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Old 11-29-2020, 12:58 PM
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Default OLD primer opinions...

I've been dragging out all my reloading stuff over the last month or so, and getting things in order to start loading again after a LONG break.

Long story short, I found a coffee can of primed .38spl brass, probably ~100rnds. I have no idea when I primed these, but until last year, it had been probably 12-15 years that I didn't own a revolver in 38 or 357, so probably 10+ years old.

The plastic lid on the can was cracked, so it wasn't airtight. The can had been stored in an unheated shed. We live in AZ, so climate is relatively dry, but it would have been exposed to summer monsoons, some winter snow. Temps range from 100*F in the summer to the teens overnight in winter.

I picked a couple cases at random and dropped them in one of my guns and they both went bang....

So, the $64 question... would you load them up?
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Old 11-29-2020, 01:06 PM
29aholic 29aholic is offline
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Yes. I have loaded primers that were over 70 years old and had a 99% success rate

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Old 11-29-2020, 01:23 PM
rockquarry rockquarry is online now
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Yours might be okay despite storage conditions. I'd load a hundred of them in a familiar load. if they all fired, I'd use the rest without question. However, if I had just one that didn't fire with the first trigger pull, I'd junk them all.

I know primers are hard to find, but unreliable ones are worse than none at all. Primers that have been made since I began handloading decades ago are incredibly reliable; brand doesn't matter, and I've probably tried them all at some point. I used 1970s primers this year that were properly stored and they worked with 100% reliability. Shelf life of primers is roughly forever except under very adverse storage conditions.

I misread your post... if you only have a hundred, load them up. I bet they'll fire. If some don't, break them down.

Last edited by rockquarry; 11-29-2020 at 01:54 PM.
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Old 11-29-2020, 01:47 PM
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Sure, if you look further down, you will see a couple of threads about using older primers. After you checked a couple, I would have no hesitation.
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Old 11-29-2020, 01:53 PM
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Primers can be soaked in water and dried out and shoot just fine!

The key is in the drying process. In AZ I think you are GTG!

"I read it on the internet!"

For plinking and general range use, shoot em'!

For S/D loads ...you know the answer!

Smiles,
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Old 11-29-2020, 02:06 PM
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Primers were better made in the old days.... I refuse to buy new ones.

Seriously, primers are sealed so under any reasonable storage conditions they should be good. Especially since you tested 2 and they went bang.
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Old 11-29-2020, 02:12 PM
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Rodan, your initial test suggests that your primed cases are good to go. HOWEVER, I would limit the use of these primed cases to only target or plinking ammo. I would not use these primed cases for self-defense or home-defense loads.
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Old 11-29-2020, 02:18 PM
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Thanks folks!

My experience led me to feel they were good to go, but it's always nice to have a second opinion.

They will definitely be used only for range ammo.
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Old 11-29-2020, 02:22 PM
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Unless those primed cases were stored in a barrel of oil or a salt water aquarium, they’ll work just fine for you and will work just fine for your great-grandchildren.
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Old 11-29-2020, 02:50 PM
robertrwalsh robertrwalsh is offline
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Yes I would. I would maybe do ten first just to see if they went bang, but I am pretty darn confident. Age isn't the issue, storage conditions is for that period of time. Unless your shed got real damp inside at some time they should be just fine.
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