THE ACCURATERELOADING.COM FORUMS


Moderators: Mark
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
Older primers - use them or not?
 Login/Join
 
One of Us
posted
I have a yellow box of 1000 Winchester 'Staynless' primers in the original box and tray packaging. No apparent dirt, stains or damage. These are identified as 'Olin Winchester Western' Marked "K-4009P - No. 8-1/2 - 120 1000 large rifle primers". Am I safe in assuming that these are equivalent to standard WW large rifle primers for use in reloading?

Also have some boxes of Remington 9-1/2 Large rifle and Magnum Rifle primers, as well as a few boxes of CCI N0. 200 Large Rifle and No. 250 Magnum Large Rifle primers. These are probably
20 to 25 years old.

Thanks.

AT
 
Posts: 874 | Location: S. E. Arizona | Registered: 01 February 2019Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
I wouldn’t assume that they are the same.

I would treat it like changing brand of primers for the older Winchester ones.

The Remington and CCI are still using the same nomenclature and I would treat them as a new lot of the same primers.

Depending on how they were stored, they should function just fine.

I’ve used some shotgun components that my dad brought in the late 50’s. All worked despite some suboptimal storage.
 
Posts: 11155 | Location: Minnesota USA | Registered: 15 June 2007Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
More than likely fine, depending of course on how they were stored. Use 'em for target shoots, I would use new/current production for hunting ammo.
 
Posts: 8169 | Location: humboldt | Registered: 10 April 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
I agree with Craigsters advice.
I have a brick of old Norma Hotflash primers, at least 20 years old. I load only barrel fouling and plinking rounds with these. They have always gone "bang".


Hunting.... it's not everything, it's the only thing.
 
Posts: 2105 | Location: New Zealand's North Island | Registered: 13 November 2014Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of dpcd
posted Hide Post
25 year old components are new to me; I use ones much older than that without regard to vintage. Never an issue.
 
Posts: 17371 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
Load and shoot them
 
Posts: 19702 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
25 year old components are new to me; I use ones much older than that without regard to vintage. Never an issue.


X2 I still have bricks(that's 1000 for you youngsters) with $4.99 in sharpie for the price tag tu2 have yet to have an issue!! dancing
 
Posts: 2361 | Location: KENAI, ALASKA | Registered: 10 November 2001Reply With Quote
Administrator
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
25 year old components are new to me; I use ones much older than that without regard to vintage. Never an issue.


Exactly!


www.accuratereloading.com
Instagram : ganyana2000
 
Posts: 69109 | Location: Dubai, UAE | Registered: 08 January 1998Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
Thanks to you all.

AT
 
Posts: 874 | Location: S. E. Arizona | Registered: 01 February 2019Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
when you get some that are domed and come in wooden trays marked 21 cents, then maybe I'd worry some.
or not.
I just used up the last 300 of those I had and they all worked just fine.
 
Posts: 5002 | Location: soda springs,id | Registered: 02 April 2008Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of NormanConquest
posted Hide Post
I've never had a negative issue with "old" primers. Availability these days is of more concern.


Never mistake motion for action.
 
Posts: 17357 | Location: Austin, Texas | Registered: 11 March 2013Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Load and shoot them


Agree.


NRA Patron member
 
Posts: 2652 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: 08 December 2006Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
I recently used CCI 200s from the '60s, no problem.

Dave
 
Posts: 2086 | Location: Seattle Washington, USA | Registered: 19 January 2004Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by NormanConquest:
I've never had a negative issue with "old" primers. Availability these days is of more concern.


That's what I have been thinking... use what I have and don't chase after unobtainium.

Thanks again to all who commented.

AT
 
Posts: 874 | Location: S. E. Arizona | Registered: 01 February 2019Reply With Quote
one of us
Picture of Steve E.
posted Hide Post
Good advice from all, should be fine if stored correctly. Use them as you would when changing any primer especially one that is old, work your load back up.

Steve........


NRA Patron Life Member
GOA Life Member
North American Hunting Club Life Member
USAF Veteran
 
Posts: 1839 | Location: Semo | Registered: 31 May 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
IF you're concerned about 'em.
Just use them for plinkers.

I have some from the '50's in the OLD
wood trays yet, might be 30,000 of 'em.

For about 20 years I left my loading stuff
in a wood box under Dad's outside garage
bench. When I got back to reloading again.
They ALL fired just fine.

Here it gets over 105F and down to -30 many
years. that was an adobe garage without heat.

Don't worry about 'em. After what mine have
been thru and still work fine I'll never care
again. unless they'd get wet.

George


"Gun Control is NOT about Guns'
"It's about Control!!"
Join the NRA today!"

LM: NRA, DAV,

George L. Dwight
 
Posts: 6061 | Location: Pueblo, CO | Registered: 31 January 2006Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
One time, just for shits and grins, I soaked some primers in water overnite. Took 'em out and let them dry for a day or two, loaded them. Most (90% +/-) still worked.
 
Posts: 8169 | Location: humboldt | Registered: 10 April 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of NormanConquest
posted Hide Post
And if you're still worried about moisture, just do what we used to with our stamps, keep them in a container with rice.


Never mistake motion for action.
 
Posts: 17357 | Location: Austin, Texas | Registered: 11 March 2013Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
I knew a guy a few years older who panicked when the 1968 GCA went into effect and bought thousands of primers, mostly RWS Sinoxid LR primers. Long story short, I inherited them around 1980-ish and although I have by now loaded all of them I still have lots of unfired ammunition loaded with them. Such ammunition fires dependably, shoots to the same point of impact, and chronographs exactly the same as it did fifty years ago.
 
Posts: 13261 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of NormanConquest
posted Hide Post
There you go; the proof is in the performance.


Never mistake motion for action.
 
Posts: 17357 | Location: Austin, Texas | Registered: 11 March 2013Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by NormanConquest:
And if you're still worried about moisture, just do what we used to with our stamps, keep them in a container with rice.


Or desiccant pacs.
 
Posts: 8169 | Location: humboldt | Registered: 10 April 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
In the early 90's I worked part-time in a local gun-shop.

At some stage a water-pipe in the basement safe started leaking. It was only discovered after some time. What soaked up the water was a stack of boxes of Federal small pistol primers. The leak had remained un-detected so long that the lower boxes had gone quite mouldy.

The company handed the primers out to the employees (it was company policy that all sales staff be active in some form of competitive shooting, and most were active in Bianchi Cup, so we were all shooters). I still have some of it, and none of them have ever failed to go bang.
 
Posts: 518 | Location: South Africa | Registered: 28 April 2020Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
I have some 20 year old CCI primers and used them this summer on rockchucks and they were fine, no misfires. Changed the POI about two inches, but not sure that was the primer, as guns can change POI for a number of reasons, I just moved the POI back to zero and the 222 is holding its POI from that change about 6 months ago..I load up 20 and give them a try and go from there.


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
 
Posts: 42209 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000Reply With Quote
  Powered by Social Strata  
 


Copyright December 1997-2023 Accuratereloading.com


Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia