Powder-primer experimentation

[RestrictedColt]

I've lit all kinds of powder, including black, several different ways. I've also ignited primers with hammers, fire, firing pins, etc. I've also ignited cartridges in open air. There's some amount of danger involved, but not as much as most people think. A primer in open air is quite loud, hearing protection is advised as well as eye protection. Something fun to do is to take a primed case filled with powder and light it. You get a blow torch kinda flame from the powder and when the fire hits the primer it goes off. The primer generally blows out of the case sending the case into the air. Don't use BP for this, it burns way too fast, but modern powder acts kinda like a fuse.

Doing these things will probably do nothing useful for the reloader other than knowing what happens when those things are ignited, and entertainment.

As far as not using the old components, I see no reason not to. If you don't want them I'll gladly take them!

[McGuiver]

Powder-primer experimentation

Guys,

Everyone has their own right to do what they want. Just remember this sport is dangerous. If you mess up, Darwinism could be knocking at your door. John Henry, cool off and listen to people. They are trying to keep you out of a closed casket funeral.

If you put the wrong powder in a bolt action rifle you could end up with the bolt thru the skull or hands shredded and missing an eye.

If you want to do something not safe, do it and don't tell anyone, then thank Darwin for not calling you home. This is a site where we can learn and share. Primers are dangerous. They are not the caps we used to have as a kid and smack with a hammer. If you are lucky nothing may happen to you. The concrete may spall and send concrete back at your face, hands, and eye. The primer may become a super light and fast projectile. It could lodge in your foot or ankle. Third, the hammer can fatigue and crack. Hammers are usually meant to hit nails or chisels, not small explosives.

Please, if you insist on living dangerously, wear an EOD suit.




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[kcstott]

Well gee, I still have a right to own a firearm, that's mighty white of you. Why don't you come down off that ivory tower, I'd like to take a good look at someone who's never made a mistake.

I guess the pissing contest has started, my opinion of you still stands.

No Pissing contest involved. I just want you to understand the full extent of what you are doing. When i say you are doing something stupid, it's not for the sake of safety, it for the sake of wasting time powder and primers or an experiment that will yield little data. I also want you to understand what little information you will get by burning powder. yes rifle powder burns slower in free air than pistol powder in free air But that has nearly no correlation to actual pressure developed.

Here's your original question

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.

Read some more. Go buy "The Bullets Flight From Powder To Target" Or Hatchers note book. those two books have more real world experiments than any others. P.O. Ackleys hand book for reloaders is also a good source I recommend both volumes. You want to read about a crazy man, P.O. Ackley is the guy, Purposely blowing up actions to see what they can handle. fun stuff.

As to me being free of mistakes, No sir I make mistakes all the time, I just want you to learn a bit more, the original question posed was so juvenile, so naive it surprised me.

Have fun be safe but please do some more reading before your next experiment

[kcstott]

Guys,

Everyone has their own right to do what they want. Just remember this sport is dangerous. If you mess up, Darwinism could be knocking at your door. John Henry, cool off and listen to people. They are trying to keep you out of a closed casket funeral.

If you put the wrong powder in a bolt action rifle you could end up with the bolt thru the skull or hands shredded and missing an eye.

If you want to do something not safe, do it and don't tell anyone, then thank Darwin for not calling you home. This is a site where we can learn and share. Primers are dangerous. They are not the caps we used to have as a kid and smack with a hammer. If you are lucky nothing may happen to you. The concrete may spall and send concrete back at your face, hands, and eye. The primer may become a super light and fast projectile. It could lodge in your foot or ankle. Third, the hammer can fatigue and crack. Hammers are usually meant to hit nails or chisels, not small explosives.

Please, if you insist on living dangerously, wear an EOD suit.




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I'm not even arguing the safety aspect. I'm simply saying he's not going to gather enough information from burning powder or whacking primers.

Now as to someone having the "RIGHT" to do what ever they want.

Lets talk about Negligence, Willful disregard, Gross Negligence, and finally Criminal Negligence.

No sir people do not have the right to do what ever they like. They have the responsibility to take reasonable precautions to safeguard him/herself and those that may be around him/her. If he/she want to go do something really stupid well fine but do it where they will be the only ones hurt.

And again my comments toward John Henry were not on a safety aspect but an educational aspect and what little he would gain by doing what he did, Burning small amounts of powder is dangerous but less dangerous than refilling a hot lawn mowers gas tank, Spill some fuel on the exhaust and if it ignites you will wish you were playing with gun powder.

But how many of us wait to let the engine cool. Life is risk.

My concern was his approach, He's new to reloading, trying to learn and what bothered me was his comment on pressure and then talking about burning powder, I don't want him developing any misconceived notions on how pressure is formed in a chamber. burning powder in free air is an example of burn rate but has nearly no reflection as to the powders true characteristics.

[Mayor McRifle]

Well gee, I still have a right to own a firearm, that's mighty white of you. Why don't you come down off that ivory tower, I'd like to take a good look at someone who's never made a mistake.

I guess the pissing contest has started, my opinion of you still stands.

No need to get all bent out of shape. He and others here are just trying to help you avoid a Darwin Award.

I don't have time to join the fray, though. I have to get back to my latest project. I'm throwing sparks at a bucket of gasoline in my garage to see what happens inside my car's engine when I drive.

[McGuiver]

I'm not even arguing the safety aspect. I'm simply saying he's not going to gather enough information from burning powder or whacking primers.



Now as to someone having the "RIGHT" to do what ever they want.



Lets talk about Negligence, Willful disregard, Gross Negligence, and finally Criminal Negligence.



