How to make your own primers?
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snuffy
Member
PTK and others, I think the main purpose of this thread is the "what if?" Or the SHTF scenario, total collapse of the gubmint and the society, how do we make primers?
Nobody has mentioned the toy caps possibility. Roll caps are still made, but darn hard to find. The stuff that makes them pop will work for primers. It's possible to liberate some of the explosive from the caps, put it in an ironed out fired primer, and re-seat the anvil. BUT again it's corrosive as heck, cleaning after even one shot would be imperative.
earlthegoat2
Member
Just modify the flash hole to fit a No. 11 percussion cap.
making your own primers
I believe that in orer to make your own primers successfully, you may need to step back about two generations in gun technology. In the very early 1800's, percussion caps were made using an extremely explosive mixture of fulminated mercury and sulfer. This mixture is still being used today in various modern military cartridges. It does have one drawback: it is very corrosive. So, if you need to manufacture primers, I think that this woud be the way to go. You just have to clean your weapon much more frequently.
I believe that in orer to make your own primers successfully, you may need to step back about two generations in gun technology. In the very early 1800's, percussion caps were made using an extremely explosive mixture of fulminated mercury and sulfer. This mixture is still being used today in various modern military cartridges. It does have one drawback: it is very corrosive. So, if you need to manufacture primers, I think that this woud be the way to go. You just have to clean your weapon much more frequently.
mokin
Member
I don't have a good answer but I think that thinking a couple of generations back as a step forward as far as self reliance goes.
counterclockwise
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he makes a good point...
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If you are going to mess with Class 1 explosivies (flame front about Mach 10), then you need to do so in private, not in public, and you need to take extreme precaution.
Notice the fellow on youtube using the matches only did one primer at a time. There is a movie out and about somewhere made as a U.S. Army propaganda film that brags about the Lake City plant and shows them making primers in a short segment. To protect life and limb, only small batches should be considered and even then using thick polycarbonate shielded hoods and remote operated tools.
I fired two wolf LR primers off in my reloading press the other night in succession. It sounded like a 22 short going off and looked to have about the same thrust. NEVER EVER TRY TO ADJUST A PRIMER IN A CASE WITH POWDER AND/OR BULLET ATTACHED
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If you are going to mess with Class 1 explosivies (flame front about Mach 10), then you need to do so in private, not in public, and you need to take extreme precaution.
Notice the fellow on youtube using the matches only did one primer at a time. There is a movie out and about somewhere made as a U.S. Army propaganda film that brags about the Lake City plant and shows them making primers in a short segment. To protect life and limb, only small batches should be considered and even then using thick polycarbonate shielded hoods and remote operated tools.
I fired two wolf LR primers off in my reloading press the other night in succession. It sounded like a 22 short going off and looked to have about the same thrust. NEVER EVER TRY TO ADJUST A PRIMER IN A CASE WITH POWDER AND/OR BULLET ATTACHED
ultralightbackpacker
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Why does everybody get their pants in a wad over such topics? I care not to say more (but I will), but the great, great, great grand dads of the US would be embarassed to hear a lot of the bantering and using a wimp out clause. :banghead: How embarrassing.
Just modify tannerite to be a little bit more prone to fire (I mean blow up) when hit by less percussion. Simple stuff.
<ducks and runs>
Just modify tannerite to be a little bit more prone to fire (I mean blow up) when hit by less percussion. Simple stuff.
<ducks and runs>
Right on my friend! I'm not looking at this possible approach with any concern regarding what Big Brother and his BS laws might say. I'm also only looking at it as a way to be prepared, not as something I'll take up as a hobby. If it becomes necessary, I want to know how to do it, and to hell with Federal regulations, because they aren't going to mean diddly! They don't mean squat when I'm trying to survive! I'm not talking about primers for the local friendly shooting match.
Spay & neuter your kids!
