How hard is it to produce a primer?

A good reliable consistent non-corrosive primer is not an easy thing to mass produce.

According to this article I read in Shooting Illustrated yesterday...

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Why can't I get primers?

Only two domestic companies make primers, Vista and Winchester. All their primers are going into their production ammo for retail. Normally, the primer market is fed by companies being able to make more primers than they'd ever need to make loaded ammo. In 2020 and now 2021, that's not been the case, so every primer that rolls off the line is going into a loaded piece of ammunition so the consumers can have something to immediately shoot. It's a tough situation for reloaders, but the priority will always be the commercial shooting market.

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You need sulfur, antimony trisulfide, and potassium chlorate. You can order these from the fireworks supply places on line. You want them to be of a fine powder consistency (small mesh size). Only work in very small batches. You will have to collect your old primers and remove the anvils. Clean the cup and pound out the firing pin dent.

Potassium chlorate. 47.2%
Antimony trisulfide. 30.83%
Sulfur 21.97%

Always small batches!!!!! You will need a good digital scale to weigh these out. Weigh out your chemicals and make three piles on a sheet of paper. Use the back of a plastic spoon to smooth out any lumps in your 3 separate piles. To mix the chemicals use the diaper method(lift the edges of paper to gently mix into a compound). The mixture will be a dark gray color. To test your mixture add a small amount on the head of a hammer, take another hammer and smack it and you should hear a loud pop and get some flame.

Fill up primer cup with mixture, pack mixture with the blunt end of a bamboo skewer. Cut small circle of zig zag rolling paper and place over packed mixture, replace anvil (I use my reloading press to do this as it takes some force). Oh yea you will need a 10% shellac 90% acetone solution. Place a drop of this over the rolling paper before seating anvil. Once assembled let dry for a few days.

These are corrosive primers so you will have to clean your bore with soap and water after shooting. I have made these primers. They are as powerful as factory primers. I have enough chemical to last me a lifetime should I need it. These are a pain in the azz to make but it is very easy to do. These chemicals are readily available and shouldn’t land you on the “list”.