Test Firing Primers at home? (for purposes of fine tuning revolver trigger weight)

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VanMan

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I am starting to play more with my wheel guns (S&W 625 & 929), and have ordered in some Wolf main springs in various weights to tinker with. I'm planning on using Federal primers for competitions, but also have lots of CCI and Dominion primers I use for reloading for my semi-autos. So I'm interested to see which main springs will reliable fire off my various primers.

Rather than taking the entire assortment of springs to the range and fiddling with it there, I was wondering if there are any laws prohibiting the firing off of primed but NOT loaded cases (no projectile or powder) in my basement. Thought it would be a lot easier and more convenient to size and prime up batches of cases with each primer and try out each weight of main spring with various adjustments to the main spring strain screw. My end goal is to have a decent trigger pull weight with the main spring strain screw adjusted at least ~1/2 way in. I may even setup one 625 for CCI primers to practice with and the other 625 for Federal primers for competitions.

Note: Have also got the trigger rebound spring in various weights to try as well. Once I start shopping on gunsprings.com it's hard to stop lol :p
 
I, personally, wouldn't do it in bsmt. Primers do expel lead and your cold air vents would circulate it thru the house.

What about garage/shed?

Legally, I see no real issue as you are not "dischanging" IMO
 
If popping a few primers indoors is causing a health concern, do it in a heavy duty bag of some kind and dispose of it appropriately. I just warm my wife there is going to be a little bang. No concerns re: health and I think I'm mornal ..... ;>)
 
I "deactivate" primers by firing them into a folded up rag. Surprisingly loud still and will colour 3 or 4 layers of fabric.
 
Suputin said:
Primers are surprisingly LOUD all by themselves. You will need to wear hearing protection and your neighbors will likely be able to hear the noise. Govern yourself accordingly.
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Early in my reloading learning curve, I set off a primer by accidentally squashing it in my Dillon 650. Was wearing eye protection, but not hearing protection, and boy did that leave my ears ringing for a while lol.

I have some sheets of open cell foam, was thinking of throwing some in a 5 gallon pail to muffle the sound. Would have to see if any flames or sparks come out the barrel as setting that on fire would suck :p
 
I do it occasionally with my Taurus Raging Bull (not for tuning, just for fun). It's fun to put earplugs in 44mag brass with a fresh primer, like a nerf gun but with noise :)

disclaimer: magnum primers will melt and in some cases ignite the earplugs depending what type they are so... proceed at your own risk.
 
cr5 said:
I do it occasionally with my Taurus Raging Bull (not for tuning, just for fun). It's fun to put earplugs in 44mag brass with a fresh primer, like a nerf gun but with noise :)

disclaimer: magnum primers will melt and in some cases ignite the earplugs depending what type they are so... proceed at your own risk.
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Ha Ha Ha...sounds like fun! ... also sounds like cleaning melted marshmallows out of your gun :)
 
fire them into an old pillow, just make sure no embers continue to burn.

Also use some brass that has split and drill out the flash hole bigger so the primer doesn't back out to much and jam up the works.

as far as noise is concerned unless you have paper walls no one outside will hear them go off unless they are right by a window looking in, then you have other problems to deal with.
 
Suputin said:
Primers are surprisingly LOUD all by themselves. You will need to wear hearing protection and your neighbors will likely be able to hear the noise. Govern yourself accordingly.
Click to expand...

There are lots of ways to muffle the sound.

I've done this from time to time, especially when changing out hammer/firing pin springs. It's no biggie. If you don't muffle the sound, wear hearing protection as noted above
 
VanMan said:
I am starting to play more with my wheel guns (S&W 625 & 929), and have ordered in some Wolf main springs in various weights to tinker with. I'm planning on using Federal primers for competitions, but also have lots of CCI and Dominion primers I use for reloading for my semi-autos. So I'm interested to see which main springs will reliable fire off my various primers.

Rather than taking the entire assortment of springs to the range and fiddling with it there, I was wondering if there are any laws prohibiting the firing off of primed but NOT loaded cases (no projectile or powder) in my basement. Thought it would be a lot easier and more convenient to size and prime up batches of cases with each primer and try out each weight of main spring with various adjustments to the main spring strain screw. My end goal is to have a decent trigger pull weight with the main spring strain screw adjusted at least ~1/2 way in. I may even setup one 625 for CCI primers to practice with and the other 625 for Federal primers for competitions.

