Primed Cases and Storage

[fordson]

What's the wisdom on priming cases and then storing them for later loading? Good idea, bad idea? Possible contamination?

Right now, I clean and resize/de-prime my pistol brass after a range trip, then put them in plastic storage containers for my next loading session. Been thinking lately that I could prime the cases during the same session, then store the primed cases for later loading. Doing this could open up another station on the tool head for the loading session; I'd like to use a final crimp/resizing die. But now I'd be storing a lot of primed cases. Is this a problem? Safety? Primer contamination?
Your thoughts? Thanks

 

[k22fan]

I like my old hand held Lee Auto-Prime for that.

One of my hunting partners brought an old surplus bolt action that he hadn't fired in a long time to the range. Previously the rifle had been reliable but this time reloads he'd assembled in brass that had been stored primed gave frequent missfires. He pulled bullets and found dried beetles in the bottom of cases including beetles that had died in flash holes. That is rare enough to make a good story but it makes the point--seal your primed brass. Steel GI ammo cans are great but Coffee cans with lids that snap on tight are good enough.

 

[chief38]

If you are talking weeks or months I see no real downside as to integrity, and as long as safely stored I see no real safety concerns. If you are talking long term storage as in years, I see no real or practical purpose to doing this. Kind of silly to me.

 

[scooter123]

I normally keep about 200 primed cases on hand for each caliber that I reload because it allows me to do a quick load and go before heading off to the range. As for storage method, good old Ziplock Freezer bags.

 

[K-framer]

No problem at all. Been doing it for 16 years. I just store my primed cases in ziplock bags, inside another container (that happens to be specifically earmarked for this purpose).

They come out of the bags just as fresh as the day I put them in there.....

 

[Hillbilly77]

Just make sure you seal them up and don't leave them exposed to the elements.

I primed some rifle brass and put the brass back into the styrofoam from the factory ammo box. They sat out on the bench, not sealed up, just sitting there inside the styrofoam. It sat there for about a year before I loaded it.

When I finally loaded those cases, the first three rounds wouldn't fire. The only thing I could think of was the primers were bad from not being sealed up. I pulled all the bullets and replaced all of the primers in question.
Once I loaded them with fresh primers, I had no more trouble.

Lesson learned.

 

[glenwolde]

When I use a single stage I do that. I resize and decap, then expand and prime on the press when expanding. This way when I look at cases I know visually what stage they are at instantly.

A primed case is ready to load. I used to prime at the re-sizing die, but I always had to look closely to check for expansion or a flare as I barely flare and my eyes aren't what they used to be. One day it dawned on me to prime on the press after expansion.

 

[JBnTx]

I've stored primed cases in open air containers for up to a year with no problems.

I see no difference between storing them in their original containers and storing them in a brass case.

 

[gnystrom]

I keep hundreds of primed cases stored in zip lock bags and have done so for decades.

 

[Nemo288]

I only load the large primers, but even so I have several different kinds.
For example: CCI 300 & 350, WLP, Ginex P1 (Bosnian LP), etc.
So I usually leave the cases un-primed until I decide the exact nature of the project.
All my cases & ammo are stored in the MTM snap or slide lid boxes.
If you look at how the primers are stored in their original containers, they are not really sealed air tight yet remain good for decades.
This should also apply to primed cases if kept clean as mentioned above.

 

[dave201]

Makes no sense to me with a progressive loader.
I have enough trouble figuring out what is in what, so any more variables especially with reloads is risky for me.

 

[Collo Rosso]

Some years ago at a gun show a vendor was selling new factory primed R-P brass. The brass was dull and many pieces had tarnish stains. Vendor guessed it had gotten damp during storage and was selling it for the brass at $10 for a bag of 100.
Every one went bang. Should of bought more than one bag.

 

[Rule3]

Although I see no reason to do it, they will last indefinitely if stored in a zip lock or some plastic type container. Primers are a lot harder to "kill" then people think. So they are in the brass case rather than a cardboard sleeve, not much different.

