SPORTING

AMMUNITION
PRIMERS
Properties,
Handling & Storage
for Handloading

11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470-2359

This leaflet has been prepared by the Sporting Arms and
Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute based upon informa-
tion currently available to it. It is furnished to interested
persons as a courtesy and in the interests of safety. It is
not intended to be comprehensive; it does not modify or
replace safety suggestions, standards, or regulations
made by designated authorities, public or private. It is
subject to revisions as additional knowledge and experi-
ence are gained. SAAMI expressly disclaims any warranty,
obligation, or liability whatsoever in connection with the
information contained herein or its use.

Ammunition handloading has become increasingly popu-

lar in recent years. This leaflet summarizes information
that is generally known by an experienced handloader,
and provides general information to persons interested in
handloading. It discusses the properties of sporting
ammunition primers and offers recommendations for their
safe use, handling and storage.

This leaflet is intended only to increase the knowledge of

all concerned individuals and groups regarding sporting
ammunition primers. The statements made do not super-
sede local, state or Federal regulations. Proper authorities
should be consulted on regulations for storage, transporta-
tion, and use of sporting ammunition primers in each spe-
cific community. Other leaflets on smokeless powder and
sporting ammunition are available.

Properties of Primers
Sporting ammunition primers contain carefully engineered
mixtures of chemical ingredients. Primers are designed to
explode and produce the heat, gas and hot particles neces-
sary to ignite the propellant powders in sporting ammuni-
tion when the firing pin of a firearm strikes them properly.

Properties of particular importance to the dealer and user

of primers are as follows:

1. Primers may explode if subjected to mishandling.

Explosions may be caused by friction and by percussion,
such as hammering, pounding, dropping or bullet impact.
Heating by fire, static electricity, sparks, hot tobacco
ashes, or other unspecified abuses may also cause
primers to explode.

2. If primers are loose or in bulk, having contact one

with another, one primer exploding can, and usually will,
cause a violent, sympathetic explosion of all primers so
situated. In other words, one primer exploding for any rea-
son under these circumstances will normally cause all of
the primers to explode in one violent blast.

3. Primers may “dust.” Small particles of priming com-

pound may separate from the primers in the form of dust,
especially when they are subjected to shaking or jolting.
Accumulation of this dust in primer feed tubes, loading
machines, and loading areas is extremely hazardous as it
might cause explosions or fires.

4. Primers exposed to water or any organic solvent,

such as paint thinner, gasoline, kerosene, oil, grease, etc.
may deteriorate, resulting in misfires or poor ignition.

5. Modern sporting ammunition primers will not absorb

moisture under normal or even severe conditions of
atmospheric humidity. There is no advantage to be gained
from air-tight containers. The factory containers in which
they are packaged need only normal conditions of storage.
They should be kept dry and not exposed to high tempera-
tures (in excess of 150° F). If exposed to wet conditions
or high temperatures, they may deteriorate, yielding mis-
fires or poor ignition of the propellant powder.

Handling of Primers
Primers do explode. This is the purpose for which they
have been designed. They demand the respect and careful
handling due any device containing explosives.

Sporting Ammunition and the Firefighter, a video produced

by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’
Institute, analyzes the characteristics associated with small
arms ammunition when it is subjected to severe impact
and fire. When a primer ignites, it causes the propellant to
burn, which creates gases which, when under pressure in
a firearm, send the bullet down the barrel. Pressure creat-
ed by the propellant being burned is what discharges a
bullet. As such, loose ammunition in a fire does not result
in bullets being discharged because the propellant is not
burning under pressure. The video, which has been widely
circulated to fire departments, concludes that while ammu-
nition produces a popping sound when it burns, there is
no mass detonation of the ammunition, any projectiles are
of low velocity, and there is no threat to firefighters in their
standard turn-out gear.

Primers should never be handled, used, or stored in bulk,

since primers in bulk can explode simultaneously. The
placing of primers in tubes or columns, or using other
bulk systems in which the explosion of any one primer
may cause the explosion of all others, is a potentially
hazardous condition. The manufacturers of primers do not
recommend the use of primer feeds for reloading unless
adequate protection from the hazard of explosion is pro-
vided. It is the responsibility of the manufacturers of primer
handling systems to provide safety and protective features
for their equipment. It is recommended that primers be
handled individually unless adequate safeguards are pro-
vided and used.

