Primer storage
- Thread starter geeollie
- Start date
ggibson511960
Member
It's worth noting that none of the manufacturers' packaging is moisture proof or airtight.
rockquarry
Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2005
- Messages
- 8,658
- Reaction score
- 10,651
Store them in original packaging anywhere in a house, shop, or garage, except on a floor. No ritualistic storage procedures are necessary or desirable. They'll likely last longer than you will and they will work as reliably as new ones.
twodog max
Member
I once broke down some 7X57 reloads of unknown origin and quality to salvage the brass and bullets. I deprimed the cases to run them through the wet tumbler, they were grimy. I tossed the powder and primers into a fire ring. Weeks later I burned yard debris in the ring. After several rains and being outdoors on the ground most if not all of them popped in the fire. Surprised me as I never thought they would have popped.
It's hard to kill a primer!
I definitely agree it is difficult to kill a primer. I may have found a way…
Mouse pee. I had a tray of primed cases and we had one winter where we got assaulted by mice in the basement. They peed & pooped everywhere, including those primed cases and a number of them did not go bang.
I did not load those, but I did pop them just to see.
To the subject… I keep my primers in a cooler, like a beer cooler you would take to the beach. Closes well, keeps moisture (and MICE) out and it’s also not locked closed like an ammo can or a gun safe, so it won’t contain a blast like a bomb.
Mouse pee. I had a tray of primed cases and we had one winter where we got assaulted by mice in the basement. They peed & pooped everywhere, including those primed cases and a number of them did not go bang.
I did not load those, but I did pop them just to see.
To the subject… I keep my primers in a cooler, like a beer cooler you would take to the beach. Closes well, keeps moisture (and MICE) out and it’s also not locked closed like an ammo can or a gun safe, so it won’t contain a blast like a bomb.
Decided to read the instructions. The Winchester primers says to store in a cool dry place. A dry box in the home is a cool dry place. Winchester, Federal and CCI all say to store in the box they came in.
Rosewood
Rosewood
AJ
US Veteran
Won't have that problem here. Have cats that are on the hunt all the time. Once in a while a lizard will get in and they do not last a day. Those cats get them.
Something no one has mentioned. Priming compound is put in the cups wet to prevent detonation. Even if they get wet. When they dry out..they will still go bang...I happen to have a few thousand...maybe 8000 shotshell primers I have purchased over the years that were not in boxes but in jars, pill bottles, plastic baggies(favorites for metallic primers)and tins...bought at estates...collected together by little old ladies...some are labeled for what they are...shotshell primers are pretty easily known. I have a plastic container with according to the box end 800 Herter's Large Rifle primers from 1972. I have used 1000s over the years. I even have a stapled up plastic bag with 100 S&W small pistol primers .If they are marked I usually believe it. if not SRP and SPP get used in my light handgun revolver loads. I also have a "few" 1000 57 size shotshell primers...free to anyone.
gwpercle
Member
I store mine inside my heated & cooled house ...
On a closet shelf , not located on an exterior wall but a closet in the center of the house .
So stored I'm still using a batch of S&W Alcan primers that must be from late 70's - early 80's and they are still 100% reliable !
Gary
On a closet shelf , not located on an exterior wall but a closet in the center of the house .
So stored I'm still using a batch of S&W Alcan primers that must be from late 70's - early 80's and they are still 100% reliable !
Gary
Last edited:
Non corrosive lead styphnate primers were baselined for US military ammunition in the 1950's.
Overall, the lifetime of lead styphnate primer cake is "infinite". The stuff is very stable. However, primer cake is water soluble, as primer cake is mixed with water during manufacture. When the water dries, primer cake is very dangerous.
Primers are coated with a sealant to protect the primer cake. Dissolve that sealant and you can dud out the primer. I guess mouse pee has all the salts and water to dissolve sealant and dud the primer cake. Clever mice. Primers apparently can dud out when exposed to high heat.
The old chlorate primers used to dud out with age.
Overall, the lifetime of lead styphnate primer cake is "infinite". The stuff is very stable. However, primer cake is water soluble, as primer cake is mixed with water during manufacture. When the water dries, primer cake is very dangerous.
Primers are coated with a sealant to protect the primer cake. Dissolve that sealant and you can dud out the primer. I guess mouse pee has all the salts and water to dissolve sealant and dud the primer cake. Clever mice. Primers apparently can dud out when exposed to high heat.
The old chlorate primers used to dud out with age.
Ok, my story as to life of primers. A couple of years ago I bought 1000 empty .380 cases that were billed as once fired brass. Upon receiving them it looked more like someone had sold off a reloader's stock pile. The cases were quite cruddy so I tossed them into a rotary tumbler with soapy water for 2-3 hours. When done I dumped them into the strainer, rinsed them off, and set them in the sun to dry. As I was spreading them out, I saw a couple of primed cases. Eventually I found about a dozen primed cases. I figured they were ruined and just left them to dry thinking I would just de-prime as if they were spent.
I had used some poorly stored primers in the past without any issues. So, I figured what the heck, and loaded the cases. All 12 fired just fine.
Now I am not suggesting storing or even washing primers in water, but after all the stories I have heard about primers needing to be kept in some near perfect environment, I am not worried about just leaving them on a shelf in my house.
I had used some poorly stored primers in the past without any issues. So, I figured what the heck, and loaded the cases. All 12 fired just fine.
Now I am not suggesting storing or even washing primers in water, but after all the stories I have heard about primers needing to be kept in some near perfect environment, I am not worried about just leaving them on a shelf in my house.
Last edited:
Years ago I filled some primed cases with water and let them set for a day. They all fired. Put 3n1 oil in some and they were dead the next day. Larry