Heck the sell primed brass,

 

[fordson]

Thanks to all for your inputs. This will probably be the direction I'll take - clean, size/de-prime, prime/case mouth expand. Then store suitably for future loading.
I'll explain my logic a little more clearly as to why.
I have a RCBS Pro 2K (5 station die head). I also use the RCBS pistol bullet feed, which take up one of the stations. I use a lock out die which takes up another station. The powder measure takes up a third station. On the Pro2K, priming is done on station 2. So that locks powder, lock out and bullet feed dies into stations 2, 3 & 4 with station 5 for seating.
Not much flexibility.
So, by doing the size/de-prime and prime in a separate operation (followed by suitable storage) I can now move the loading sequence up one station and have room for a factory crimp/finale size die.
Anyway, that's my thought process and it doesn't seem like any real extra work, not when you're supposed to be enjoying reloading your own to begin with. Thanks much.
Fordson out.

 

[Rule3]

Whatever works best for you. Keep the primed brass in zip locks, Glad type storage containers or whatever and they will be fine for a long long time. Of course label and date them with all the info.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Why save half a round ?
It is not good for any thing............

Add some powder and a bullet...............
now you have something that is worth saving and a done deal.

 

[SMSgt]

Primers don't come hermetically sealed from the manufacturer. No need to put them in ziplock bags or anything else as long as you store the primers--or primed cases--in a dry place. Most A/C homes are more than dry enough for long-term storage. I've never had a pre-primed round not fire.

 

[Rule3]

Primers don't come hermetically sealed from the manufacturer. No need to put them in ziplock bags or anything else as long as you store the primers--or primed cases--in a dry place. Most A/C homes are more than dry enough for long-term storage. I've never had a pre-primed round not fire.

True, just to keep them safe and organized, gads! they may get dust on them otherwise

 

[rwsmith]

Modern primers.....

Modern primers (at least the good ones) have a thin seal over the priming compound. But I do like to put them in an airtight containers, baggies, butter dishes mostly to protect the brass and ensure that a primer or two might have gone bad from moisture. If I keep them unopened my my garage they will be a total mess after a time. Dust and vapors seem to condense on metal objects and make an awful mess.

As far as the wisdom of keeping primed and ready cases on hand is that I can do a large quantity of these at one time and load what I want to. Some time later I might buy some bullets, or even a gun or have an idea for a load I want to try and I want to bop out to the range for a test. I can spend a short session in one evening to load what I want then get to the range first chance I get.

I got a .38 snub after not doing .38 for years. I found the brass, sized and primed and loaded a few and it was a lot of work to get done to get out to the range the next day.

But, I had put the new .38 cases aside and when I got to the range they weren't in my bag!!! So I had to break my rule about not buying commercial ammo to test the gun out.

PS I really agree with Otisrush's comment about not having a window of time to do the whole operation. It's the dickens in my house trying to get a large 'window' so it is expedient to do as much prep as I can which isn't critical. Then when I get even a small window I can easily load and finish up a batch.

 

[Skeet 028]

Last year I bought an estate . Got 11 boxes of new primed brass in the batch. Not just a couple of years old. This was OLD Winchester 2 piece boxes..Kinda tan boxes. One was 44 sp another 45 auto some 250-3000 30-30 30-06 one 257 Robts and a 270. from the 1940s at least...maybe earlier. Round bottomed primers. 2 boxes are still sealed. I loaded the 44 specials as I had a turret press set up in 44. Every round fired. I was definitely surprised. I loaded one box of the triente triente but have yet to fire them. In the same batch of stuff I got almost a 1000 Frankfort Arsenal No 70(I think) primers and about 400 primers for the 45 auto. All bought from the DCM in 1949 according to the receipt...even got a couple boxers of 230 gr 45 FMJs in the FA boxes. Bet the pistol primers will fire. Just gave some of the rifle primers to a friend back east. He's going to load a few so he said. If they go bang..might be something to save for the future. JIC primers LOL. The only primers I have ever had not fire other than some Federal shotshell type is some Lapua 7.62 x 51 Nato target ammo I have. Tried 10 out of a 100 rounds that would not fire. Gonna pull the rest and reprime and reload 'em. It is a day or two old thoughI had some 1912 FA 30-06 ammo that fired just fine when shot. Every neck cracked