Care must always be exercised in any handloading oper-

ation to avoid rough handling and undue force where a
primer is involved, since the primer may fire. Any mal-
function of equipment must be cleared with extreme cau-
tion. The decapping of shells or cases containing live
primers is to be avoided.

Precautions should be taken to avoid buildup of static

electricity on the person when handling primers or con-
ducting handloading procedures. Loading equipment
should be electrically grounded.

All loading equipment and adjacent areas must be kept

scrupulously clean and free of primer dust and powder
accumulations. Work areas and loading equipment must
be cleaned by wiping with a damp cloth or sponge which
should be thoroughly rinsed after each use. Fired primers,
primer cups, anvils, or other bits of hard, abrasive material
are a hazard during loading operation as contact with
them may cause primers to fire.

Accidentally spilled primers should be picked up immedi-

ately as they may explode when stepped upon.

An absolute minimum of primers should be maintained at

the loading operation. Only one packing tray at a time
should be removed from the primer storage.

When a priming operation is completed, any remaining

primers should be returned to the package in which they
were originally contained. These packages have been
specifically designed to protect primers during shipment
and storage and also to protect the consumer.

Primers available to children, household pets, or persons

not recognizing them as potentially hazardous, are an
unnecessary risk to all concerned.
Never have an open flame, source of sparks, or hot parti-
cles in the vicinity of primers or any ammunition loading
operation.

Do not smoke near primers.

Safety glasses must be worn when performing any and all

handloading operations. Additional protection such as face
shields or machine guards are strongly recommended.

Recommended Storage of Primers

Storage cabinets containing only primers are recommend-
ed. These cabinets should be ruggedly constructed of lum-
ber at least 1” nominal thickness to delay or minimize the
transmission of heat in the event of fire. SAAMI recommends
against storing primers in sealed or pressurized containers.

Keep your storage and use area clean. Make sure the sur-
rounding area is free of trash or other readily combustible
materials.

Be sure your storage area is free from any possible

sources of excessive heat and is isolated from open flame,
furnaces, water heaters, etc. Do not store primers where
they can be exposed to direct sunlight. Avoid storage in
areas where mechanical or electrical equipment is in oper-
ation.

Do not store primers in the same area with solvents, flam-

mable gases, or highly combustible materials. Store
primers only in their original factory containers. Do not
transfer the primers from this approved container into one
which is not approved. The use of glass bottles, fruit jars,
plastic or metal containers, or other bulk containers for
primer storage is extremely hazardous.

Do not smoke in areas where primers are stored. Place

appropriate “No Smoking” signs in these areas.

Do not store primers in any area where they might be

exposed to gun fire, bullet impact, or ricochets.

Do not store primers with propellant powders or any other

highly combustible materials so as to avoid involving
primers in a fire as much as possible.

Observe all regulations regarding quantity and methods of

storing primers.
Know the Following
RECOMMENDATIONS ON STORAGE AND HANDLING
Issued by the National Fire Protection Association
Battery March Park, Quincy, MA 02269 and reprinted with their permission:
NFPA 495

Explosive Materials Code

This edition of NFPA 495, Explosive Materials Code, was al agencies concerned with explosive materials (Bureau of
prepared by the Technical Committee on Explosives and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, US Mine Safety and Health
acted on by the National Fire Protection Association, Inc. at Administration, US Department of Transportation, etc.) This
its Annual Meeting held May 20-23, 1996, in Boston, MA. effort resulted in the 1982 edition, which was subsequently
It was issued by the Standards Council on July 18, 1996, followed by a new edition in 1985. In 1990, the document
with an effective date of August 9, 1996, and supersedes was again revised and included the title being changed to
all previous editions. the Explosive Materials Code. The latest edition, issued in
1996, incorporates change in the classification of explo-
The 1996 edition of this document has been approved by sives to conform with recent U.S. Department of
the American National Standards Institute. Transportation “Hazardous Materials Regulations” which in
turn are based on United Nations Recommendations on the
Origin and Development of NFPA 495 Transport of Dangerous Goods. The 1996 edition also
includes technical and editorial amendments.
This code was originally issued in 1912 as the Suggested
State Law to Regulate the Manufacture, Storage, Sale and Chapter 11
Use of Explosives. The second edition was issued in 1941 Small Arms Ammunition and Primers, Smokeless
by the Committee on laws and Ordinance and retitled Propellants, and Black Powder Propellants
Suggested Explosives Ordinance for Cities. Later, the docu-
ment number NFPA 495L was designated. 11-1 Basic Requirements.

