Make everything except primers

[762infidel]

I have been doing a study on reloading an accurate and reliable 9mm round using all homemade components with the execption of primers for about 4 months now. Many reloaders rely on factory made components, and have went so far as to make their own bullets. I got bored with all that and decided to try making my own powder. The funny thing is, its a special black powder! Now, please read the whole report before you start going nuts on me, and telling me I am crazy and will get myself killed. I assure you this is all being done in a completly safe setting. Safety is obviously the biggest concern here, its black powder after all and this really hasnt been done before, so I am not trying to die or get injured here, nor let anyone else. Powder is the least expensive part of a pieice of ammunition, but primers are a bit out of my ablity to expiriment with. I buy in bulk and I really hate the shipping charges and just the overall price of the powder. I have successfully fired 250rds without any jams, FTE's, misfires etc. I will be putting a video on youtube soon for you guys to enjoy. Before I let the recipe out, I intend to thoroughly review and test these loads to make sure that this is ok for others to try themselves. I will put each set of rounds through different torture tests (water, freeze, low heat, neglect, age, greese/lube etc) and see what if any conditions make it unstable or dangerous to use. They will be in sets on 50 for each part of the test, up to 1000rds for each part. Each set must pass each part of these tests before I start stand by and let people play with what i have designed. The 250 rounds I have fired have been the freeze, and straight from the reloader rounds. 150 straight from the press, and 100 from the freezer. Unforutunatly these will obviously have limitations. Cleaning will likely be needed after every 500-750 rds. 9mm carbines will be used to try these rounds as well (soumi m31 and keltec sub2000) but I dont know for sure how that will turn out. The good thing is that these rounds meter really well. Using federal once fired 9mm brass and tula primers, a cast 124gr lead projectile will go 798fps a bit below average for a standard load. The frozen ones go on average 15fps less for whatever reason...I would think it would be quite a bit more. As a reloader, seeing all that powder being loaded into the case during a reload sets up a flag, but its nessesary and so far safe. The recoil is about the same, and accuracy is no different from the 50rd boxs of federal you get at walmart. If this is successful I will then be able to load 5000rds of 9mm for $120.............that is just awesome. Its like going back in time 20 years.


Anyway, I will keep you guys updated with the progress...if you even care.

All questions are welcome.

Thanks for reading!

[CSACANNONEER]

Making BP and using BP in cartidge ammo is nothing new. After all .38 special, .38 S&W, .45 Colt, 25-20, 44-40, 30-30, 7.62x54R and many other cartidges were originally designed for BP.

Also, there are several different ways to remanufacture your own primers.

I have the dies to manufacture my own #11 priming caps. So, I can keep firing my caplocks for a long time. But, for the ultimate self sufficient firearm, I'd go with a flintlock or matchlock.

[762infidel]

Making BP and using BP in cartidge ammo is nothing new. After all .38 special, .38 S&W, .45 Colt, 25-20, 44-40, 30-30, 7.62x54R and many other cartidges were originally designed for BP.

Also, there are several different ways to remanufacture your own primers.

I have the dies to manufacture my own #11 priming caps. So, I can keep firing my caplocks for a long time. But, for the ultimate self sufficient firearm, I'd go with a flintlock or matchlock.

Oh wow thats awesome man! I need to learn to make my own primers. What do you use for the ignition source?


Yea I know those were used with black powder but I am talking about the 9mm round used in a semi automatic...I think thats a big step toward savings. $120 for 5000rds is not bad at all...

[bumpo628]

I think that is just great about making your own powder. I'll keep watching your progress.

[CSACANNONEER]

Remeber that BP is very corrosive. So, always completely clean your gun.

Oh wow thats awesome man! I need to learn to make my own primers. What do you use for the ignition source?


Yea I know those were used with black powder but I am talking about the 9mm round used in a semi automatic...I think thats a big step toward savings. $120 for 5000rds is not bad at all...

Priming caps can be made with red roll caps. Modern primers can be remanufactured with the tips of strike anywhere matches among other things.

[BigBronco]

I watched a you tube video I think it was a video from Ammosmith.com that refilled primers by picking out the anvil them flattening out the dent in the cup with a mallet and using the scrapped tip from White not Blue tipped kitchen matches. The anvil was re-seated at the same time as the primer was pressed (seated) back in to the empty case. It took about 8 match tips for one primer. I think stocking up on primers is more cost effective. I do not know if I would do this, but I would definitely like to make some black powder for 45 LC. I would love a PM when you get the testing done.

[CSACANNONEER]

While expensive, I did find one place selling DIY BP kits. Obviously, one can find all the ingredient seperately and make their own but, a pre measured kit is good for the first timer like me.

762,

Where do you get your ingredients?

[Cowboy T]

I've seen Ammosmith's video on making primers, and while time consuming, it does work if you're in extremis.

The other way to make primers is to use a couple of those caps from cap pistols. Here's a guy showing how to do that.

http://fgsp.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/reloading-a-primer/

EDIT: Just noticed this was post #556! Cool! Can't wait to get to #762 now. :-)