How would I test an old lot of primers?

[338 dude]

Hello. I have 4000 remington 7 and 1/2 small rifle primers that were stored in a garage for 5 to 10 years. I was going to turn them into our hazardous waste disposal unit here in town but with the primers now going to $300+ for 1000, I am rethinking my decision. They look real good but I am thinking I need to test several from each box to see if they are still dependable. We have all had some bad ammo that we have to pull the bullets and decap the primers (at least I do). I routinely pull these bullets and use the powder as lawn fertilizer with a lot of water and place the primers back in primer trays in a primer box conspicously marked "BAD PRIMERS, In the evening on July 4th and New Years Eve i take these primers out back and detonate them with a hammer (of course I have hearing and eye protection). I could wait until July 4th to test these primers in that manner but I will probably run out of primers before then. Is there any way to test these primers? I guess I could go to the range with primed cases (no powder or bullets) and fire them in my AR15. Is that safe? Any suggestions? Thank You for your help!

I would just take empty brass prime it stick it in the rifle and see if it goes pop, like you said a couple from each pack

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Why waste a couple from each pack just shoot them. Youll have the same number bad that was in there the day they were made- even if they did get wet. If you dont trust em give em to a local guy. Theyll work just fine

 

[Twicepop]

sounds like there is a story there

There is.

 

[pasote]

Put them in new packaging and sell them on GB......seriously they should be fine. Its actually quite hard to kill a primer

Thank You. I am feeling better about using them.

 

[pasote]

I'm shooting primers from the 70s without any issues and to the contrary, excellent accuracy. They're RWS Large Rifle primers. I've got CCI 400 I'm shooting that are from the 80s too, also excellent.

Your primers are almost certainly fine and I wouldn't waste time or resources firing off a bunch of them without powder or bullets checking for faults. If you're wanting to be conservative, load up a couple rounds to go shoot. If they work, then the bricks are fine.

Thank You. I appreciate your help. Yes, I will use them.

 

[pasote]

Your primers are very likely entirely fine. As mentioned above, many of us are happily using powder and primers that are decades old.

Beyond simply making sure they go bang - which, really, isn't much of a test - you could evaluate them in a more serious way by loading a small number of rounds using a load from your records that you're familiar with. If that batch performs as expected, you have your answer.

Thank you. This is good advice. I appreciate your help very much!

 

[FNSafari]

Hello. I have 4000 remington 7 and 1/2 small rifle primers that were stored in a garage for 5 to 10 years. I was going to turn them into our hazardous waste disposal unit here in town but with the primers now going to $300+ for 1000, I am rethinking my decision. They look real good but I am thinking I need to test several from each box to see if they are still dependable. We have all had some bad ammo that we have to pull the bullets and decap the primers (at least I do). I routinely pull these bullets and use the powder as lawn fertilizer with a lot of water and place the primers back in primer trays in a primer box conspicously marked "BAD PRIMERS, In the evening on July 4th and New Years Eve i take these primers out back and detonate them with a hammer (of course I have hearing and eye protection). I could wait until July 4th to test these primers in that manner but I will probably run out of primers before then. Is there any way to test these primers? I guess I could go to the range with primed cases (no powder or bullets) and fire them in my AR15. Is that safe? Any suggestions? Thank You for your help!

I once stored some Rem 7 1/2 BR primers in my loading box which was in my garage. At a match the following summer I loaded some from that sleeve and had several misfires. Switching back to CCI solved the problem. I would still use them but not on the hunt of a lifetime or if what you are shooting at can trash you. I personally, would try a few samples from a few sleeves. JMO.

 

[rogina]

I once stored some Rem 7 1/2 BR primers in my loading box which was in my garage. At a match the following summer I loaded some from that sleeve and had several misfires. Switching back to CCI solved the problem. I would still use them but not on the hunt of a lifetime or if what you are shooting at can trash you. I personally, would try a few samples from a few sleeves. JMO.

5 to 10 years is not even in the ballpark of "old" for primers.