After being assigned to the Committee on Chemicals and 11-1.1 In addition to all other applicable requirements of this
Explosives, a new edition was issued in 1959. This was code, intrastate transportation of small arms ammunition,
retitled as the Code for the Manufacture, Transportation, small arms primers, smokeless propellants, and black powder
Storage, and Use of Explosives and Blasting Agents and shall comply with US Department of Transportation Hazardous
redesigned as NFPA 495. Materials Regulations, 49 CFR, Parts 100-199.

Following reorganization of the committee in 1960, the 11-1.2 This chapter applies to the channels of distribution of
responsibility for amendments to NFPA 495 was assigned and to the users of small arms ammunition, small arms
to the Sectional Committee on Explosives. This committee primers, smokeless propellants, and black powder.
reported to the Correlating Committee on Chemicals and
11-1.3 This chapter does not apply to in-process storage
Explosives. Revised editions were issued in 1962, 1965,
and intra-plant transportation during manufacture.
1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970. A new edition was issued
in 1972 with the document title revised to code for the 11-1.4 This chapter applies to the transportation and storage
Manufacture, Transportation, Storage, and Use of Explosive of small arms ammunition and components.
Materials. A subsequent edition followed in 1973.
11-1.5 This chapter does not apply to safety procedures in
Following the issuance of the 1973 edition, the Sectional the use of small arms ammunition and components.
Committee on Explosives was redesignated as a Technical
Committee. In 1976, the committee began a detailed review 11-5 Small Arms Primers
intended to amend requirements so that there were no con-
flicts with the regulations promulgated by the various feder- 11-5.1 Small arms primers shall be transported or stored in
containers approved by the US Department of Transportation.
11-5.2 Transportation of small arms primers shall comply
with US Department of Transportation Regulations.

11-5.3 No more than 25,000 small arms primers may be

transported in a private vehicle.

11-5.4 No more than 10,000 small arms primers may be

stored in residences.

11-5.5 No more than 10,000 small arms primers may be

displayed in commercial establishments.

11-5.6 Commercial stocks of small arms primers shall be

stored as follows:

(a) Quantities not exceeding 750,000 may be stored in a

building if not more than 100,000 are stored in any one pile
and piles are at least 15 ft (4.6 m) apart.
(b) Quantities exceeding 750,000 may be stored in a build-
ing if the following conditions are met:
1. The warehouse or storage room shall not be accessible
to unauthorized personnel.
2. Primers shall be stored in cabinets. No more than
200,000 primers shall be stored in any one cabinet.
3. Shelves in cabinets shall have vertical separation of at
least 2 ft (0.6 m).
4. Cabinets shall be located against walls of the warehouse
or storage room with at least 40 ft (12.2 m) between cabinets.
5. Separation between cabinets may be reduced to 20 ft
(6.1 m) if barricades twice the height of the cabinets are
attached to the wall, midway between each cabinet. The bar-
ricades shall extend at least 10 ft (3 m) outward, shall be
firmly attached to the wall, and shall be constructed of 1/4 in.
(6.4 mm) boiler plate, 2 in. (51 mm) thick wood, brick or
concrete block.
6. Primers shall be separated from materials classified by
the US Department of Transportation as flammable liquids,
flammable solids, and oxidizing materials by a distance of
25 ft (7.63 m) or by a fire partition having a fire resistance of
at least 1 hour.
7. The building shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler
system installed according to NFPA 13, Standard for the
Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
(c) Small arms primers not stored according to (a) or (b)
above shall be stored in a magazine meeting the requirements
of Chapter 6.

Reprinted with permission from NFPA 495: Explosive Material Code,

Copyright ©1996, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA
02269. This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of
the National Fire Protection Association on the referenced subject which is
represented only by the standard in its entirety.