Hangfire primers

Hangfire Primers. A hangfire in small arms ammunition (initiated by a blow from a firing pin) can be defined as that condition which exists when initiation of the usual chain of events following the release of the trigger in a loaded weapon, occurs at a rate slower than normal the definition of hangfire for electrically initiated ammo is similar... 

Malfunctions of small arms ammo using the M34 primer have been related to inadequate control of pellet wt in the primer, with low pellet weight causing hangfires in the weapon. At the Army Mechanics and Materials Research Center (AMMRC), Watertown, Mass, NAA was investigated for 100% inspection of pellet wt in such primers (Refs 5 6)... 

A hangfire may be of very short duration or may be several seconds in duration. Hangfire in general can be caused by weapon defects, slow burning of primer compn and/or a slow rate of ignition or combustion of the propellant chge... 

In order to measure hangfire of primers, it is necessary to start a chronograph when the primer is initiated and to stop it at the first appearance of the primer flash at the flash hole. This time interval can be considered to be a measure of primer time , ana any significant increase above the average can be considered, to be a primer hangfire Ref R.W. Evans, Design and. Development of Tests for Characterization of Primers , Denver Res Inst Final Summary Report (May 1956), pp 23-26 [Contract DAl-23-072-501-Ord-(P>14]... 

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