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Author Topic: checking old primers  (Read 3537 times)

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Offline xswamprat

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checking old primers
« on: February 25, 2021, 08:49:20 PM »
Does anyone know of a way to check to see in old primers are still good?  The only way I know of is with a BFH(big hammer).
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Offline Fuzzy Sights

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2021, 10:17:21 PM »
Prime a empty case and fire it, in a safe direction of-course. 

JW
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Offline larryflew

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2021, 12:04:09 AM »
Quote from: Fuzzy Sights on February 25, 2021, 10:17:21 PM
Prime a empty case and fire it, in a safe direction of-course. 

JW

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Offline SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2021, 05:18:47 AM »
If they have been stored in a dry fashion and there's no staining of any sort on the boxes there's absolutely no reason to doubt that they are still good. I'm currently loading some .45 ACP with large pistol primers that my dad bought in the 60's and nothing wrong with them. With the high cost and low availability of primers right now I don't think I'd want to be wasting them.


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Offline xswamprat

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2021, 10:03:15 AM »
Fuzzy

that was my first thought, but the problem is that I don't  have a pistol to fire a .40 cal. cartridge, so I guess I will have to revert to my hammer
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Offline Wobbly

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2021, 01:50:34 PM »
I'm currently working my way through several thousand marked "1993" without a single mishap.

Just how old are yours ?
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Offline Fuzzy Sights

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2021, 03:21:27 PM »
TS Orange in 40 and you are good to go!!!  :)
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Offline xswamprat

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2021, 03:30:39 PM »
Wobbly-the last loading I did was in 96-97,  I still have 899 SRP, which is what I was using with 4.3 gr of W231 for my .40 cal.  The primers have been stored in a zip lock plastic bag.

Paul
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Offline Wobbly

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2021, 09:18:56 AM »
Quote from: xswamprat on February 26, 2021, 03:30:39 PM
The primers have been stored in a zip lock plastic bag.


Paul -
Removing the primers from their original packaging is VERY dangerous. Probably THE most dangerous thing you can do in reloading. The OEM packing prevents static build-up. Items like plastic and glass collect static and one tiny spark can set one primer off, and with all of them piled together like that, then the entire bag will follow.

Be VERY careful how you handle them, especially now during winter when it can get dry.
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Offline xswamprat

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2021, 04:20:37 PM »
Wobbly-primers are in original packages, box is in the plastic bag to keep out moisture.  Unable to text at this time-phone issues.

Paul
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Offline Wobbly

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2021, 06:40:29 PM »
Quote from: xswamprat on February 26, 2021, 03:30:39 PM
The primers have been stored in a zip lock plastic bag.


Quote from: xswamprat on February 27, 2021, 04:20:37 PM
Wobbly-primers are in original packages...


All I know, brother, is what you tell me.
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Offline xswamprat

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2021, 07:24:46 PM »
Wobbly-I found out that taking the primers out of original package was not the thing to do on my first attempt at loading.  Those tiny little things don't belong in the possession of someone with fat, dull, arthritic fingers.  They went everywhere.  After that, the only way I took them out of their original package, was to slide the tray out, lay my primer flip tray on top, and then turn it over to use the pickup primer tube.

Paul
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Offline rg422

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2021, 07:51:55 PM »
I didn’t want to start a new thread. A friend of mine who’s been reloading longer than I’ve been alive gave me these primers. He says they’re old. Any idea when these things were produced, particularly the Western branded ones? The primers themselves look fine with no visual sign of corrosion, but just curious what ya’ll think. Are they ok to use?

« Last Edit: February 28, 2021, 08:49:59 AM by Wobbly »
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Offline M1A4ME

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #13 on: February 27, 2021, 08:27:59 PM »
I've used primers over 20 years old.  Four thousand of them.  Not a single issue.
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Offline xswamprat

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Re: checking old primers
« Reply #14 on: February 27, 2021, 09:59:19 PM »
Well, I decided to go ahead and test my old primers.  I don't know if my SRPs had grown in strength or effectiveness, or my concrete driveway to my garage was rubberized during installation, but I  had a good rebound of my 2# hammer. LOL. I did make a little noise.

Paul
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