Using Match Heads as Primers to Reload .17 HMR

utahpredator_7

utahpredator_7

New member
I heard someone on here (Catshooter I think) say that when he was a kid he would grind up match heads and stuff them in the bottom of .22 shells and load them up. I want to try "reloading" for my .17 HMR this way. I don't know how I'll seat the bullets, but I'm thinking about having someone make me some dies that'll work for it. All I need to do is find a way to prime them. I've messed around with it a little, but haven't gotten it to work so far. Any tips? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
Quote:
Any tips?



Yeah, I have a tip. Stop screwing around with crap like that and buy your 17HMR ammo over the counter. Reloading is for centerfire ammo. This is a picture of my left hand after messing with match-heads.

IMG_1278.jpg

I messed with things that go bang, but this time it went BOOM.
 
Sound advice I would listen to it. 17 HMR is mot that expensive, like 119 to 140 bucks at cabella's Not worth risking your fingers or eyesight
 
There is a world of difference in the low powered 22 rimfire and the high pressure 17 HMR.

Plus the powder I used was VERY V-E-R-Y fast.

Don't try it.


.
 
One of my old high school buddies lost the ends of three fingers trying some thing similar.Hopefully you are smarter than he was and you will not try it.
 
I really hope your smart enough to listen to folks here when they tell you how dangerous the thing your contemplating doing is. We had a young fella die here a few years ago making pipe cannons and tamping match heads in it with a rod. He had the inch and a half pipe against his leg as he tamped them down and when it blew up it cut the femoral artery. He bled to death in a matter of minutes.

No offense meant but what your thinking of doing is just plain stupid. If you want to reload use reloadable cartridges. I live near where CCI makes rimfire ammo and even with all the safety precautions they have in place and all the years of experience with primer materials thay have mishaps every once in a while.
 
It's just like 4 match heads. That's awful about that kid, but I don't make pipe bombs out of match heads, just like 4 match heads or less to prime a shell. Sorry if I sound like a stupid cocky teenager (which I probably do) but I hate buying things I can make myself. I also want to use the 20 grain v-max, which they haven't been smart enough to load factory yet. Yeah, .17 ammo is fairly cheap, but when you're 16, make 40 bucks a week at minimum wage, and are saving up for other things, 15 bucks a week really sucks.
 
Dude:
Saving $15 a week ain't crap if you've got no fingers left to count it! Or worse...

LISTEN TO THE ADVICE ABOVE
THESE MEN ARE TRYING TO HELP YOU AVOID POSSIBLE BODILY HARM

"Bite" the proverbial bullet & BUY FACTORY AMMO...
 
A nice thing about being 16 is that judgement never has to get in the way of anything.....16 yr olds don't have any judgement. Doing stupid things and getting nailed for it is part of the learning process.

You think you'll be saving money. After you've paid for bullets and powder, how much do you really think will be saved? And those dies that someone will make for you....how much do you think they'll cost? Then ask yourself how much just one trip to the doctor for stitches or something much more serious would cost. And the biggie....how much is it worth to have the use of an eye or a finger for the rest of your life?

If it still seems like a bright idea, go ahead on. What you do or what happens to you has no effect on me. If you get away with it and nothing happens, you still won't be saving much. But if something unpleasant happens and you get hurt don't be crying about it.
 
I didn't post earlier wanting too see the general trend.

Predictable as always.

This group and its "better safe than sorry", and "use your brains" attitude is wonderful!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
$40 bucks a week won't go far toward a glass eye, prosthetic arm, or a casket. Take the advice above and don't do it. Work another job, better yet, get a great education and a good job, then you can buy all you want /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif.
 
Playing the devils advocate....It could be done.

First off, match chemistry changed in the late 90's and the supply of the shock sensitive material is all but gone. To make your own priming mix you would need:

1) A chemist or consultant (I charge $250/hr) for a couple weeks.
2) At least 4 3x4 blast shields (you can get them for Fisher Scientific $850/ea.)
3) Various other lab equipment including remote handling equipment.
3) A suitable, ATFE approved location
4) ATFE licensing and lawyer to help get it
5) Possible EPA certification/regulation since the priming materials almost always contain heavy metals.

PM me and we will get this show on the road, I'll not even charge for this initial consult.

All joking aside there in no justification for risking life, limb and property for this reason.
John
 
Rimfire ammo has been reloaded, but not after it's been fired. Once the rim is crushed it's near impossible to reprime safely and still insure consistent ignition.

Here's an article on reloading rimfire's you might check.

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/apr96reloading.html

Here's another link to check. Keep in mind that the actual priming mixtures are an explosive, hence all the above warnings. CCI's factory has blow out walls where they make their rimfire priming compounds and they've blown them out several times. Four match heads aren't much, but it's still enough to hurt you if it explodes before it's meant to. You still will have to iron out the case heads where the firing pin has crushed it and the priming mixture has to be spun into the case rim. Your talking about tooling here that may well exceed any cost savings by attempting to reload rimfire cases.

http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/handloading/49834-reloading-rimfire.html
 
As a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the State of Ohio, I wholeheartedly recommend it. Funeral Homes can always use new business.

Although calling ahead and letting your Funeral Home of choice know when you plan on starting this brilliant escapade, That way they dont make any plans that will have to be cancelled on account of some du'mass kid who thought he knew enough. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
Why not just get a .22 to plink with or better yet get a .223 and reload? It'll be cheaper in the long run than .17 HMR ammo... Not worth the risk if you ask me.
 
Quote:
It's just like 4 match heads. That's awful about that kid, but I don't make pipe bombs out of match heads, just like 4 match heads or less to prime a shell. Sorry if I sound like a stupid cocky teenager (which I probably do) but I hate buying things I can make myself. I also want to use the 20 grain v-max, which they haven't been smart enough to load factory yet. Yeah, .17 ammo is fairly cheap, but when you're 16, make 40 bucks a week at minimum wage, and are saving up for other things, 15 bucks a week really sucks.



Utah, 16? Been there and done that. Wish I could try it one more time, but that is not to be. The folks responding to your question are interested in your safety and would give you the same advice if you were 60, so take it for what it is worth...your well being. Now most handloaders do have a little bit of mad scientist in their make up and some of this stuff we've done with so so or bad results. Believe me the good stuff gets proven and published in the books.

Do you reload or have any equipment? Maybe you are near enough to one of us to spend some reloading and shooting time.
 
utahpredator_7,
Let me tell you I was 16 once and did some really dangerous things that hind sight being what it is am lucky to have all my fingers and both hands. I made all sorts of stuff on the farm. Some of which would shake the ground under 7 feet of pond water. But on 2 occasions (yes not smart enough to learn from the first one) had things blow up in my hands. My hand was numb for several hours and had some shrapnel in it.

Saving money is not worth losing a hand, eye, arm, or being dead. You say only 4 match heads, trust me 4 match heads in a casing is enough to cause some serious damage.
 
These guys are not being rough on you and calling you names because they don't like you. These guys are telling you that we have all been in your shoes, some made it through ok, others didn't.

It is not easy being a teenager these days. It wasn't when I was one either.

We just want you to be safe and not have major regrets later on due to one careless moment or "it should be alright" expiriment.

I am sad to say I have recovered numerous bodies of young men who believed nothing bad could happen to them, only other people. Notifying their parents are some of my most painfull memories.

Just switch to .22lr till you can afford to feed your HMR habit.

We want you posting here for many years to come.
 
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