Powder-primer experimentation

[John Henry]

After getting most of my equipment together (some new and some " inherited)" reading manuals -ABC's of Reloading, Lyman's, Sierra and etc. I'm just about to the point where I'll start reloading-slowly.

Obviously, my main concern is not exceeding recommended pressures by doing anything stupid-ignoring max loads, air-heading and etc. But reading about how the powders and primers ignite and actually observing, outside of the barrel, are two different things. Part of what I inherited was old powder and primers, which I'm obviously not going to use but I wanted to experiment with both just to see them in action and gain a feel for their potency.

I've ignited several small piles, equivalent to pistol and rifle charges, of powder and it was amazing to see the burn and almost hear the "whoosh." I've wanted to experiment by hitting a small and large primer with a hammer on concrete (wearing eyes and ears) but I'm wondering if that would be wise? Suggestions?

[baih777]

Not wise.
Safer to check you tube .

[someoneeasy]

What are you hoping to see from hitting the primers?

[TexasJackKin]

If you want to hear how load a primer is, re-prime a case, no powder or bullet, and just put it in a gun and "pop" it. In a handgun you might be surprised at how load it is... POINT IT IN A SAFE DIRECTION!

But I wouldn't hit one with a hammer!

[Catch]

Primers work out of sling shots an air rifles too.
Stay safe.

[John Henry]

What are you hoping to see from hitting the primers?

I suppose it's getting a "feel" for just how powerful even just one primer would be, although I've pretty much talked myself out of using primer loading tubes because of possible multiple ignition. I kind of like the idea suggested where I simply decap and reprime an empty case, load it, point in safe direction and fire.

[rsrocket1]

Do what TexasJackKin said. Prime an empty case, chamber it, point it in a safe direction and pull the trigger. It doesn't accomplish much. In a rifle it sounds like a cap gun going off (I shoot off 3 in a muzzleloader at the start of a session to pre-foul a barrel and chase out any possible oils in the breechplug). It will blow dust off the ground or move leaves.

In a pistol it's quite a bit louder and when it's done accidentally while trying to prime a crimped primer pocket, it's real loud.

[hardhead]

Primers are pretty impressive. Those little buggers pack a punch. Before the bug a salt, I used to kill flies in the garage that way. They are definitely loud.

[kcheung2]

So you say this

my main concern is not exceeding recommended pressures by doing anything stupid

and then you do this

I've ignited several small piles, equivalent to pistol and rifle charges, of powder

[rkt88edmo]

So you say this


and then you do this

Are you saying that learning about the materials you are working with first hand in small manageable quantities is dangerous? Sounds just as safe as wrapping them in steel and putting them up right next to my face and igniting them.

OP, just do your research before you try anything new, take safety precautions and have fun learning.

[Win231]

Not wise to use a hammer to ignite primers. As others have suggested, it's safe to load one in a case & fire it in a gun. But I'd wear hearing protection; the first time I did that, I couldn't believe how loud it was - ringing ears. It can damage hearing. And, you will get a big hot spark out of the barrel, so don't have the muzzle near anything flammable. Also, when I fired primers in a revolver, the primer would back out & tie up the cylinder a bit.

Re powder: Before loading old powder, smell it. If it smells like solvent, it's OK. If it smells like pepper, don't use it; it's unstable, but it usually takes around 20 years to get that way. Spread it out on a lawn or garden & wet it - good fertilizer.

[John Henry]

So you say this


and then you do this

Hey guys, cut me some slack. It's not like I burned a bunch of powder- it wasn't even half a teaspoon. Smokeless powder doesn't explode, it -what's the word-conflagrates. Just from the 2 times I ignited the small batches of powder-I first went about the size of a bean- I developed a very healthy respect for what it can do enclosed in a cartridge-barrel.

Now the primer, that's a totally different ball game. That's why I came here to ask and now, from some of your answers, I know what to do, or not do. Mea culpa!

[ironhorse1]

primer power

Besides shooting the occasional wax bullet in a handgun I have tested the power of a primer in a rifle as far as penetration.

Using a 30-30 Marlin with only a large rifle primer and a 42 grain lead round ball I put that ball through a piece of drywall and firmly embedded it in a two by four.

That means the ball was doing at least 400 fps.

Impressive to be sure. Remember that there are subsonic .22's with nothing but priming compound capable of killing rodents that might be in range.

Save the hammer for nailing things together. Save the primers for loading.

irh

[Win231]

Besides shooting the occasional wax bullet in a handgun I have tested the power of a primer in a rifle as far as penetration.

Using a 30-30 Marlin with only a large rifle primer and a 42 grain lead round ball I put that ball through a piece of drywall and firmly embedded it in a two by four.

That means the ball was doing at least 400 fps.

Impressive to be sure. Remember that there are subsonic .22's with nothing but priming compound capable of killing rodents that might be in range.

Save the hammer for nailing things together. Save the primers for loading.

irh

Remember something when you do such experiments. After each shot, check the barrel for an obstruction. A projectile may not make it out of the barrel & you wouldn't want to find that out by firing another round.

Nothing dangerous about lighting a little smokeless powder - I've done it. Just make damn sure there is nothing flammable nearby. And remember, the burn temperature is very hot.

When you do experiments that aren't listed in loading manuals, there is some extra risk. We are cutting you some slack; we just don't want to see you get hurt.

[John Henry]

Remember something when you do such experiments. After each shot, check the barrel for an obstruction. A projectile may not make it out of the barrel & you wouldn't want to find that out by firing another round.

Nothing dangerous about lighting a little smokeless powder - I've done it. Just make damn sure there is nothing flammable nearby. And remember, the burn temperature is very hot.

When you do experiments that aren't listed in loading manuals, there is some extra risk. We are cutting you some slack; we just don't want to see you get hurt.

Ok, I get it. Thanks for the concern.