Czech surplus 7.62x39, black lacquered primer

[tootall]

Does anyone use mercuric fulminate any more?
The USArmy did away with it over a century ago, in 1898.

 

[gewehr76]

If surpluss ammo was made with mercury primers, then NRCAN was sleeping on the job. So no way they would let that stuff in.

 

[Gryphon Energetics]

Does anyone use mercuric fulminate any more?
The USArmy did away with it over a century ago, in 1898.

Not in modern ammunition, the most common corrosive element these days would be the chlorate however I mention mercury fulminate as it was prolific in early designs and may still be encountered in older cartridges.

 

[tootall]

Yeah, that is my understanding also.
MF went away along with the transition from black powder to smokeless powder.

 

[wbaad]

If surpluss ammo was made with mercury primers, then NRCAN was sleeping on the job. So no way they would let that stuff in.

Why's that?

 

[Gryphon Energetics]

Why's that?

Toxicity and environmental pollutant.

Ironically the federal government legislated clean incandescent bulbs out of existence only to be replaced with mercury-filled CFLs.