Note: Have also got the trigger rebound spring in various weights to try as well. Once I start shopping on gunsprings.com it's hard to stop lol :p
Click to expand...
A neighbour complains to the authorities your toast. DO NOT!
 
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Take an empty 1.5 liter coke or water bottle and stick the muzzle in when you do it... that muffles it to the point where no hearing protection is required. ( sounds about like driving a 4" nail into at 2 by 4.)

CG
 
80% of Police Officers would charge you for "shooting bullets in your gun", 90% of prosecutors would take that case to trial and darned near 100% of judges would convict you.

110% of the media would carry a very unflattering story about "the dangerous lunatic shooting his deadly magnum handgun" ... And certainly any neighbor I have ever had or have now would phone nine-eleven immediately. And yes, I know it's 9-1-1.

I'm mildly surprised nobody is selling some device that measures hammer impact.

Don't S&W revolvers still have strain screws on the front of the grip strap, which you can lighten a quarter turn at a time until the primer quits going "bang"? Take your grips off and have a look... That certainly used to be the way to lighten hamme strikes, and of course the action in general. Once established at a light-but-reliable weight, the trigger return spring might need to be changed. There is a balance to be maintained there. I only have pre-lock Smiths in the K frame size, certainly the J frame needs a different spring, since it's a coiled thing.

If all you need to do is turn the strain screw a quarter turn and test a couple of rounds, you can certainly do that at the range with the grips off and primer-only ammunition.
 
I do it all the time, but I am on a farm.

It makes noise. If you have a detached house, and do it in the basement, I doubt a neighbour will hear you. Ask your kid to gpo outside and fire a shot and report what he hears.

Six inches of flame comes out the barrel. An old rag on the muzzle will help.
 
Yes my S&W 625's and 929 have that strain screw that can be used to adjust the weight of the hammer. From the research I did on line, it would appear that loosening it too much may cause problems like a mushy trigger or that strain screw backing out even after using loctite because there's not enough threads in contact with the frame. My intention would be to get the correctly weighted main spring installed so that I get reliable primer ignition with the strain screw screwed in at least 1/2 way.

I've lost the odd screw and pin at the range before, so I prefer to do my tinkering at home if I can. Especially as I usually go to an out door range and my fingers get a little fumbly when it's cold :)

gunzik said:
80% of Police Officers would charge you for "shooting bullets in your gun", 90% of prosecutors would take that case to trial and darned near 100% of judges would convict you.

110% of the media would carry a very unflattering story about "the dangerous lunatic shooting his deadly magnum handgun" ... And certainly any neighbor I have ever had or have now would phone nine-eleven immediately. And yes, I know it's 9-1-1.

I'm mildly surprised nobody is selling some device that measures hammer impact.

Don't S&W revolvers still have strain screws on the front of the grip strap, which you can lighten a quarter turn at a time until the primer quits going "bang"? Take your grips off and have a look... That certainly used to be the way to lighten hamme strikes, and of course the action in general. Once established at a light-but-reliable weight, the trigger return spring might need to be changed. There is a balance to be maintained there. I only have pre-lock Smiths in the K frame size, certainly the J frame needs a different spring, since it's a coiled thing.

If all you need to do is turn the strain screw a quarter turn and test a couple of rounds, you can certainly do that at the range with the grips off and primer-only ammunition.
Click to expand...
 
Good to know about the flame. I may ask one of my kids to see what they hear outside my reloading room. If it's too loud, maybe try that 5 gal bucket with some closed cell foam lining it.

Ganderite said:
I do it all the time, but I am on a farm.

It makes noise. If you have a detached house, and do it in the basement, I doubt a neighbour will hear you. Ask your kid to gpo outside and fire a shot and report what he hears.

Six inches of flame comes out the barrel. An old rag on the muzzle will help.
Click to expand...
 
I do it ounce in a while but use caution as mentioned above (air, noise, neighbors).

Not too much concerns in rural communities but within cities can be a serious issue: many/most have a no firearm discharge bylaw. Should LEO drop by, he may end up having a different understanding of "restricted firearm discharge" than you do and you know the rest of the story.

Can't tell you what to do but in this Wonderland of rainbows, shiny ponies and unicorns, I emphasize the importance to be smart and responsible about it.
 
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