on the Bigger Brit/Russki cases.
Small rifle/Pistol cases, again, a Pocket Swager to reduce the .177" Berdan to .175 Boxer is feasible; the Only really tool-intensive work is opening out .199/.204" cases to .210 ( Dutch and Italian cases). But that is relatively easy. (Lathe required.)
Why do it? Only in "Dire straights" ( No ammo at all in that calibre, drought of Berdan Primers, "legal" Objections, etc.) Of course, one will do it because "it can be done" ( Human Nature).
I personally, hate seeing anything go to waste which with a little work (Not necessarily Profitable in Money terms) can be turned to further use....My wife decries me as an Obsessive Hoarder ( of "really useful stuff" ) but doesn't complain when it pays the household bills. I do "dump" several tons of true waste each year ( brass swarf & trimmings and spent primers etc to the Metal merchant, Cardboard to the Paper recycler, Plastics Idem ( found a useful end to shredded shotshells)...only mushy wet cardboard, rotting timber, and floor sweepings go to Land Fill.
Clean cardboard and CocaCola Cartons get recycled into Cartridge and Bullet Packaging, Timber Dunnage from containers into good quality Shelving and Shelf Boxes,( even replica Ammo Boxes); Pine & Hardwood Offcuts into all manner of Workshop accessories; Sawdust into Environmentally-friendly Oil absorber ( spills, etc).
But that is my (quirky) take on things...why not save a bit of money when you can...unless you take too much time doing it ( "Time is Money" too).
Doc AV
Down under, where Obummer is a temporary flyspeck on the Local scene ( a couple of visits only).