20 year old primers

awaveritt · December 30, 2008, 04:27 PM

About 20 years ago, I stored some resized and primed 38 special brass in a weatherproof army ammo box. I am getting back into reloading and wonder about the advisability of loading up this primed brass. I assume these things have a shelf life, but they have been stored in a moisture proof container. I did detonate a few of the primers in my revolver without incident. What do you think?

IllinoisCoyoteHunter · December 30, 2008, 04:43 PM

load 'em up. watch out for hangfires...

putteral · December 30, 2008, 04:47 PM

You should be good to go. I have shot over 20 year .380 reloads without any incident.

FrankenMauser · December 30, 2008, 05:11 PM

Load 'em.

the_right_reverend · December 30, 2008, 05:40 PM

shoot em I've had primers stored in a footlocker for 20 years in a shed out back and they work fine

armedandsafe · December 30, 2008, 05:54 PM

This Summer, I loaded up some 30-06 and 8x57 with primers I purchased in 1964. All went bang.

I must admit that I cred some when I looked at the price sticker on the boxes, though.

Pops

PCJim · December 30, 2008, 05:57 PM

I'm still using primers I inherited from my ex-wife's deceased uncle in '82. I have no idea how old they were when I came into possession of them. They still go bang. BTW, they had been stored for years in a humid garage.

INGunGuy · December 30, 2008, 06:30 PM

LOAD THEM UP!!!

I have been loading with primers that are 35+ years old that I inherited from my father. He gave me around 25000 primers and it is so funny, because the price on a box of CCI 1000 small pistol primers is 3.75 and the last time I checked at the gun shop, 1000 CCI small pistol primers were 29.95. around 8 times the cost... At least I have a boat load to do me a while.

INGunGuy

Ricklin · December 30, 2008, 09:40 PM

I bought a 'pile' of used reloading gear from a friend, pretty much all RCBS. In the boxes I found a Pream (remember that stuff?) jar full to the top with primers, it's prob. an 8 oz. jar and they are loose, one hell of a lot of primers.
I figured what the heck and loaded my very first pistol rounds with them.

Well I fired my rounds today, no problemo! Looking at my Glocks firing pin impression on them they look pretty hard, probably rifle primers.

I chronographed the loads with my new Chrony, they were what I was expecting.

Looks like they will be fine for range ammo. Gotta love it, I've been thinking about weighing them just to figure out how many there are.

It cuts the cost per round, and that's what this reloading stuff is all about!

IllinoisCoyoteHunter · December 30, 2008, 10:16 PM

Rick...you Better Hope That One Of Those Doesn't Go Of In The Jar...kaboom!!!!!

Sevens · December 30, 2008, 11:38 PM

I found the "magic" formula that can indeed compromise primers...

Mouse ****. I had a tray of primed cases sitting mouth up and left in a basement that got over run by mice. Not all of those went bang.

But it takes a lot to kill primers.

Ricklin · December 31, 2008, 11:23 AM

Ya, I need to store them differently, maybe a heavy plastic ziplock or something, that glass jar does make me a little nervous. I do store my primers in a seperate cabinet from the powder tho.

Sevens · December 31, 2008, 12:27 PM

The primer makers have spent a good money of money on R&D coming up with the safest way to ship, store and IDENTIFY primers.

The best thing in the world to store live primers is the package they come in.

December 30, 2008, 04:27 PM	#1
awaveritt Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 259	20 year old primers About 20 years ago, I stored some resized and primed 38 special brass in a weatherproof army ammo box. I am getting back into reloading and wonder about the advisability of loading up this primed brass. I assume these things have a shelf life, but they have been stored in a moisture proof container. I did detonate a few of the primers in my revolver without incident. What do you think?

December 30, 2008, 04:43 PM	#2
IllinoisCoyoteHunter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2008 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 1,527	load 'em up. watch out for hangfires... __________________ ~~IllinoisCoyoteHunter~~ ~NRA LIFE MEMBER~ ~NRA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR~

December 30, 2008, 05:40 PM	#5
the_right_reverend Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2008 Location: Sneads Ferry, Nc Posts: 232	shoot em I've had primers stored in a footlocker for 20 years in a shed out back and they work fine __________________ It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men....

December 30, 2008, 05:54 PM	#6
armedandsafe Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2005 Location: Moses Lake WA Posts: 1,001	This Summer, I loaded up some 30-06 and 8x57 with primers I purchased in 1964. All went bang. I must admit that I cred some when I looked at the price sticker on the boxes, though. Pops __________________ Armed and Safe: Not just a theory If it time to bury them, it is time to dig them up. Remember, "Behind every blade of grass."

December 30, 2008, 06:30 PM	#8
INGunGuy Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2008 Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana Posts: 142	LOAD THEM UP!!! I have been loading with primers that are 35+ years old that I inherited from my father. He gave me around 25000 primers and it is so funny, because the price on a box of CCI 1000 small pistol primers is 3.75 and the last time I checked at the gun shop, 1000 CCI small pistol primers were 29.95. around 8 times the cost... At least I have a boat load to do me a while. INGunGuy __________________ Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government.

December 30, 2008, 04:47 PM	#3
putteral Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2008 Location: Homosassa,Florida Posts: 206	You should be good to go. I have shot over 20 year .380 reloads without any incident.

December 30, 2008, 05:11 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Load 'em.

December 30, 2008, 05:57 PM	#7
PCJim Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Location: FL Posts: 570	I'm still using primers I inherited from my ex-wife's deceased uncle in '82. I have no idea how old they were when I came into possession of them. They still go bang. BTW, they had been stored for years in a humid garage.

December 30, 2008, 09:40 PM	#9
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,011	Who knows how old? I bought a 'pile' of used reloading gear from a friend, pretty much all RCBS. In the boxes I found a Pream (remember that stuff?) jar full to the top with primers, it's prob. an 8 oz. jar and they are loose, one hell of a lot of primers. I figured what the heck and loaded my very first pistol rounds with them. Well I fired my rounds today, no problemo! Looking at my Glocks firing pin impression on them they look pretty hard, probably rifle primers. I chronographed the loads with my new Chrony, they were what I was expecting. Looks like they will be fine for range ammo. Gotta love it, I've been thinking about weighing them just to figure out how many there are. It cuts the cost per round, and that's what this reloading stuff is all about! __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

December 30, 2008, 10:16 PM	#10
IllinoisCoyoteHunter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2008 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 1,527	Rick...you Better Hope That One Of Those Doesn't Go Of In The Jar...kaboom!!!!! __________________ ~~IllinoisCoyoteHunter~~ ~NRA LIFE MEMBER~ ~NRA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR~

December 30, 2008, 11:38 PM	#11
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I found the "magic" formula that can indeed compromise primers... Mouse **. I had a tray of primed cases sitting mouth up and left in a basement that got over run by mice. Not all of those went bang. But it takes a lot to kill primers. __________________ Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:** I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

December 31, 2008, 11:23 AM	#12
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,011	They have been that way 4ever Ya, I need to store them differently, maybe a heavy plastic ziplock or something, that glass jar does make me a little nervous. I do store my primers in a seperate cabinet from the powder tho. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

December 31, 2008, 12:27 PM	#13
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	The primer makers have spent a good money of money on R&D coming up with the safest way to ship, store and IDENTIFY primers. The best thing in the world to store live primers is the package they come in. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.