Spay & neuter your kids!
loadedround
Member
I've been reading the past posts with much amusement and now I have to add my two cents to the mix. Many years ago corrosive primers were made with a Potassium Chlorate mix that was hell on rifle barrels because of the rust these primers caused. True, you could possibly make your own primers in a SOHF situation with used primers and Potassium Chlorate and several inert items, but this chemical, although fairly easy to obtain, is an extremly strong oxidizer and as a result can explode under a mild impact or improper handling. The last person I know of that played with this chemical is affectionately known as "Stubby" around here. Please don't even think about it.!
reloading primers
Here is a description of an experiment I conducted as a way to "reload" primers. However, I am not sure it would necessarily be any better than trying to obtain more primers in a survival situation where social structure has broken down and getting supplies has become difficult or even impossible? Anyway, the detonation compound in regular toy caps for cap guns will work, I tried it and it worked. I took the "filling" out of the toy plastic "cap" and loaded the reformed primer "cup" with it and then carefully glued in the 3 prong retainer which holds the primer detonator in place. I used new primer cups and used ones, of course I used the retainers from the new cups with the used ones. The ones I experimented with were small pistol primers and they worked quite well. Of course this is what I did experimentally and am in no way responsible for the results if you try this! I am simply describing an experiment I conducted and the results thereof and as such am not giving advice or recommending in any way that any person repeats this experiment. Good Luck and God Bless!
Here is a description of an experiment I conducted as a way to "reload" primers. However, I am not sure it would necessarily be any better than trying to obtain more primers in a survival situation where social structure has broken down and getting supplies has become difficult or even impossible? Anyway, the detonation compound in regular toy caps for cap guns will work, I tried it and it worked. I took the "filling" out of the toy plastic "cap" and loaded the reformed primer "cup" with it and then carefully glued in the 3 prong retainer which holds the primer detonator in place. I used new primer cups and used ones, of course I used the retainers from the new cups with the used ones. The ones I experimented with were small pistol primers and they worked quite well. Of course this is what I did experimentally and am in no way responsible for the results if you try this! I am simply describing an experiment I conducted and the results thereof and as such am not giving advice or recommending in any way that any person repeats this experiment. Good Luck and God Bless!
zxcvbob
Member
Nobody uses mercury primers anymore because they ruin your brass. You are thinking about corrosive (chlorate) primers. Chlorate is the right technology for DIY primers, but it's a good thing to leave alone. Maybe going back to flintlocks in TEOTWAWKI when you run out of commercial primers is a better idea.
BADUNAME37
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I wouldn't CONSIDER making my own primers - especially for any defense gun. I feel there is enough that can go wrong, why add to the odds?
I would rather have no cartridge than a cartridge that I believe I can depend on in a time of need, and have it not ignite!
I suppose if it is for a rifle to drop a deer or some other animal to put meat in the freezer, then that is another story altogether.
Is it even LEGAL to create your own primers?
I mean, if you were advertising that you do it, would the ATF be kicking your door in at 2 am?
I would rather have no cartridge than a cartridge that I believe I can depend on in a time of need, and have it not ignite!
I suppose if it is for a rifle to drop a deer or some other animal to put meat in the freezer, then that is another story altogether.
Is it even LEGAL to create your own primers?
I mean, if you were advertising that you do it, would the ATF be kicking your door in at 2 am?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The fact is that primer mix is too dangerous for anyone to be fooling with at home.
Even major ammo manufactures and government ammo plants have had multiple fatality accidents involving primer mix explosions.
If they can blow themselves up with multi-million dollar manufacturing safeguards in place, inside a seperate bunker type primer manufacturing facility, you and I have no business fooling with the stuff at home!
rc
Even major ammo manufactures and government ammo plants have had multiple fatality accidents involving primer mix explosions.
If they can blow themselves up with multi-million dollar manufacturing safeguards in place, inside a seperate bunker type primer manufacturing facility, you and I have no business fooling with the stuff at home!
rc
FROGO207
Member
I think that the idea of the primers stored away is the best answer yet. I personally do double seal with desiccant (seal a meal) a box of assorted types in a master sealed pack and those in an ammo box. They will survive most likely if I do. Also some propellant in the same way.
ambidextrous1
Member
That's the way to go, Supernaut!
Pick a number that makes you happy: 10,000, 20,000, maybe 50,000.
Use 1/5 of the quantity you decide on - then replenish your cache to the number you have chosen.
Repeat the procedure, using your primers on a FIFO basis. If primers become unavailable, you'll have an ample supply for the forsseable future, and you'll still have two hands and ten fingers; what's wrong with that?
Pick a number that makes you happy: 10,000, 20,000, maybe 50,000.
Use 1/5 of the quantity you decide on - then replenish your cache to the number you have chosen.
Repeat the procedure, using your primers on a FIFO basis. If primers become unavailable, you'll have an ample supply for the forsseable future, and you'll still have two hands and ten fingers; what's wrong with that?
Danger aside, if you don't figure it out before SHTF you probably won't figure it out after. So would this be the best use of your time/resoureces before SHTF? Or would buying a couple of K extra of primers before SHTF be better? Or would having ammo loaded and ready to go be the ticket?
