Primer storage ?s

[C.S.63]

The question I have is a neighbor just gave me aproximately 8000 primers
that were his dads, Assorted Lg pistol and small pistol mostly winchester
The problem being they were stored in an ammo can in his garage that is not climately controlled that being in NE North Carolina any thoughts on
shelf life etc? (Summer Humidity and Heat)

The ammo can was clean and dry just a little dusty and the primer sleeves and boxes seem new, I was told the can probably has not been opened in the last 8 years
Thanks
Carl

 

[mtgianni]

They probably will work OK. MT's climate is much drier so I really can't know what humidity has done. I would not load hunting or competition loads with them but that's just me. They should be great to target shoot or plink with.

 

[PDL]

So why don't you just put a couple from random packages in some fired cases and try them out. I mean barring any obvious signs of corrosion anyway.

 

[C.S.63]

With a close look no corrosion or anything. I posted first to get feed back
I will try some random sampeling to see how they work. There is no apparent mold or mildew on any of the cardboard boxes all seemed dry and crisp
Thanks
carl

 

[kennyb]

no reason the shouldn't be fine...mine stay in a unheated garage and not in an ammo can...have never had a problem

 

[thomashoward]

So why don't you just put a couple from random packages in some fired cases and try them out. I mean barring any obvious signs of corrosion anyway.

primers fired in fired cases alone may/will bind up a cylinder as the primer will back out .
I have always drilled out he flash hole somewhat to avoid this. Maybe someone has a more in depth explanation.
good idea to check if the primers are ok
nice gift

 

[acl864]

I'm in central NC not near the coast but still gets pretty humid around here too. I got some from my Brother-in-law when he got out of reloading. They were around 15 years old. They had been stored in a box in his garage, in a box in an old outbuilding and stored in a box in a closet at various times. The boxes were sort of waterlogged looking like they had been damp at some point in time. The primers didn't show any signs of corrosion so I loaded a few up. Shot with no problems. I used the rest up and had one ftf. Not sure I can even blame the primer on that one because when I hit it again- it went off. If the boxes and the primers look OK- they probably are fine. I wouldn't use them for SD ammo but for plinking what the heck. Worst that could happen is a few don't fire. Load 'em up.

 

[perrazi]

years ago when primers weren't on the level of gold, they would sit in distributors warehouses with no heat, air-cond, in whatever humidity existed in that location. never had one fail because of that. shoot them up and have fun.

 

[canoe on the yukon]

I don't mean to imply that primers can stand anything and everything but they're certainly not as sensitive as some think.

A CCI tech once told me that they've placed primers in water and allowed them to soak,after which they took them out and let them air dry for a couple of weeks.Once dry,they were tested and all went bang.

 

[Reloader Fred]

If they were stored like you describe, you'll go bad before the primers will. I'm still loading primers that I bought back in the mid 1960's, and have never had one fail to ignite.

I keep a large stock of primers on hand at all times, since gunpowder without a primer is just fertilizer. The same with bullets, without a primer to ignite the powder, it's just a sinker. Primers will stay active for many, many years, and even many decades, if stored properly. Those primers are probably going to work just fine.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[C.S.63]

fellow forum members
Thank you for all the advice, I will load a few up and let everyone know the outcome Thanks again
carl

 

[barhob]

Last year i was looking through old stored reloading odds and ends. In a old coffee can was 750 CCI SP primers. Clean and dry but subjected to heat and cold since the year 1981 as they were stored outside. (I mark all my powder and primers with purchase dates.)
I was talking to a old timer at the range and he told me to load and shoot to try them out and not throw them away except in his direction.
All 750 shot fine.
Old timer you ask? I am 59, Dan was 79.
Passed away on his way to the range. RIP

 

[Rafter-S]

If they were stored like you describe, you'll go bad before the primers will. I'm still loading primers that I bought back in the mid 1960's, and have never had one fail to ignite.

Fred

Thanks, Fred, and to all the other responders to this thread. I have this exact situation and have been fretting about it. I bought some CCI primers back in the 1980's and 90's and had them stored (dry) in my shop building. Now I need to do some reloading and was wondering if they would still be good. You have assured me that they probably will be.

Thanks again,
Rafter-S

 

[VonFatman]

Heck,
Use 'em! If they do not go bang, what have you lost if you do not work up too many at the git-go.

They will be fine. Buy your neighbor a gift card so he and his wife can enjoy dinner at their favorite restaurant. That was a terrific gift.

Bob

 

[Smith357]

Ammo cans are sealed and are generally air and water tight, I just staretd hand loading for my 30-06 after a long hiatus and used up a couple hundred CCI large rifle primers that have been in an ammo can for the last 15 years they all worked perfectly.

 

[Rodrockinoff]

Have 1987 primers here... no misfires to date.