reloading primers - too sketchy?

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roscoe

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This is just a hypothetical, as I am not totally dry on primers, but . . .

I believe the physical steps are not too complex (remove anvil, flatten primer). The chemistry is pretty simple too - KClO3 + antimony sulfide+ aluminum powder + ground glass. All of those chemicals are legal to purchase.

Obviously, it needs to be mixed in very small amounts. But with an eye-dropper, it seems pretty straight-forward, if seemingly labor-intensive.

I must admit some trepidation, however. I highly value my eyes and fingers. Has anyone here tried it?
 
I’m really hoping this thread doesn’t become a sticky in the future! (because things get so bad we are all reloading primers)

Seems like it would be extremely difficult to drop the correct amount of slurry with a dropper. Maybe everything you reload ends up being rifle magnum power!?!?:D

In testing, maybe you would only want to load mild loads in really heavy, strong guns. Like 44 special loads tested in a Super Blackhawk. Of course for starters you would probably test with only primers loaded, no powder or bullet. Maybe with Speer rubber bullets? Compare to a known primer.
 
roscoe said:
This is just a hypothetical, as I am not totally dry on primers, but . . .

I believe the physical steps are not too complex (remove anvil, flatten primer). The chemistry is pretty simple too - KClO3 + antimony sulfide+ aluminum powder + ground glass. All of those chemicals are legal to purchase.

Obviously, it needs to be mixed in very small amounts. But with an eye-dropper, it seems pretty straight-forward, if seemingly labor-intensive.

I must admit some trepidation, however. I highly value my eyes and fingers. Has anyone here tried it?
Click to expand...
if the chemistry is simple, the process is simple, then we don’t have anything to worry about. Capitalism dictates, if there is a buyer, there is a seller. I see more primer factories in out future.

find the bright side in life people! it’s good for your soul
 
Technically, its probably possible. Practically, not so much. I wouldn't want to mix up enough compound to charge more than a few primers at one time, which would lead to consistency problems. The whole process would be excruciatingly time consuming. From reforming the spent primers, developing a proper priming compound, mixing the compound, dosing the reformed cups, setting the anvils......all to produce a corrosive primer of questionable quality. Now, as more or less a proof of concept or science project, it could be an interesting if not rather dangerous endeavor.
 
Totally doable. Once you get the process worked out, they would be reliable.
The problem is that all of the practical formulas that can be easily made are corrosive. No thanks.
It's better than throwing rocks in a survival situation or you're a hunter and need to fill the freezer to feed your family, but I'd rather not use them for plinking.
 
Didn't we just have someone post about recycling spent primers using toy caps? If I just had to I'd go that way first.

Neither method is something I'd venture into lightly.
 
Great, I this piqued my curiosity and I did some googling. Now I'm probably going to get a private TSA room next time I fly. In seriousness, the lead styphnate route seems very doable. I think the problem will be re-using primers. If you are flattening the cup back out, you're likely getting stressed areas that will fail under repeated stress/pressure. Probably OK with low pressure rounds, but I wouldn't want to try it with 5.56 NATO, which tends to rupture even virgin primers of lesser construction. The manufacture of new priming cups should be relatively simple and inexpensive. Likewise for anvils, although may require some specialty equipment. Berdan systems might actually be simpler in this scenario. I could see a whole cottage industry springing up of mass produced primer kits...just add compound.

Also, how about retrofitting a firearm for some sort of electric ignition? Arc? Piezo-electric? Percussive electric? Is there an electrical engineer in the house?
 
Don't do this children, you might put your eye out along with part of your brain!! LOL Before it gets that bad, invest in a crossbow and lots and lots of bolts. May want to buy or make a slingshot or two and get some rocks for ammo and that can be your range practice ammo.
 
I have done it successfully with ground match heads and red phosphorus with a tiny pinch of black powder meal mixed in. It set off pyrodex loaded 45-70 cartridges every time. The red phosphorus is scraped off the side of the match box. Last night I mixed up ten grains of H-42 primer compound (potassium chlorate, antimony sulfide, sulfur). A pound of each should last forever. The mixture is quite energetic when struck between two hammers. I haven’t loaded any primers yet as this was a test run. Yes this compound is corrosive but so is the black powder I plan to shoot with it. Soap and water will clean it up nicely.
H-42 compound was used in ww1 so theoretically should ignite smokeless if the need were ever to arise . I’m not advocating that you guys run out and do this. As always safety is of the utmost importance. The point is it can be done if the need arises and on the extremely cheap. Always mix in small batches and do your research on safety protocols.

I plan to make a few primers here in the near future with the compound so I’ll report back with what information I can glean from the experiment.

One never knows what the future may hold. Some of you guys were prepared and have thousands upon thousands of primers bought for a rainy day. Many of us guys that don’t shoot a ton didn’t see the rain in the forecast unfortunately:( I have enough primers to put deer in my freezer. I did see the need to get myself set up to make cast bullets and black powder. Like the poster above mentioned, primers are the Achilles heel of cartridge reloading. Now I can make all the components of black powder cartridges at home. All except the brass that is. I hope I have enough brass:)
 
Encoreman said:
Missed this when I first read it, Remington tried this years ago and you see what happened to them huh??
Click to expand...
Their system was proprietary, arcane, and made a simple problem more complicated. With the advances in batteries and micro circuitry, I'd think something more practical might be possible. I have a cadweld igniter for work that generates a 2400F arc. It's only slightly larger than the single AAA battery it operates on, and will even work underwater. Definitely not my area of expertise though.
 
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Sort of on topic but - I have been curious about power loads for stud drivers or dummy launchers. Does anyone know what compound is in theSe .22 caliber shells? Could it ***theoretically*** be removed and used in primer cups? I have Remington yellow and green power loads, but have no intention of cracking them open anytime soon, but it is a curiosity.
 
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