Are remington percussion caps corrosive?

[matt35750]

I need to know if Remington #10 percussion caps are corrosive and preferably what kind of chemical they use.

 

[rodwha]

Check out their MSDS sheet:

http://www.remington.com/en/products/ammunition/black-powder/black-powder-components.aspx

 

[GCBurner]

No, they're made with lead styphnate, just like regular non-corrosive centerfire primers.

 

[Hellgate]

They are not corrosive but are a source of lead if you pop caps and breathe in the primer smoke. Some primers are lead free for indoor ranges.

 

[matt35750]

Are you sure there non corrosive? I remember reading someone shot these caps in their gun, didn't clean it and there was rust on it the next day.

 

[Patocazador]

Generally, corrosive primers and caps use mercury in them. As far as I know there are no corrosive primers or percussion caps manufactured in the USA. I have older tins of percussion caps manufactured in Germany/Austria labeled as "Quecksilberfrei". This translates to "mercury (quicksilver) free" meaning they were non-corrosive.

I have old ammo with corrosive primers. This ammo was manufactured in China, Czechoslovakia, and one of the satellite countries of the old Soviet Union.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

CCI caps and some others made here used to be corrosive. This is going back to the 70's, but they were corrosive.

 

[rcmodel]

Generally, corrosive primers and caps use mercury in them.

Actually not.

Mercury fulminate caps & primers came first, and were not necessarily corrosive.
The mercury residue did cause brass failure in the early cartridge ammo.

That was followed by Potassium chlorate primers, primarily for longer case life.
They were the ones that are corrosive.
They leave a residue of potassium chloride salt in the bore after a cartridge is fired.
These hygroscopic salt crystals will hold moisture from a humid atmosphere and cause rusting.

That was followed by lead styphnate primers & caps that are not corrosive.

rc

 

[matt35750]

Are there any #10 percussion caps that are lead free?

 

[Jim K]

IIRC, some makers of percussion caps in relatively recent years did use mercury fulminate because there was no brass to be ruined by the mercury.

AFAIK, all now use lead styphnate, but it is very likely that makers will switch to one of the no-lead/no-mercury compounds within a short time.

Jim

 

[Buckshooter]

Remington Caps

I always clean with Hoppes #9 after shooting. I take the nipple out and clean it thoroughly as residue will collect inside from the cap after repeated firings

 

[Hellgate]

Buckshooter,
There is a Hoppe's #9 for smokeless and one for black powder. Which one do you mean? The BP is a water base and the smokeless one is some kind of petroleum distillate.

 

[Captain*kirk]

Matt, it makes a difference as to what sort of powder is used. For example, Pyrodex contains perchlorates which are more corrosive than 3f black, which in itself, has potassium nitrate (a form of salt), so bottom line is, you shoot, you clean, or you will be visited by the dreaded Rust Monster. This ain't smokeless, baby. It goes with the territory.