You need to have food, water etc. so are primers the weakest link?
Does anyone worry about making their own brass?
You need to have food, water etc. so are primers the weakest link?
Does anyone worry about making their own brass?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Truth be known, you would probably be better served in a hunter/gather SHTF situation with a few .50 cal ammo cans full of .22 LR rim-fire ammo.
It will kill anything you can eat, while not making enough noise to alert all the other scavengers & criminals within 2 miles of your location.
And .22 RF ammo will be worth it's weight in gold as trading material.
rc
It will kill anything you can eat, while not making enough noise to alert all the other scavengers & criminals within 2 miles of your location.
And .22 RF ammo will be worth it's weight in gold as trading material.
rc
SharpsDressedMan
member
If you buy 20-50 thousand primers now ($600-$1500, figured at $30M in bulk) and store them right, you should never have to make homemade primers. You just KEEP buying them as available money permits, rotate your stock, and hole up (as many of us did during this last run on ammo, etc) when things get tougher. As mentioned above, the bullets are the more expensive item, and casting one's own is a better use of ones time and resources, and a hell of a lot safer. You could easily spend more than $1500 the first time you go to the hand surgeon.
I have a TAP-O-CAP tool for making percusson caps for BP, the best roll caps for this purpose are American Western brand caps [made in Canada] followed by the ring style plastic caps. SHTF I think I would rather have my ROA or NMA with beer can percusson caps than a rebuilt primer in a cartridge.
BeerSleeper
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I can see no possible way a "rebuilt" primer could be as reliable as a new one, especially in a SHTF scenario. I don't know about anyone else's vision of a SHTF, but in mine, reliable cartridge ignition is MORE important, not less important. At 3¢/pop, stockpiling seems a more efficient preparation than developing the means to rebuild them.
i'm not going to do it because it's too time consuming. i don't think it's too dangerous. search the archives and you'll find this has been discussed several times. my grandfather used to make his own primers probably 60+ years ago all the time as did many people in that generation. it was an interesting process and was apparently as reliable as most things of that day, and not the least bit dangerous, imho.
of course, what we consider safe and what they considered safe are wildly different things... for instance, they used to drive without seatbelts, while we tie on bungie cords and jump off bridges.
of course, what we consider safe and what they considered safe are wildly different things... for instance, they used to drive without seatbelts, while we tie on bungie cords and jump off bridges.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
60+ years ago I was a pretty young whipper-snapper.
My daddy and some of his WWII buddies where pretty into shooting & hunting after they came home from the war.
But I never heard of anyone making thier own primers then, or now.
There was never any need to anyway, as war surplus primers where about $2 bucks a thousand for all you could carry. And commercial ones didn't cost much more then that in the mid-50's
rc
My daddy and some of his WWII buddies where pretty into shooting & hunting after they came home from the war.
But I never heard of anyone making thier own primers then, or now.
There was never any need to anyway, as war surplus primers where about $2 bucks a thousand for all you could carry. And commercial ones didn't cost much more then that in the mid-50's
rc
Grey Morel
Member
This is not hard. I have done it, and so have many others. Matchstick primers DO work; you just need to take a few things into account:
* you need to use 'strike anywhere" matches.
* you need to prepare the match heads properly to attain a reliable priming compound.
* you need to meter the compound consistently to get reliable ignition.
A man by the name of 'Delmar' developed this procedure:
1) crush the heads off the matches using needle-nosed pliers
2) CAREFULLY grind the match heads into a fine powder
3) remove the anvil from a spent prime using needle nose pliers
4) take a punch and hammer, and strike out the old primer dimple
5) fill primer cup with ground match head powder.
6) take your punch and CAREFULLY tamp down the priming compound.
7) repeat steps 5 and 6 until primer cup is full of compressed match head powder.
8) re-seat the anvil by pressing down with your punch.
9) seat re-loaded primer into your cartridge.
In my experience, it takes at LEAST 3 match heads to provide enough priming material for reliable ignition with large pistol primers in 45 acp. you have to top-off and compress the powder several times to get it all inside the primer cup.
It also took me about 5 minutes PER PRIMER.
Another thing you need to know, is that matchstick primers do not store well. you need to use them within a few days or the moisture in the air will kill them.
Its fun to know how to do it... I experimented with them enough to see that they work, but I will continue to use commercial primers even at $.03 each for the increased consistency and the enormous amount of time they save.
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