How old is too old for primers

[x10]

I was cleaning my shelves up last night and found 2k Winchester Large rifle primers sitting in a box, the outer boxes were dust covered but inside the tray's everything's good.

My question are these OK to use, I don't think I would use them for group shooting but for Blaster ammo I think they would be ok

Is there a way to test them (besides the obvious) in a way that we would know that their going to be reliable and safe?

I guess I could randomly pick out 20 or so and put them into empty cases and see what happens in the 1903

 

[IndyGunworks]

I guess I could randomly pick out 20 or so and put them into empty cases and see what happens in the 1903

Thats it! if they go boom they are not to old.... if they dont go boom... they are too old.

 

[x10]

Thats it! if they go boom they are not to old.... if they dont go boom... they are too old.

so much for the scientific answer

thanks

 

[cordex]

I'd be happy to take them off your hands if you are worried.

 

[Leadeye]

Primers last a long time if kept cool and dry. I still use a lot of components that I purchased in the 70s and 80s with no problem at all. Price tags look a little different though.

 

[Lock n Load]

I personally have never had any go bad, but a friend showed me some once and they were discolored, had a chalky residue on them and were very visibly bad.

But if they look good and you are still concerned, then yes take a few from each end of the boxes and load them up blank style.

Keep us posted and maybe some pics if they visibly appear bad?

 

[x10]

I'd be happy to take them off your hands if you are worried.

I would trade them 2-1 for small pistol primers

 

[cordex]

I would trade them 2-1 for small pistol primers

I could do that if you're willing to meet on the near west side.

 

[Indycar]

I've used primers that wer 15 - 20 years old before I loaded them. If they are kept dry in a safe environment, they will last 50 years or so.

 

[jason conley]

My dad had 15 year old primers not stored well that did not work right.

 

[JRPLANE]

I have some old Alcan's in every size. I know they are 30 years old. I have used them all, and they work perfect.

 

[Jack Ryan]

I was cleaning my shelves up last night and found 2k Winchester Large rifle primers sitting in a box, the outer boxes were dust covered but inside the tray's everything's good.

My question are these OK to use, I don't think I would use them for group shooting but for Blaster ammo I think they would be ok

Is there a way to test them (besides the obvious) in a way that we would know that their going to be reliable and safe?

I guess I could randomly pick out 20 or so and put them into empty cases and see what happens in the 1903

Send me a thousand of them and I'll test them for you.

 

[Leadeye]

Still have some 30 year old CCIs they work fine.

 

[billybob44]

Too Old Primers???

I don't know how old is too old, but the 2K of 30+ year old primers that I bought off of Aszerigan better go off!Or I'm going to want my $10.00 back!!

 

[Leo]

While not primers only, I removed a bushel basket full of .45 military from a widows basement in the late 90's. Her husband died in the early 70's. The ammo was stamped lat 1940's and early 1950's. I think I only had 3 failures to fire out of the whole lot. Some 30-06 from the same house had turned green, and I steel wooled it clean and they pretty much all fired right also. I think ammo lasts a long time.