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Federal Primer lot #'s

sqrlgtr

Gold $$ Contributor
Does anyone know if the date of manufacturer can be determined by the lot numbers on federal primers? Im not talking about 50 year old stuff but recent manufactured stuff like in the last 5 to 10 year old stuff. Ive searched and could not find anything out also emailed federal but no response so far.Looking at this box of gold medal 210match primers with lot #24W416 just wondering how old they are.They appear to be fairly recent but unsure, I traded some rem small rifle match primers for them that where bought this summer.Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Just heard back from federal and these are 2008 year model.I still dont know if you can tell the year by the lot # are not but thanks to federal for getting back to me.BTW these were supposed to be 2 year old oh well they surely still ok. :oops:.Anyone want to take a jab at what the shelf life would be on primers lol..I assume a lot of it would depend on how they were stored???
 
Anyone want to take a jab at what the shelf life would be on primers lol..I assume a lot of it would depend on how they were stored???
Well I have a few that were purchased in the early 60's. Not stored in any special way and I have lived in some humid areas. The last time this 'shortage' thing started I reached back and used some. I guess that was 4 years ago. They all went bang.
 
I also would like to know how to decipher year of manufacture from batch no.s.
I can on powder, but not anything else firearm related.

Cheers.
 
I also would like to know how to decipher year of manufacture from batch no.s.
I can on powder, but not anything else firearm related.

Cheers.
Yeah been doing a little swapping around just to keep things rolling and would like to know maybe someone will come along and educate us lol ;)
 
None of us will live long enough to see primers go bad because of age alone. If stored in reasonable conditions they will last indefinitely. I had some CCI's that someone gave me that were labeled 'Cascade Cartridge Inc." and were in wooden boxes. Probably from the 50's and they shot just fine. I'm still using Federal 215's that I bought 50 years ago for $7/1000.
 
I have some 30 year old federal small rifle match primers that came in a white and blue box back in the mid to late 90’s I did some load development with a srp creedmoor brass with a lab radar on the table last month and got a load running under 10 sd/es so I’m sure you’ll be just fine.
 
I have a very similar question, came across these in a trade and the small box of BR4s looks pretty old.
Would any of you guys have concerns about loading your competition loads with these? Any guesstimate on age?
Thanks for any feedback
 

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Just heard back from federal and these are 2008 year model.I still dont know if you can tell the year by the lot # are not but thanks to federal for getting back to me.BTW these were supposed to be 2 year old oh well they surely still ok. :oops:.Anyone want to take a jab at what the shelf life would be on primers lol..I assume a lot of it would depend on how they were stored???
About 3 years back I had a "mishap" with a primer that was 90 years old, and it was still very active.
 

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