 

[AndyTaber]

I had about 500 Remington 7-1/2‘ from about 40 years ago. Loaded them and they worked just fine. I am still using up the last of my Alcan small pistol primers from the same time period. Never had one fail yet. All were stored in my garage.

 

[pasote]

5 to 10 years is not even in the ballpark of "old" for primers.

Yes. I did not explain it clearly. I bought them in 2000 and they were stored in the garage for 5 to 10 years then they were stored in my reloading room/library until now. I will use them. Thank you for your response

 

[pasote]

I had about 500 Remington 7-1/2‘ from about 40 years ago. Loaded them and they worked just fine. I am still using up the last of my Alcan small pistol primers from the same time period. Never had one fail yet. All were stored in my garage.

Ok. I will use them. Thank you for your response

 

[zivadaddy]

Hello. I have 4000 remington 7 and 1/2 small rifle primers that were stored in a garage for 5 to 10 years. I was going to turn them into our hazardous waste disposal unit here in town but with the primers now going to $300+ for 1000, I am rethinking my decision. They look real good but I am thinking I need to test several from each box to see if they are still dependable. We have all had some bad ammo that we have to pull the bullets and decap the primers (at least I do). I routinely pull these bullets and use the powder as lawn fertilizer with a lot of water and place the primers back in primer trays in a primer box conspicously marked "BAD PRIMERS, In the evening on July 4th and New Years Eve i take these primers out back and detonate them with a hammer (of course I have hearing and eye protection). I could wait until July 4th to test these primers in that manner but I will probably run out of primers before then. Is there any way to test these primers? I guess I could go to the range with primed cases (no powder or bullets) and fire them in my AR15. Is that safe? Any suggestions? Thank You for your help!

Ok....do NOT do what I do....but I just smack them with a punch right in my basement. It’s a primer ffs....not a quarter stick of dynamite. Like I said do not do what I do.

 

[zivadaddy]

well, i hope not but these are at least 20 years old. they have been in temperature controlled dry environment for the last 10 years. I had placed these aside and I was ordering and using new primers until this primer drought hit. i havent been able to get primers for about a year now, so i used up my reserve of remington primers. I do have some cci 400 primers but i dont like them as well. They are softer than the remingtons and dont seat that well in my brass. I hope these older primers will be ok.

I have just used used up my stock of 1970’s primers. I’m now on early 1990’s. Along with some powder I opened in 1996. It’s all fine with even moderate storage techniques.

 

[searcher]

Think of all the WWII, Korean War and Vietnam-era surplus ammo that was bought and fired in the last 30 years. I shot some WWII Winchester .45ACP ball ammo about a year ago - which I figure was at least 70-75 years old. It was stored properly in air-tight and water proof packaging. Looked good and clean, no corrosion. Every one went bang - and surprisingly accurate.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

My friend gave me a mixed brick of Fed 210,210m. The sleeves were marked 1.79, fairly old I'm guessing. Will do nothing but normal load work up when I need them.

 

[Firearmsunlimited]

Secretly drop two or three onto your carpet. Your wife will let you know if they are good after she runs the vacuum over the carpet.

 

[pasote]

I have just used used up my stock of 1970’s primers. I’m now on early 1990’s. Along with some powder I opened in 1996. It’s all fine with even moderate storage techniques.

thank you

 

[pasote]

Think of all the WWII, Korean War and Vietnam-era surplus ammo that was bought and fired in the last 30 years. I shot some WWII Winchester .45ACP ball ammo about a year ago - which I figure was at least 70-75 years old. It was stored properly in air-tight and water proof packaging. Looked good and clean, no corrosion. Every one went bang - and surprisingly accurate.

thank you

 

[pasote]

Secretly drop two or three onto your carpet. Your wife will let you know if they are good after she runs the vacuum over the carpet.

lol. i am sure

 

[BigJohnson2]

Secretly drop two or three onto your carpet. Your wife will let you know if they are good after she runs the vacuum over the carpet.

There should be a utubes video of that.