does shooting primed only shells hurt your barrel?

[bubbapug1]

I was wondering if shooting primers only, no powder or bullets, hurt your barrel?? I can't see whay not, its not like a metallic shower, and it must also come out of the mix with the powder. I want to test a hammer spring and don't want to go to the range to do so.

Does it constitute discharging a firearm?

[Dark Mod]

I Seriously doubt it can harm your barrel, Sometimes i stuff wads of paper in there with only a primer and shoot them inside my house. Its probably going to be alot louder than you think though.

I have no idea if its legal or not either, it seems it would be alot like shooting a cap gun

[kel-tec-innovations]

Unless its corrosive primer you just have to clean the barrel. Regular primer wouldn't hurt the barrel.

[AAShooter]

Primers put some nasty stuff in the environment. I would be reluctant to shoot them in my home unless more urgent priorities arise.

[bubbapug1]

Primers put some nasty stuff in the environment. I would be reluctant to shoot them in my home unless more urgent priorities arise.

Can't be any worse than the sorting of brass...thats a dust storm in itself

[damndave]

I doubt it will hurt anything, but it sure will be messy in your barrel.

[AAShooter]

Can't be any worse than the sorting of brass...thats a dust storm in itself

Might not want to do that in your home either.

[Sub95]

for 45 acp i put 1/2 glue stick in the case and cut it off flush. careful as it would hurt to get hit by one with only a primer, might poke a eye out too.

in the house no, but in the garage yes, just open a little after you are done.

just clean then gun after you are done, wont hurt anything.

[sequoia_nomad]

As long as it is not a corrosive primer it should not hurt anything, although if it is in a revolver and you have not enlarged the flash hole the spent primer may back out enough to cause some binding in the turning of the action.

It would very likely be considered discharging a firearm if you were caught, depending on where when and by who.

[XDRoX]

Yep, it is discharging a firearm. Illegal where I live, don't know where you live.

Plus, some primers can put toxins into the air. I would never do it in my house nor would I ever clean or separate brass in my house.

And lastly, it's very loud. Louder than a 22.

[bubbapug1]

I went to the range today to test it out. Louder than a 22lr? No, but its close, and the hammer chamfer didn't hurt the operations, so I am happy.

[BillnotBob]

May I recommend making a home made snap cap? Just cut the eraser off of a pencil, cut it to a snug fit in the primer pocket, and use it as a snap cap. It normaly last for about five hits. No damage to the case, and no mess to clean up.

[Linkpimp]

As far as shooting primers in the gun.. aaahhh I would do it, like many others have referenced, its messy. As for the noise.. I've had a few primers go off in my press (my fault) I was pushing down to seat them way to hard and they’ve gone off.. I don’t know if it’s as loud as 22, more like firecracker IMO.

If you’re looking for some snap cap ideas, here's how I made mine for my 300 win. You can get hundreds of trigger pulls out of them..

[Slash2]

What about deactivating the primers first? Soak 'em in water or something so they don't go bang. You're just looking to see if your firing pin strikes hard , right?

[XDRoX]

What about deactivating the primers first? Soak 'em in water or something so they don't go bang. You're just looking to see if your firing pin strikes hard , right?

Not sure if water would deactivate them. WD40 will probably work better.

About the noise levels, a primer shot out of a pistol is loud enough to make your ears ring. The noise level of a 22 rifle is around 100 dB. A 22 pistol around 150 dB.

I've never tested a primer but I've heard them go off and I'd guess they at least around 130 dB.