Thoughts on testing old primers???

[Certaindeaf]

I grew up stealing my dad's shotgun primers and doing it. Not to say there isn't a risk but I've never had an issue.

Yea well, I wouldn't. I actually amost blew my pinky finger off doing something dumb with a shotgun primer.

 

[KennVFRidr]

Several years ago I was down near the Deschutes river near where I live and driving along slowly on a dirt road I saw something that looked out of place off the road so I stopped and walked to look at what I saw and it was a pile of very old .45 ACP primed brass.

A lot of it was rotted and some still retained its shape and I picked it all up and brought it home.

Some of the headstamps had what looked like military markings with an '18' on it so I figured that was the year.

Well for the heck of it I wiped off several, put them in my 1911 and pulled the trigger and to my surprise many of them went 'Pop'! It was not full power and most did not fire but these had been laying outside for I don't know how long in rain & snow.

Good to know...I just dug out a bag of 500 pieces of new Winchester primed brass I bought back in 94 or 95...forgot I had some of this stuff....

Kenn

 

[Spitpatch]

Thanks for the insight...do you recall what brand the primers were? I'll test and inspect carefully...hate to toss 9000+ primers...especially when they seem to be in short supply lately.

I appreciate the lesson...I'll definitely take heed!

Kenn

Two brands: the Large Rifle were CCI 200's. The Small Rifle were Rem 6-1/2's. Thus, I don't believe brand was a factor. Again, age was the only commonality.

 

[po18guy]

Recently I found some primers that I had purchased in 1977. They have been stored in the garage and survived two moves since I bought them. I just loaded up 10 and went to the range. They all chronograhed the same as some freshly purchased primers. I then loaded the rest of the vintage primers and all 300 have gone boom.

What I was going to say.

 

[RVTECH]

Recently a friend of mine told me he has some primers he is going to give me as soon as gets back to McMinnville where he has some stuff in storage and can find them.
They are somewhat 'old' but he says they have always been stored indoors
in their origional boxes so hopefully they all go 'pop' when fired!

 

[KennVFRidr]

Two brands: the Large Rifle were CCI 200's. The Small Rifle were Rem 6-1/2's. Thus, I don't believe brand was a factor. Again, age was the only commonality.

Thanks for the specific's!
Kenn

 

[rhythmco]

Sounds about like a 22LR. Louder than you would think.

thanks that's exactly what i needed to know.

Sounds about like a 22LR. Louder than you would think.

 

[American123]

Probably would be fine. You can put the primer in an empty case and enjoy "popping" them off. If a fraction of them had no failures, you might generalize that the rest would be fine.

 

[P7M13]

I may have finally worked through them, but I was, for a long time, shooting pistol primers that I bought in 2000. Never had a single misfire.

Word to the wise from experience:

Twice inside of 20 years, I have discovered in my stash older primers (10+ years old) and put them to use, only to experience something I had not seen before:

The primer cup itself has ruptured (pin head size) at the corner (the edge where the wall of the primer meets the striking surface). Two different calibers (large rifle and small rifle). Loads were book, tried and true previously.

Bolt face was etched (minor) where the rocket blast found its escape route. Primer recess in the case likewise at the outer corner.

These episodes were 15 years apart and the only commonality was the old primers. (Stored cool and dry from day one.)

Not saying this will happen to you. Not saying primers have a definite shelf life.

I am saying I learned a lesson. Take it or leave it.

If they were Winchester, there was a recall in the past few years regarding this very issue, causing damage to the bolt face.

 

[P7M13]

How much noise will just a primer make???

Sounds about like a 22LR. Louder than you would think.

Thank you!

Be sure to have adequate ventilation.
They do release lead with the firing, which you could then inhale. I may be wrong, but I remember some having mercury in the mix too.

 

[GWS]

Thank you for the suggestions and info! No spring loaded punch...so I think I'll have to just press some primers in and test. I've got small rifle for .223 and .450 Bushmaster, and large pistol for 10mm to test.

How much noise will just a primer make???

Thanks again...
Kenn

A WHAP like a piece of plywood hitting the floor

 

[EHJ]

 

[arakboss]

Word to the wise from experience:

Twice inside of 20 years, I have discovered in my stash older primers (10+ years old) and put them to use, only to experience something I had not seen before:

The primer cup itself has ruptured (pin head size) at the corner (the edge where the wall of the primer meets the striking surface). Two different calibers (large rifle and small rifle). Loads were book, tried and true previously.

Bolt face was etched (minor) where the rocket blast found its escape route. Primer recess in the case likewise at the outer corner.

These episodes were 15 years apart and the only commonality was the old primers. (Stored cool and dry from day one.)

Not saying this will happen to you. Not saying primers have a definite shelf life.

I am saying I learned a lesson. Take it or leave it.

What brand and type of primers had the rupture?

 

[Spitpatch]

What brand and type of primers had the rupture?

See my post of Sept. 3rd.

 

[tfbit]

I'm actually surprised that no one has told you "They're bad but I'll take them off your hands and properly dispose of them."

 

[Legion489]

Probably a bad primer.

 

[EHJ]

Probably a bad primer.

I always laugh at those videos while I sit back with my Lee loader hand seating primers with a hammer.

 

[GWS]

Thank you for the suggestions and info! No spring loaded punch...so I think I'll have to just press some primers in and test. I've got small rifle for .223 and .450 Bushmaster, and large pistol for 10mm to test.

How much noise will just a primer make???

Thanks again...
Kenn

A loud Whap! like a sheet of plywood hitting the floor
Nonetheless, eye and ear protection would be prudent.

 

[solv3nt]

I don't know that I'd do that. I wouldn't risk the anvil flying out of that mini sealed breech barrel and hitting me in the peeper.

We need common sense hammer laws....

 

[partsed]

I grew up stealing my dad's shotgun primers and doing it. Not to say there isn't a risk but I've never had an issue.

Did you ever tell your dad about that??