How Long Will Primers Keep

[DWalt]

I have fired lots of ammunition from the 1930s-40s and all worked OK. The oldest I remember firing was some .45 ACP military ammunition from WWI, and it had a high percentage of misfires. But the priming compositions of WWI were considerably different from today's.

 

[lwestatbus]

Many Thanks!!

"How Long Will Primers Keep?"

Longer than you.

Many thanks to ALL who replied with really useful information. Sadly, the case of 1,000 I'd located is no longer available but I will be forearmed once anything does open up. I'll also be sure to update my trust to allocate any remainders to my grandkids.

Thanks again.

Larry

 

[Skeet 028]

I happen to have about a half of a batch of primers in a round cardboard screw on lid carton Marked Frankford Arsenal 45 caliber Primers. Haven't looked at 'em in a while but think they are dated either 1906 or 1908. I gave 5 to an old Cowboy Action shooter here who loaded a few period 45-70 cases with a lighter load of 2Fg black powder and shot them. We are both certain they were mercuric primers. I would sell them but can't ship them....I also have some WWII FA primers for 30-06...corrosive of course

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I am having a hard time finding large pistol magnum primers locally but can find them in lots of 1,000 online. That is probably a five year supply for me, maybe more.

What is the shelf life on primers?

Get them, you will use them eventually.

Primers bought today will work if stored properly.

 

[DWalt]

I happen to have about a half of a batch of primers in a round cardboard screw on lid carton Marked Frankford Arsenal 45 caliber Primers. Haven't looked at 'em in a while but think they are dated either 1906 or 1908. I gave 5 to an old Cowboy Action shooter here who loaded a few period 45-70 cases with a lighter load of 2Fg black powder and shot them. We are both certain they were mercuric primers. I would sell them but can't ship them....I also have some WWII FA primers for 30-06...corrosive of course

If your primers are from 1906-08, they are very probably NOT mercuric. The U.S. Army switched to using chlorate primers about the time of the Spanish-American War. Mercuric primers had a short shelf life in tropical environments.

 

[dmar]

They'll last longer than me…

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I have Remington primers from the 40's that work just as well now as they did when I bought them in the 60's . Keep them dry and away from excess heat and I think they will last forever. I have some that belonged to my pap that are in wood trays that were ancient when I was a kid and they still go bang as I proved to my youngest son a few years back.

 

[teletech]

As beaten to death, old primers work practically forever, but it's worth noting that the newer primers do sometimes use different chemistry that might not be so robust. Particularly there was concern about the lead-free primers, which I think are mostly just available as small pistol, but no promises.