A lead-free primed rimfire cartridge and method of making the same

A method of manufacturing an improved lead-free primed rimfire cartridge for ammunition or industrial powerloads providing a gas source for driving fasteners with power-fastening tools. A lead-free priming mixture is consolidated into an annular cavity of a rimfire casing and dried in the cavity. The primer is secured in the cavity by tamping at least a portion of propellant into the casing against and over the dried primer. The tamping pressure per casing may range from 1,300 psi to 8,800 psi (91.4-618.7Kgf/cm ). Any remaining portion of required propellant is added over the tamped compacted propellant layer. The ammunition and powerload casings are then sealed and finished in a conventional manner. A rimfire cartridge for both ammunition and industrial powerload applications manufactured as described above is also provided.