Could you in theory make your own primers?

[marksiwel]

I know a couple of people who can make gun powder, do you think it would be doable to mass produce Primers?

[chabouk]

What technology do you need that wasn't available in 1830 (roughly the time the percussion cap was introduced)?

To make clean-burning, sure-fire, non-corrosive primers? Okay, that's a little more involved. But primers themselves are very old-school technology.

[marksiwel]

What technology do you need that wasn't available in 1830 (roughly the time the percussion cap was introduced)?

To make clean-burning, sure-fire, non-corrosive primers? Okay, that's a little more involved. But primers themselves are very old-school technology.

What are they made of, how would you make them?

I, one day,would like to undertake a project where I make a Rifle, Ammo (shells and all) from Hand. Just to see if I could do it.

[OldCannon]

Somehow, the thought of making mercury fulminate in the home sounds....bad. (or any other modern primer goo).

[chabouk]

Berdan primers would be easier to make at home than Boxer. A Berdan primer is one piece, just a percussion cap that fits in the primer pocket, sitting over an anvil that is part of the brass.

There are recipes for DIY primer compound scattered about the interwebz. You're not the only one who has tried to DIY.

[marksiwel]

I haven't tried this myself.

a most excellent post., thanks!

[mactex]

There was a group on the High Point forum that was using the tips of matches to basically reload their used primer cases. Reading through the notes on the forum scared the bejezuz out of me.

[jhutto]

i can't see the images :(

[NcongruNt]

i can't see the images :(

They're actually YouTube videos. Here are the direct links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0jxpLH8FtY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p1Xv6eDFjo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;