Lead Free Primers

[canuckgunny]

A recent thread re: respiratory masks for shooting got me thinking about lead free primers.
I know they exist, various manufacturers are currently using them for their 'clean' lines of ammo. My question is geared towards why don't we see them as components on the market? I'd bet that even if their price was double that of the standard primer people would still buy them.

Is it because they are WAY more expensive, or just 'different' enough from regular primers that the load data could be potentially dangerous?

Any other ideas?

 

[Dragoon]

From what I've been led to believe, the manufacturers are reluctant to sell lead free primers to the reloading public. Lead free primers are 'hydroscopic' (they absorb moisture from the air) and if not stored properly will result in a lot of misfires. A lot of misfires would give a manufacturer a bad reputation; one which they don't want to have.

 

[Hitzy]

I just bought some CCI lead free from Lebarons and they were the same price. I'm sure they will all be lead free eventually, once they all sell off thier current batchs of mercury primers.
New packaging

 

[redleg]

I have heard from several ammo manufacturers that lead free primers ar ein short supply and almost all production is going to them. Thus there is not enough surplus supply to market them to reloaders.

 

[CanAm]

I just bought some CCI lead free from Lebarons and they were the same price. I'm sure they will all be lead free eventually, once they all sell off their current batches of mercury primers.
New packaging

Those are regular lead styphnate primers, hence the lead warning. If they are lead free they will say on the front of the box very clearly. I don't believe any current primers contain mercury, it was phased out by western manufacturers when reloading of brass cases for smokeless powder became popular.

You might try Del Selin Guns. I bought some PMC/Russian primers off him and he may of had some of their HM free ones as well.

 

[canuckgunny]

I have heard from several ammo manufacturers that lead free primers ar ein short supply and almost all production is going to them. Thus there is not enough surplus supply to market them to reloaders.

I was under the impression that CCI etc had specific lines to produce supplies just for reloaders... and not just toss the surplus at us in 'reloader' packages?

Thanks all for the input so far.