Old Primers

[S&W-4me]

I sent Federal the lot numbers of some primers that I just purchased as being new. They were made in 2000. The boxes are clean and like new. Can anyone on the forum tell me if it's OK to use them. Federal said it should be OK to use, but recommended that I load a few and try them. If someone has experience using old components, your help will be appreciated. regards
Ed

[carver]

Use em! They will go bang, or they won't! But they won't hurt your gun, or you. Heck, I have some older than that!

[S&W-4me]

Thanks carver
I was concerned about hang fires. With the shortage, I guess I have to give them a try. I don't think I'll use them in my Min1-14. If I get a squib round and I don't notice, the next round in could raise hell. The worst part is I called all over Connecticut, and went to all the sites on the Internet, no one had any small rifle primers. When I called the dealer, he said, "oh yeah I just got some in" I traveled 45 mile to get them. The next day I notice the adds on the net showed a blue box, mine are in a red box. That's when I sent Federal the lot numbers, and they told me they were made in 2000. And I bought 2 thousand!!! If you don't think I'll have a problem I give them a try. thank for your input
regards
Ed
P.S
Federal responded very fast, same day. That's what I call a good company

[Haligan]

Heck if I threw out all my old reloading stuff, I'd be in as much of a shortage as the rest of the country.

[cycloneman]

As long as a chemicle did not come into contact with them they should be good. You know like wd40. I have had old ones, worked fine.

[BobMcG]

Made in 2000 = "old primers"? Nope, not even close. They should work just fine. (As long as they've been stored in a decent manor.)

My "old primers" are ones made in the '50s and '60s (I have thousands of these) I occasionally try them and they still go boom.

[220combat]

I get old primers all the time. Some are 40-50 years old, and everyone has worked fine. If they were stored properly, you won't have any problems.

[stratmeister]

Due to the shortage of them in the stores I went digging through some old stuff and found some from the early 80's. Loaded 'em up and they went boom just fine. They must last forever...

[22WRF]

I have about 10 tins of #11 muzzle loader caps that came from Bannerman's NY
at least 80 years ago and they still light up.

[S&W-4me]

Originally Posted by Haligan

Heck if I threw out all my old reloading stuff, I'd be in as much of a shortage as the rest of the country.

Originally Posted by cycloneman

As long as a chemicle did not come into contact with them they should be good. You know like wd40. I have had old ones, worked fine.

Originally Posted by BobMcG

Made in 2000 = "old primers"? Nope, not even close. They should work just fine. (As long as they've been stored in a decent manor.)

My "old primers" are ones made in the '50s and '60s (I have thousands of these) I occasionally try them and they still go boom.

Originally Posted by 220combat

I get old primers all the time. Some are 40-50 years old, and everyone has worked fine. If they were stored properly, you won't have any problems.

Originally Posted by stratmeister

Due to the shortage of them in the stores I went digging through some old stuff and found some from the early 80's. Loaded 'em up and they went boom just fine. They must last forever...

Originally Posted by 22WRF

I have about 10 tins of #11 muzzle loader caps that came from Bannerman's NY
at least 80 years ago and they still light up.

Thanks everyone. That's what I was hoping to hear. I wanted the reassurance from folks with more experience than me. I was hoping when I reloaded I could experiment with different powders, primers and bullets. But with this shortage, we have to use what we can get. I'll load some up and get out and shoot. Thanks for the help.
regards
Ed

[Bboomer]

From your description it sounds like they will be just fine. Its all about how they have been stored. Ideally in a cool dry location with minimal humidity fluctuation.

Load em up

[medalguy]

I reecntly pulled out of storage some old Remington primers I purchased in about 1908 and they loaded and shot just fine. Remember some of us are still shooting milsurp ammo loaded in the 1940's or even earlier. Old doesn't mean not good at all.

[gary0529]

S&W-4me,

Like all of the other relies, I too , say shoot 'em.
I have an ongoing test of ammo I loaded as a kid in the late 50's (30-06 with the pound 'em in Lee set up).
By definition, I used 1957 era primers . Around the first of every year I head out back of the house and fire off 3 to 5 -EVERY ONE/EVERY TIME goes BANG.
By my last count I am down to 67 rounds of the old stuff so that means I either have to live another 20 years or hurry the process up. LOL.

Gary

[S&W-4me]

Originally Posted by medalguy

I reecntly pulled out of storage some old Remington primers I purchased in about 1908 and they loaded and shot just fine. Remember some of us are still shooting milsurp ammo loaded in the 1940's or even earlier. Old doesn't mean not good at all.

Originally Posted by Bboomer

From your description it sounds like they will be just fine. Its all about how they have been stored. Ideally in a cool dry location with minimal humidity fluctuation.

