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is there a need to SEAL primers or bullets?

hillbillydruggist

I remember long ago this was a topic of discussion but I don't hear anything about it anymore, just wondered if I should do it on my hunting loads, I frequently deer hunt in the rain(I have to hunt whenever I am off work, good weather or bad)

thanks
 
I've never tried it, but I remember years ago many were advocating dabbing clear fingernail polish (or colors if you feel fancy) on seated primers as a moisture barrier. Never had a problem, but I guess it would be cheap insurance. Bullets should have enough neck tension to prevent seepage, but I suppose the same could be used on them if you are concerned.
 
Many years ago when I used to load up bullets by the bunches I would use, "Makron"? on the primer and the bullet. I was living in a humid area and I guess it was for piece of mind. Never noticed any difference on rounds that had set around for months on either sealed or unsealed rounds.
 
I have batted the idea around (bullets) as a way of attaining more consistent bullet release. I guess value could be measured in pressure required to break the bullet loose from it's seated and sealed position.

I have no idea whether the on target results would benefit or suffer, or even if this would lead to more consistent release, but I think it is interesting to speculate. jd
 
Years ago I wondered the same thing. Didn’t take long to find out. I threw a few primers and loaded rounds in a bucket of water overnight. Next day dried them off and fired them. Wasn’t checking for accuracy but maybe I should have. Mine all went off with no hesitation.
 
Unless you're storing them for ww3 , then no there's really no reason in my opinion... I have shot ammo that was decades old with no problems.... Of course they were stored in decent conditions inside , not buried underground... The problem happens if the ammo has humidity in the powder when it's loaded , making it clump and spoil inside the loaded round... Sealing it would not help that problem a bit....
 
I'd say unless you're loading for these guys, there's no need to SEAL your primers. :p
SEAL.jpg
 
Most of the time you never need to do any kind of water proofing. One winter I brought my rifle and chest rig with me every day. It froze and thawed all winter. Several rounds got wet and would not fire. Most looked like hell. If you are going to expose them to water it is not a bad idea. Plus rotate your stock.
 
Popped a couple of .223 rounds out back to check forming. Went out the next morning and found a live round laying in the grass that I had dropped. It was WET!!
Pulled it down and the had powder clumped. Had pretty good neck tension.
Figure if I'am out in the weather, might be best to seal them, just in case.
Clear nail polish around the primer and at the neck bullet contact should get the job done.
 
I got a bottle of primer sealer with my first reloading kit.... I think I still have it in a drawer.
 
If it is being loaded for "duty", "carry", or "hunting" purposes, or if it is for a really big match a long way from home, I seal the primers with Markron. It's really cheap insurance--in both time AND money--for me that if I get caught in a rain storm and my box gets full of water somehow, that the primers will still go 100% bang.

Knowing that going INTO said big match is also one more confidence booster, or at least not a DRAG on confidence.

For general target ammunition for average matches, or practice, etc., I do not seal the primers.

-Nate
 
I've lived in snow country for many years and I've never had a problem with any of my un-sealed ammo and I've actually sat in blizzards where all my gear and ammo was covered in ice and snow.
 
No. But if you must seal. https://www.hernon.com/search-for-adhesives/522/Hernon® Bullet Proof 650


Waterproof Ammo PRIMER SEALANT: Water resistant lacquer is used by Federal on XM193 & case mouth sealant is also used . http://www.mlefiaa.org/files/ERPR/XM193.pdf Lake City Army Ammunition is also tested for waterproofing. http://www.army.mil/article/11859 If your going into the water, do seal the ammo. I dont. For long term storage, there are other things to worry about. Some powders have special additives for long term storage.
 
Back in the early 80's, a lot of the talking heads were promoting primer sealant making it sound like you were the super goo roo in reloading if you used primer sealant. I lived in S. Ca. where it never rained, I think that I took the bait and bought two bottles, green stuff. I used the green stuff to seal the trigger adjustment screws on Rem triggers, which was more manly than using the odd ball colors of finger nail polish that the wife did not like anymore.

My brother in law would show off his reloads to me, showing the green stuff on his primers, like that ammo was really going to kill heck out of something. I told him, he was going to be putting lip stick on his bullets next.

If you are planning on going fishing with your deer rifle, it would be a good idea to seal the primers and bullet.
 
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