[Atlas Sneezed]

...look into making primers and how to do it more effectively than current processes. I don’t imagine there’s a lot that bullets can be refined on, but what about casings? What about gunpowder manufacture?

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Primers are the toughest. I’m watching for primerless ammo in the next generation or two.

Primers are the only component that is truly “explosive, and few companies want to work with mercury fulminate, which has been the ingredient since the 19th century. All those generations, and no one has come up with an alternative to the ugliest of ammo components.

Bullets are easy for the amateur (just melt lead and cast it into molds).

Powder is trickier, but it’s not that hard to enter the market, and there are lots of makers.

Brass casings are just machined/formed parts, using centuries old technology that is easy to do today.

There are just a couple of primer makers out there, and they are all big ammo makers, and sell to all the other ammo makers.

[marktwain]

Primers are the only component that is truly “explosive, and few companies want to work with mercury fulminate, which has been the ingredient since the 19th century. All those generations, and no one has come up with an alternative to the ugliest of ammo components.

Mercury fulminate was used for a long time, but lead styphnate has been the primary primer compound since the 1930's.

Smokeless Primers

Part of the problem with mercury is that residue from the priming can weaken brass cases.