Load em up

Thanks guys, I haven't reloaded in over 40 years, and I wanted to be sure it was OK. I'll be reloading today.
regards

[stratmeister]

Originally Posted by Bboomer

From your description it sounds like they will be just fine. Its all about how they have been stored. Ideally in a cool dry location with minimal humidity fluctuation.

Load em up

Actually I'm not so sure storage is all that important either. I'm sure there are ideal conditions, but mine were in my garage with original unsealed packaging, in an old cigar box, unprotected from the high heat and humidity we have here in south Florida. So they are very forgiving...

I doubt powder is as forgiving though.

[S&W-4me]

Thanks stratmeister
After hearing what everyone else is using I'm not worried anymore. Gosh, mine is new compared to the age of their's. What I have is in clean bright boxes, so I figure it must have been stored good.
regards
Ed

[green river]

These primers are no good, send them to me for a propper disposal.

[Bboomer]

Originally Posted by stratmeister

Actually I'm not so sure storage is all that important either. I'm sure there are ideal conditions, but mine were in my garage with original unsealed packaging, in an old cigar box, unprotected from the high heat and humidity we have here in south Florida. So they are very forgiving...

I doubt powder is as forgiving though.

Oh, so you're saying that primers stored in a damp, wet environment with broad humidity and temperature swings for long periods of time would not render ill effects, nor aid in possible chemical break down or even corrosion? Tell me just how cold it gets and the length of pungent winters down there. Even if your garage doesn't have air conditioning your house most likely is, which would still have a direct effect on extreme temps in the garage.

My comment was that I merely stated that primers stored, in an ideal fashion should be safe to fire, and should be usable for decades.

Storage prep doesn't matter ? D'oh

[Alpo]

Originally Posted by Bboomer

Oh, so you're saying that primers stored in a damp, wet environment with broad humidity and temperature swings for long periods of time would not render ill effects, nor aid in possible chemical break down or even corrosion? Tell me just how cold it gets and the length of pungent winters down there. Even if your garage doesn't have air conditioning your house most likely is, which would still have a direct effect on extreme temps in the garage.

My comment was that I merely stated that primers stored, in an ideal fashion should be safe to fire, and should be usable for decades.

Storage prep doesn't matter ? D'oh

Actually, no, he said that, in his case, it didn't, so he does not think that storage conditions are all that vital for primers.

If you have an attached garage, your house A/C might come into play, but there are those of us who have "detached" garages.

As to how cold it gets, in Miami, maybe 60. Hot, though, is a different matter. Closed building with no A/C can have temps reaching 130 or more, and we often have humidity in the 99+%.

[stratmeister]

Originally Posted by Bboomer

Oh, so you're saying that primers stored in a damp, wet environment with broad humidity and temperature swings for long periods of time would not render ill effects, nor aid in possible chemical break down or even corrosion? Tell me just how cold it gets and the length of pungent winters down there. Even if your garage doesn't have air conditioning your house most likely is, which would still have a direct effect on extreme temps in the garage.

My comment was that I merely stated that primers stored, in an ideal fashion should be safe to fire, and should be usable for decades.

Storage prep doesn't matter ? D'oh

Wasn't trying to start anything, just giving my experience on primer storage. When I came across my 25+ year old previously opened primers that were lost in an old box packed away in the hot humid un-airconditioned garage I have I was totally surprised when they worked like new. So yeah, storage prep didn't matter one bit! D'oh...

[gdmoody]

I would be happy to assist green river in the disposal, only send him half of them. I am still using some that I bought in the 70's.

[S&W-4me]

Originally Posted by gdmoody

I would be happy to assist green river in the disposal, only send him half of them. I am still using some that I bought in the 70's.

Originally Posted by green river

These primers are no good, send them to me for a propper disposal.

Thank you gentlemen, that's a great offer. I told a friend about my "9yr old" primers. He said, "hell, those are new, I'm using primers from the early 50's. I'm going to call that guy and see if he has more." I guess I was lucky to get what I got. Nobody but nobody has primers!!! The only ones I saw on-line was at auction at $55.00+25.00 HAZMAT+ shipping. Before I pay $80+ a thousand for primers, I take up archery or bowling!!
regards
Ed

[XP100]

If you get a squib load in your Mini it probably won't cycle the spent case from the chamber.

[zb338]

I shot some 30/40 Krag ammo that dated back almost to the Spanish
American war. It all made a loud bang.

Zeke

[S&W-4me]

Originally Posted by XP100

If you get a squib load in your Mini it probably won't cycle the spent case from the chamber.

Yes, XP100. Squibs are what I was concerned about, but I'm also inclined to think that it may not cycle another round in the Mini-14. I'll reload first for my bolt action, and see what happens.
regards
Ed