Paint On Ammo Base

C

Caboclo

New member
Just picked up some Miwall 357 ammo; was wondering if anyone knows what the red paint on the base was for?
 
If it's just around the primer, that is normal if the ammo was made with sealed primers. If it's on the brass, then I'm not sure.
 
sealing primers & case neck

I had a buddy who reloaded & the stuff he wasnt going use for a while , the oddball calibers . he would seal the primers & neck with a light coat of testors model paint , he said it adds years to the shelf life. the Russian & others still do it I would say its not a bad idea as long as you dont get messy ...
 
I get Miwall ammo all the time.
The paint is a red lacquer for a sealant.
I know the owner of Miwall, Mike, he told me that it is applied by the brass manufacturer when they add the primer. He use to buy pre-primed cases from the brass manufacturer, like Winchester.
 
It is there to stop oil from penetrating the primer, mostly, I think. Oil can creep in alot easier than water as it does not have the surface tension of water. That is my guess anyway. Even with what would seem like a water tight seal from the press fit, well presumably it is not a perfect fit on a microscopic scale. I don't see it being of much use except in harsh environments like mil. ammo in the field, or exposed to oil or chemicals, which does not usually happen to my long term storage ammo!
 
I used to spray lacquer (your choice of colors) into the can's cap, then take a toothpick, dip it into the laqcuer in the cap, and then apply it to the primer.


Highly effective and almost looks "factory."
 
It is there to stop oil from penetrating the primer, mostly, I think.
Click to expand...

Oil, water, water vapor, open flame...

It's there to seal the primer from ... anything. Primers are more sensitive to moisture and oil than any other component in the cartridge. (Not that it matters... once something is in the case, it contaminates both the powder and primer.)

Sealing the primers is a pretty worthless endeavor, though. Most of the companies don't seal around the case mouth and bullet, which is just as likely to allow contamination.

It's an all-or-nothing deal. Seal everything, or seal nothing; otherwise, the effort is pointless.
 
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