Long term stored primers?

[Jeroenw114]

I want to start reloading again after about eight years.
That is because I have recently bought a 44 special and buy those is quite expensive in Holland.

I have a lot of cci primers and powder, age between 8 to 10 years. For the powder I am not that afraid but what about the primers.
Can I safely use them? Sored dry and dark but might have been a little cold and clam in the winters.

Hope to hear experiences of others with the use of long term stored primers.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

They should be ok. I have used mine that have been stored for years(I like to keep a good supply on hand) and they all go bang. Keep mine in the house. Cold..ok clamy.....moisture....not ok.

Mike

 

[max]

Primers are very hard to kill, I suspect they will be just fine.

 

[Wayne M]

Recently a friend bought 5K WW SP primers that a dealer had stored in a utility cabinet in an unheated barn for at least ten years. Subject to all kinds of temps and dry/humid conditions they all went off just fine. I'd load yours up and go shooting!

 

[Jeroenw114]

Gentleman, thank you!

 

[Andy Griffith]

I just loaded and shot some Herters small pistol primers which shot just fine.

I have no idea exactly how old they are, or how they were stored- but the boxes looked just fine, so I thought I'd try them. Considering Herters went out of business @ 1969- those were at least 40 years old.

I have some Remington primers that seem much older- 1950's or so, but I can't bring myself to load them since I haven't seen any boxes like they came in.

 

[SMSgt]

If primers were overly sensitive to storage conditions, I think they'd be packaged better, as in sealed containers. They're not, so...

You could take a few samples, maybe one from every box (or every other box, whatever makes you feel comfortable), and try them in empty cases. If they go pop, it's most likely the rest are good to go.

 

[41 fan]

All the primers I own are ten years old or older. Primarily WW SP and LP. All nickle plated. I am sure your primers will work fine. Dean

 

[Paul5388]

Here's a few of the primers I've used and never had a problem with.

 

[Jeroenw114]

You could take a few samples, maybe one from every box (or every other box, whatever makes you feel comfortable), and try them in empty cases. If they go pop, it's most likely the rest are good to go.

That I could not think of that myself.....thanks!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a lot of cci primers and powder, age between 8 to 10 years. For the powder I am not that afraid but what about the primers.

First off 8 to 10 years is not long term storage, 50 years is more like it.

If you're not worried about the powder there's no reason at all to be worried about the primers. Powder is more sensitive to decay than primers are.

 

[Paul5388]

Actually, Alliant has some Unique that was made by Laflin and Rand in 1898 that is checked on a periodic basis for its ability to perform like the last test. It's stored under water to bolster its claim for being waterproof (a big issue for the old paper hull shotgun shells).

BTW, they only blot the water off and load it up and it shoots as it always did. That same claim can't be made for single based powders that tend to deteriorate over time.

 

[El Biblioitecario]

Hope to hear experiences of others with the use of long term stored primers.

While I'm not sure how you define long term, I'm currently using Federal small rifle primers purchased in 1984; they work fine. I've recently used Remington and Herter's primers which were a bit over three decades old; they also worked flawlessly. I try to store my primers at a consistant room temperature. avoiding extreme heat or cold.

 

[M falcon]

I stocked up on primers and powder in 1968, when we were convinced that we would no longer be able to able to purchase or own reloading components, I and some of my friends were out shooting some of that same powder and primers last week, shoots just as good as it did then.
M.Falcon

 

[m657]

I recently loaded a batch of Federals going on 25 years in storage, and have had 100% reliability from them.

 

[rodell]

If they aren't tarnished I can't imagine they won't work just fine. I don't load self-defense loads with really old ones but that's my only nod to their age. As a previous poster said "primers are hard to kill".

I've also shot 50 year ammo with no problems.

 

[Szumi]

I'm shooting some Clinton era (US President January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001) primers I stored out in an unheated garage near 45N latitude (Michigan, USA)

So far they have all worked fine in my handguns.

I'm not sure I'd build a match rifle ammo with the stuff unless I tested a control batch against recent production primers.

So for your .44 spl, I would not worry a bit.

Szumi