reloading: how long are primers good

[RobertN]

I was going through my reloading stuff this weekend as part of a fall garage cleanup. I have been storing all my reloading stuff in and old dresser for a number of years now. I found about 200 45acp cases that I had forgotten about. They have been sized/deprimed, and the reprimed. This was probably 8 years ago now.

They were stored in a brown paper lunch sack. They've been kept clean and dry. I also have other primers at least that old in the original container.

I don't think they have a shelf life. The storage was clean and dry.

I was thinking I could snap a couple off in the chamber just to see...

I am a little hesitant to load 200 rounds though; I'd hate to have to unload them for components. I really don't feel like single feeding that many empties just to blow the primers either(don't want to just toss the shells...)

Any thoughts?

 

[cp1969]

Load up 20 then shoot them. If you don't have any duds, load the rest. Caution: Shoot them slowly if you're using a revolver.

What are you going to shoot them in, a revolver or automatic? I don't know if I'd use them in a revolver, regardless. A hang-fire in a revolver is nasty business. I've never had one but have been there when they happened to other people. That's why they tell you to keep the gun pointed downrange for 30? seconds after a misfire because it may go off after all. Unfortunately, if you're doing rapid-fire stuff, the dud gets rotated out of alignment with the barrel pretty fast. You can't stop yourself that quick, or at least I can't.

It will be ugly if that round decides to go off when it isn't aligned with the barrel.

 

[RobertN]

What are you going to shoot them in, a revolver or automatic?

They will be used in a Glock-30.

I looked closer; I can not fire the primers the way they are; I had belled the cases. I would have to resize them minus the deprimer before I could chamber them. 200 of them...

I had forgotten about these cases; I have reloaded 45acp a number of times since these were prepped.

I quit belling, apparently after getting these ready. Since then, I chamfer the case mouth. It's simple, and can be reloaded numerous times without re-chamfering.

 

[Will_C]

I would not worry about it very much. I am still using small rifle primers I bought in 1993 due to the "Clinton" scare that primers would be regulated. I was shooting a .222 alot then, so I stocked with 2,000 primers.
Will

 

[shaley]

I have some powder, Norma 1010 from 1961, still clocks at speed. Primers from 1972, haven't had a misfire in over 500 rnds. Keep it out of the heat and it will be fine

 

[xlr82v2]

I'm with Shaley...

I'm still using CCI-200 primers that my dad purchased back in the 60's before I was born in my 22-250. The chronograph says that they still perform as brand new. I've got some Remington 97Star shotshell primers from back in the early 70's that I still use for reloading too.

As long as they were stored in clean, cool, dry conditions, they should be fine. Primers and powder, stored properly, are very stable, and have an indefinite storage life. I think you can still get WWII surplus powder, manufactured back in the 40's, or at least you still could a few years ago. That powder is over 65 years old, and good as new.

Load 'em up.