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Unlike powder which burns very rapidly, the primer is designed to explode. The explosion of the tiny primer showers the powder with hot sparks and causes it to ignite.

MEC says their Steelmaster is the only shotshell reloader that comes specifically equipped to load steel shotshells and the bonus is that it works equally well for lead shot. The resize station handles brass or steel in either high or low base. The automatic primer feed is standard.

Early primer components were effective but terribly corrosive. Fulminate of mercury caused brass cases to become brittle. Potassium chlorate left thick deposits like common table salt inside a firearm, making bore cleaning necessary within hours.

Today, the #209 primer is the standard for shotshells, having thoroughly vanquished the slightly smaller Remington #157 about 40 years ago.

Modern ecological consciousness is making its presence felt even with shotshell primers. Lead styphnate, successfully used in primers for years, is non-corrosive, but the fear of non-degradable lead compounds in the environment may eventually eliminate its use, a clear example of change, not for shooting performance, but for its ecological consequence. Winchester now markets a non-toxic “Reduced Hazard Shotshell Primer” which lists, as its explosive ingredient, a 1- to 2-percent by volume chemical called Diazodnitro phenol. Winchester’s MSDS or Material Safety Data Sheet (rev. 01/01/04) quaintly notes, “Will explode with mechanical impact or shock.” On the other hand, Winchester’s MSDS (also 01/01/04) for basic lead styphnate (lead hydroxide styphnate, lead hydroxide 2,4,6 trinitroresorcinate), a more common explosive ingredient in primers today, notes also that it will explode with mechanical impact or shock. However, it also states that basic lead styphnate is a toxic explosive with known environmental dangers, and is known to cause cancer and birth defects.