No sir people do not have the right to do what ever they like. They have the responsibility to take reasonable precautions to safeguard him/herself and those that may be around him/her. If he/she want to go do something really stupid well fine but do it where they will be the only ones hurt.



And again my comments toward John Henry were not on a safety aspect but an educational aspect and what little he would gain by doing what he did, Burning small amounts of powder is dangerous but less dangerous than refilling a hot lawn mowers gas tank, Spill some fuel on the exhaust and if it ignites you will wish you were playing with gun powder.



But how many of us wait to let the engine cool. Life is risk.



My concern was his approach, He's new to reloading, trying to learn and what bothered me was his comment on pressure and then talking about burning powder, I don't want him developing any misconceived notions on how pressure is formed in a chamber. burning powder in free air is an example of burn rate but has nearly no reflection as to the powders true characteristics.

My aspect of "right to do what they want" was within the law.


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[John Henry]

Guys,

Everyone has their own right to do what they want. Just remember this sport is dangerous. If you mess up, Darwinism could be knocking at your door. John Henry, cool off and listen to people. They are trying to keep you out of a closed casket funeral.

If you put the wrong powder in a bolt action rifle you could end up with the bolt thru the skull or hands shredded and missing an eye.

If you want to do something not safe, do it and don't tell anyone, then thank Darwin for not calling you home. This is a site where we can learn and share. Primers are dangerous. They are not the caps we used to have as a kid and smack with a hammer. If you are lucky nothing may happen to you. The concrete may spall and send concrete back at your face, hands, and eye. The primer may become a super light and fast projectile. It could lodge in your foot or ankle. Third, the hammer can fatigue and crack. Hammers are usually meant to hit nails or chisels, not small explosives.

Please, if you insist on living dangerously, wear an EOD suit.




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McGuiver: Look, I totally understand what you are saying. I regret that I even started this thread because, based on some of the posts to this thread, I'm surprised at what some guys have actually done and I wouldn't want anyone to develop any sort of cavalier attitude and get hurt.

I got carried away in my responses to "kcstott" because my ego was kicking in. I did the one thing I promised myself when I joined this site that I would never do-get into a pissing contest.
Things get said, thoughts and intentions get distorted and nobody "wins."

I do not have a death wish and I'm not going to do anything stupid and collect the "Darwin award." I've got too much to live for.
I'm not going to be hammering any primers. I made the mistake of "airing" my unwise curiosity and it went down a road I never intended.

I began my interest in reloading about 9 months ago when a friend who reloads guided me through reloading 100 rounds of 9mm on his equipment. I was impressed by his thoroughness-looking up the loads in at least 2 manuals, checking and rechecking the powder weights, handling the primers with the utmost care and etc. I saw that it wasn't "difficult" but you had to keep your head in the game, not get distracted, check and double check and consider the manuals as your bible.

In the months since then I've collected my brass, cleaned and sorted it, getting my equipment together and pouring through the 5 different manuals I bought. When I'm finally ready to start reloading I will get together with that same friend and he'll look over my shoulder my first couple of reload sessions.

To "kcstott" if you're reading this post: I didn't mean to get started off on the wrong foot with you. You're exactly the kind of guy who I would hope to have respond to any "educated, technical" questions I would have regarding reloading.

I hope this clears the air with everyone concerned and we all stay safe!

[hardhead]

Well said, now let's go reload something.

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[John Henry]

No need to get all bent out of shape. He and others here are just trying to help you avoid a Darwin Award.

I don't have time to join the fray, though. I have to get back to my latest project. I'm throwing sparks at a bucket of gasoline in my garage to see what happens inside my car's engine when I drive.

That was pretty damn funny. Point taken and understood.

[readysetgo]

I regret that I even started this thread

Those are the BEST threads though!!! So thank you johnhenry!

[kcstott]

McGuiver: Look, I totally understand what you are saying. I regret that I even started this thread because, based on some of the posts to this thread, I'm surprised at what some guys have actually done and I wouldn't want anyone to develop any sort of cavalier attitude and get hurt.

I got carried away in my responses to "kcstott" because my ego was kicking in. I did the one thing I promised myself when I joined this site that I would never do-get into a pissing contest.
Things get said, thoughts and intentions get distorted and nobody "wins."

I do not have a death wish and I'm not going to do anything stupid and collect the "Darwin award." I've got too much to live for.
I'm not going to be hammering any primers. I made the mistake of "airing" my unwise curiosity and it went down a road I never intended.

I began my interest in reloading about 9 months ago when a friend who reloads guided me through reloading 100 rounds of 9mm on his equipment. I was impressed by his thoroughness-looking up the loads in at least 2 manuals, checking and rechecking the powder weights, handling the primers with the utmost care and etc. I saw that it wasn't "difficult" but you had to keep your head in the game, not get distracted, check and double check and consider the manuals as your bible.

In the months since then I've collected my brass, cleaned and sorted it, getting my equipment together and pouring through the 5 different manuals I bought. When I'm finally ready to start reloading I will get together with that same friend and he'll look over my shoulder my first couple of reload sessions.

To "kcstott" if you're reading this post: I didn't mean to get started off on the wrong foot with you. You're exactly the kind of guy who I would hope to have respond to any "educated, technical" questions I would have regarding reloading.

I hope this clears the air with everyone concerned and we all stay safe!

Now thats sounds like a guy I can hang out with. I'm not a fan of the pissing contest either, I just want you to educate yourself, That first post came off very novice and naive. Well you may be a novice but I don't think you're naive. Not anymore at least

It's all good,

[RestrictedColt]

I'm throwing sparks at a bucket of gasoline in my garage to see what happens inside my car's engine when I drive.