Old primers still good? Old brass? Old powder?

[IA_shooter]

I picked up a bunch of reloading equipment and components in a trade deal from a buddy and the stuff is 17-18 yrs old. The price tag on the box of 1000 Winchester primers (WSR's) is $16.00. there's also a one pound tin container of IMR 4320 with a date stamp on the bottom of June 23, 1995. There's a 500 ct box of .223 once fired L-C brass he bought from Midway marked LC 97 back in the day as well. He had once planned on going prairie dog hunting and bought reloading stuff and he never ended up going and this stuff has been in storage for a LONG time. I also found a receipt in a set of RCBS 22-250 dies dated 11-29-96. I just wonder if there is a shelf life on these components? I might try selling the stuff but want to make sure it's all still good to sell or use.

 

[CatShooter]

I picked up a bunch of reloading equipment and components in a trade deal from a buddy and the stuff is 17-18 yrs old. The price tag on the box of 1000 Winchester primers (WSR's) is $16.00. there's also a one pound tin container of IMR 4320 with a date stamp on the bottom of June 23, 1995. There's a 500 ct box of .223 once fired L-C brass he bought from Midway back in the day as well. He had once planned on going prairie dog hunting and bought reloading stuff and he never ended up going and this stuff has been in storage for a LONG time. I also found a receipt in a set of RCBS 22-250 dies dated 11-29-96. I just wonder if there is a shelf life on these components? I might try selling the stuff but want to make sure it's all still good to sell or use.

All of it is still fine.

Work up loads as usual.

 

[IA_shooter]

I guess I'll keep the couple hundred once fired 22-250 brass and the several hundred 22 cal bullets I got in the trade deal for my own use for my 22-250 and the primers for my 6BR rifle but I don't own a .223 yet so maybe I'll sell off the LC 97 brass ......... or maybe that's a good excuse to get a .223 now that I have all that brass/bullets/dies huh? My wife will surely understand that kind of reasoning right? LOL

 

[Duster_360]

I quit shooting competition in 2000 when the company where I had worked for 23yrs was taken over. I just walked away and left things as they sat in my reloading room for ~13yrs - new career and eventually my own , now successful business.

I am back into shooting and the old primers and powder shoots fine. The primers and powder I'm shooting now are date stamped from the late '80s and early 90s'. I had what was left of a pound - prob less than 400-500gr of opened powder go bad and that was very obvious. Other than that, have had no problems with any of these old components.

 

[areaone]

I have been shooting primers from the early80's and H4831 pulldown from Korea in a 22 250 ai and 75 gr Hornadys and they shoot fantastic. The H4831 was 2.00 a lb.

 

[CaptainMal]

Used many a component I bought in the 60's recently. No issues except anger at seeing powder priced $1.85/lb.

 

[IA_shooter]

Used many a component I bought in the 60's recently. No issues except anger at seeing powder priced $1.85/lb.

LOL, I know what you mean. Seeing the price tags on some of this stuff from 17 years ago was an eye opener.

 

[sundance]

I have been using Viet Nam pull down powder from Jeff Bartlett . It is W785 powder and it meters like water still shoots great in my 6mms. It was 20 years old when I first bought some 20 years ago!