# Potassium Chlorate vs Potassium Perchlorate ## And a blanket apology [H 48](https://www.aardvarkreloading.com/H48.html) has only 4 ingredients. Similarly red-roll kid caps contain a compound known as '"Armstrong's Mixture". It also contains four ingredients. Without splitting hairs - the only difference between these DIY primer compounds is: Potassium chlorate is found in recipe H 48. However potassium perchlorate is used in toy kid-caps. A popular DIY primer compound called PrimeAll is based on H 48. Please note: All of these compounds are corrosive to your weapon. The corrosive nature to the gun may be inconsequential to black powder enthusiasts but it can be particularly troublesome to the vast majority smokeless powder shooters. If/when corrosive materials are present - particular care should be taken immediately after firing the weapon. The gun should be washed with warm water and a mild detergent as soon as possible and followed by thorough/normal care. For some unknown reason - I always assumed potassium chlorate was the stronger of the two. As it turns out - this belief was completely backward. Potassium chlorate (K Cl O3) has one less oxygen than potassium perchlorate (K Cl O4). Even a novice who knows almost nothing about chemistry can guess/decipher that the perchlorate has an extra oxygen and therefore will make a better oxygen donator (oxidizer). The Apology: I remember repeating is falsehood to several new members when discussing "kid caps". It wasn't until a short while ago Marshall corrected me. This wouldn't be so bad if my falsehood wasn't repeated since I started reloading primers (a period of perhaps 10 years). Regardless - I was completely mistaken and hope I didn't confuse anyone by getting this simple fact wrong. K is chemical abbreviation for potassium (speak Latin? Just accept it.) Cl Clorine O3 or O4 (3 or 4 Oxygen(s))