Old Primer Help

[Ross]

So I have noticed that when freinds and coworkers find out I am reloading, for the first time, I am a repository for unused "stuff."

So far I be given partial bricks of Winchester large and small pistol primers. These are at least 7 years old and have been kept dry. Much more than that for enviromental storage condition - unknown.

How can I determine if these are still good to use? Is there a rule of visual thumb? Should I drink some beers, start a fire (pit), and toss them randomly in the fire for entertainment?

TIA

I have also recieved partial boxes of Hornady .38 and .45 cal bullets. To give an idea of how old these are - the .45 bullets have a price tag of $6.50 for 50.

This reloading stuff is getting better and better all the time.

[Chief-7700]

I would say that they are good to use. Best way to find out prime a case (no bullet or powder) load it in a gun and pull the trigger.

[shooting4life]

I wouldn't use them. Give them to me and I'll get rid of them for you

[Malthusian]

I have been using 25 year old primers
I made a few rounds to test
All went well
Loaded a thousand so far
No failures what so ever

Oh the powder is 25 years old as well
How do I know?
That's how long it has been sitting around in my closet

[joelogic]

Prime a case and test fire it.
Bang it with a hammer.

[Divernhunter]

I still use primers/powder/bullets I bought in the 1960's and they shoot just fine. I also load with WWII surplus powder and it is fine. I would load up and have fun shooting.
Actually the only 2 non-firing reloads I have had since the early 1960's has been with primers which I bought new a year ago. It was the primers and not the gun etc. They did not work in several rifles. Broke down the loads and put in new primers and they worked. Needless to say I did not use those primers for my big game hunting ammo.

I collect any and all cast-offs from people I know/meet and seldom have to dump the stuff.

[ireload]

Load away. Heck the only thing I get from friends are a handful of once fired brass.

[Fishslayer]

Those old primers are extremely hazardous.

Send 'em to me and I will dispose of them properly....

[bohoki]

use them 10 years is nothing

[CSACANNONEER]

Last year, I bought 6K of primers from the 50's? Or there abouts. They have wood dividers in each box. Anyway, they work great. It was the best $50 I spent on primers during the great primer shortage of the "O" administration.

[sargenv]

I have some primers made by Norma that I picked up some years ago for $10/1000. That would have been back in the late 80's some time... Primers tend to last a very long time.. but then ppl have been saying that all along.

[WileyWilly]

I have been using these CCI primers that were probably made in the 70's:



Still good.

[kenz]

lol .69 for 100 primers. and that was probably a hefty mark-up.

[Cowboy T]

Test a few out. If they go BANG, then load 'em up, shoot 'em, and have fun. I've got ammo that's 35 years old and still fires beautifully.

[Sunday]

Last summer I used up 500 CCI primers in 38 special that I had since the late 1970s. I found them in a box of odds and ends when cleaning. All went bang. Use them for taget use.