new primers

[Kevin Stenberg]

Some information on changes to Federal primers.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/cartridge-primer-technology-developments?CMPID=ene070218#page-2

 

[uncle jimbo]

Interesting article. I learned some things I didn't know about primers.

 

[RicinYakima]

I'm just an old guy who had to deal with a similar chemical used by professional arsonists in the 1970's, except they used magnesium instead of bismuth. My concern is the heat generated in the throat when using light cast bullet loads. But I'm not too worried, as I think I have enough primers to use for the rest of my life. So I will be interested when it makes it to the component market.

 

[Rick]

I guess we must need "green" primers, people are dropping all over from the lead in their primers. The worst of the lead styphnate is how much of it builds up in the tumbler media over time. I won't even take the lid off my tumbler without washing my hands after plus I keep enough polish medium in it to keep the dust down. I cringe every time I read about someone that has their kids separate the brass from their tumbler. Huge big time not good.

I'm most likely good for the rest of my life on primers also.

 

[fiver]

Federal didn't use lead, they used aluminum.
Winchester uses lead.

 

[Rick]

Federal didn't use lead, they used aluminum.
Winchester uses lead.

Interesting. Where did that info come from? Federal's NEW primers are using aluminum but what have they always used in the past? Lead right?

 

[fiver]

I always understood it to be aluminum sphagnate.
I think they just dropped the amount and brought in the bismuth oxide.
I see a price increase coming with the changeover.

if you look at a federal primer going off you'll clearly see a different color [bright silver shower with larger further shooting pieces] of ejecta versus a Winchester [more gold and an even spray]

the aluminum is a heat additive.

all I know is I will be making an effort to stock up on the standard federal shot shell primers for the next few years.

 

[Rick]

You could well be right, I had always thought across the board they all used lead styphnate. Had never heard any different but that doesn't mean much.

 

[RicinYakima]

Stolen from another web site:

Up to early 2000, the most common primer composition encountered was still the lead styphenate, barium nitrate, antimony sulfide and tetrazine type. In this priming compound, lead styphenate and tetrazine are the sensitive explosive ingredients; barium nitrate provides additional oxygen to increase the temperature of the flame, and antimony sulfide acts as a fuel to prolong the burning time. Aluminum, and occasionally magnesium, can also be encountered, but mainly in the higher-powered magnum pistol or rifle calibres.
Powdered glass was also often added to the mixture to increase the friction and to assist detonation when the mixture is crushed by the firing pin.

I don't vouch for its accuracy, but is similar to several other internet places.

 

[KHornet]

Interesting, and I gained a bit of knowledge.
A day is wasted when you don't learn something!

Paul