February 9, 2022 – How Primers are Made — Video by Federal FactoryDoes anyone know how gun primers work? How the explosive elements are placed into these tiny cups. This video was filmed in a Federal ammunition plant. It begins with empty primer cups being loaded into trays using vibration (0.05 time-mark). Although much of the process can be automated, you can still see factory workers “charging” primers with the priming compound. After the cups have been filled, the plates of cups are “mated up” with a set of anvils (0:40 time mark). The primers are then taken out of the trays and inspected. Primer “Mysteries & Misconceptions” Article This authoritative Shooting Times article discusses primer construction and design. The author shares some surprising facts about primers and corrects common myths. Here are some highlights: Size Matters
Useful Trivia: Although Small Rifle primer pockets and Small Pistol primers share the same depth specification (0.008 to 0.009 inches), Large Rifle primers and Large Pistol primers differ. The standard pocket for Large Pistol primers is slightly smaller than its Large Rifle counterpart. It measures 0.008 to 0.09 inches less. Magnum Primers
You can make Magnum primer in one of two ways. Either use more of the standard chemical mixture to produce a longer-burning flame, or you can modify the mix to give it more aggressive characteristics. CCI used the first option for Magnum Rifle primers prior to 1989. We switched to a mix that was optimized for spherical propellants. This resulted in a 24% rise in flame temperature and 16% increase in gas volume. Foiled Again
A lot of component primers have a little piece of paper between the anvil & the priming mixture. It’s called “foilpaper” because it replaces the original metal foil used to seal early percussion caps. This little disk is only there for manufacturing convenience. The inside diameter of the cup is smaller than the wet primer pellets. They must be compacted to reach their correct height and diameter. The foil paper is essential as the wet mixture will stick to the pins and cause jamming. See the full Primer Story at ShootingTimes.com Video by Boyd Allen We welcome submissions from readers. Similar posts:
