Produce Primers and Powder?

S

sic65stang

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 29, 2010
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Virginia Beach, VA
#1
I understand the danger of doing this, but in a situation where you could not buy primers or powder, how would you synthesize it?

I was thinking about this the other day as I was loading, I can use brass many times, I can melt lead for bullets, but how could I make a primer or powder if it was unobtainable elsewhere? Just an interesting thought, maybe some of you have had this thought, maybe some have answers?
 
#2
Re: Produce Primers and Powder?

become a chemist
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i hear people make their own black powder. I understand it is a relatively simple process , so i would get into that first.
 
#4
Re: Produce Primers and Powder?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MALLARD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">become a chemist
smile.gif
</div></div>

I am and it's pretty easy. The 'chemicals' are the easy part, not killing yourself is harder.

There are a lot of people who make their own and put 'recipes' out for people to try. Just search the web a little and you'll find it's pretty common.
 
#5
Re: Produce Primers and Powder?

I believe most smokeless modern propellants (single base) are simply "guncotton", dissolved into ether, formed into different shapes (to affect burn rate), then coated with various retardants to further control burn rate.

Double base powder is the same as above, except nitroglycerin is added to the solution prior to kernel forming.

Nitroglycerin and guncotton are bith readily made by titration with Nitric acid, and also sulfiric acid for the nitro. The retardants on the other hand, I know Jack Schitt about.

Primers are tougher, as they are a primary explosive. Mercury Fulminate and Lead Azinine, I believe. Makeshift primers can be "reloaded" from spent primers by removing the anvil, hammering the firing pin dent out of the cup, then refilling the cup with scrapings of the tips of strike-anywhere matches, then replacing the primer anvil.

...a lot of work...

ETA: The burn retardants are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!! Without them, the guncotton is way, way, way too fast.
 
#6
Re: Produce Primers and Powder?

"The 'chemicals' are the easy part, not killing yourself is harder."

THIS^^^

Nitroglycerin is very easy to make also the easiest way for you to end up in a shoe box...yeah...trust me they won't need a coffin.

If you like breathing it is best to leave powder and primers(don't even fart) to the professionals.
 
#7
Re: Produce Primers and Powder?

I have an Army Field Manual that outlines the process. IIRC, it is what Turbo says. I think the title is "Survival".
 
#8
Re: Produce Primers and Powder?

Guys, I do this stuff for a living. I have degrees and training plus a full lab at my disposal and you don't see me messing with this...

I purposely left my first response vague because if you have to ask... However, I'm not saying you can't do it as a home-brewer but know that smokeless powders are not even an option because you'll die (<--not kidding) but black powder is easy to make (at home) and <span style="text-decoration: underline">FAR</span> safer. As far as primers go, forget about that all together.

If you really want to mess with it PM me and we'll chat.

 
#10
Re: Produce Primers and Powder?

Read a book some years ago about some Americans and Brits who were stranded in China during WWII. They did the trick with the matchheads for primers. They had some brass shot shells. A couple of shotguns and lots of pheasants. They made a shot tower...basically a sheet of steel that they melted lead on and dropped it into water. Not very good but better than nothing. For powder they needed something faster than rifle powder. They used finely chopped up movie film...it used to be nitrocellulose base film stock. Necessity being the mother of invention it worked. Said the roast pheasants were worth the work.
 
#11
Re: Produce Primers and Powder?

I think the primers may be in "Improvised Munnitions".

I'll have to look later today.

I'd go with either homemade black powder or stockpile smokeless.
 
#13
Re: Produce Primers and Powder?

I do not want to try it, but rather know it in case of any "survival" type situation. I am not a prepper for SHTF situations, but thinking about a situation like that where those things would be unavailable I was just thinking of how it could be done. The primer things seems simple enough with the match heads, but the chemicals for powder seems very tough to do.
 
#14
Re: Produce Primers and Powder?

A) When conditions reach the point where improvised munitions are absolutely necessary, the sound of a gun shot becomes a long distance invitation for two-legged predators to go heading your way.

B) By that time, matches will probably also be in very short supply.

C) I suspect I would find bows and atlatls to be far simpler to fabricate and keep in operation. They have the added advantage of being comparatively silent, scattering less game, and attracting less unwanted attention.

In a survival situation, any solution that depends on vanished or dwindling technology is ultimately a handicap. I would consider ammunition and components to be as useful for barter goods as for their intended use.

When all that's left is arrows, it's probably already a bit late to be studying up on the Indians.

Greg
 
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