Iron Sight
Member
There are specific POCKETS used for long time storage.
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How do you store loose primers?
- Thread starter tcoz
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Do you have a River Bridge or a deep lake nearby?? 
Seriously, loading them back in prepped cases is the best thing to do with them.
rc
Seriously, loading them back in prepped cases is the best thing to do with them.
rc
Arkansas Paul
Member
Yeah, I'm a bit confused.
Why would you throw 100 primers away just because you have 5,000 already.
If you have $5,000 in the bank and $100 in your wallet, do you throw the cash in your wallet away because you don't need it?
Like rcmodel said, seat those things in some prepped brass. That way you can store them for a long period of time, until you do need them.
That's what I'd do anyway. If you've got more money than you need and you think you've got a lifetime supply, go ahead and toss em in the river I guess.
Why would you throw 100 primers away just because you have 5,000 already.
If you have $5,000 in the bank and $100 in your wallet, do you throw the cash in your wallet away because you don't need it?
Like rcmodel said, seat those things in some prepped brass. That way you can store them for a long period of time, until you do need them.
That's what I'd do anyway. If you've got more money than you need and you think you've got a lifetime supply, go ahead and toss em in the river I guess.
rskent
Member
bluetopper
OP
Prime some cases for sure.
Ya beat me to it.
OP
Prime some cases for sure.
OP
OP
tcoz
Member
There was a time when I wouldn't have considered doing it either but after seeing the question posed over and over on various forums and the overwhelming majority of handloaders saying that they've done it many times, I started to do it as well. Until recently, I had only done it a few times but after selling one of my rifles I had 150 rounds to deconstruct. The primers came out easily with little pressure needed and they seat and fire normally when reused. Just be sure to wear safety glasses.
evtSmtx
Member
when we beat this thread completely to death, I need to ask if it's safe to anneal loaded cartridges as long as the powder doesn't get too hot
JimKirk
Member
Now is te time to start saving a few empty containers ... primer trays, powder bottles and bullet boxes .... many many times ... I reused containers ....with the proper labeling ....
Growing up on a farm ... I learned to reuse many things ....
Growing up on a farm ... I learned to reuse many things ....
GBExpat
Member
tcoz, if it would help, I would be happy to send you a factory primer tray.
I have never been able to toss them ... they just have the look of something that may come in handy in the future, y'know? Which probably explain the large & eclectic accumulation that populates much of my basement ... and garage ... and closets ... and spare bedrooms ...
I have never been able to toss them ... they just have the look of something that may come in handy in the future, y'know? Which probably explain the large & eclectic accumulation that populates much of my basement ... and garage ... and closets ... and spare bedrooms ...
BSA1
member
As commented storing primers inside a enclosed container with a tight fitting lid such as a glass jar and Tupperware is allowing the pressure inside the container to build up to the point of causing a serious explosion.
For the safe storing of loose primers just look no further than the original packaging use by the manufacturer which is...
thin cardboard.
If the cardboard catches fire the paper quickly burns away removing any pressure from around the primers. Other than reloading the primers back in the case I would store them in a small cardboard box away for any heat source or open flame.
For the safe storing of loose primers just look no further than the original packaging use by the manufacturer which is...
thin cardboard.
If the cardboard catches fire the paper quickly burns away removing any pressure from around the primers. Other than reloading the primers back in the case I would store them in a small cardboard box away for any heat source or open flame.
evtSmtx
Member
yeah, on a more serious note I keep about 10 empty primer boxes around for re-use.
OP
OP
tcoz
Member
tcoz, if it would help, I would be happy to send you a factory primer tray.
I have never been able to toss them ... they just have the look of something that may come in handy in the future, y'know? Which probably explain the large & eclectic accumulation that populates much of my basement ... and garage ... and closets ... and spare bedrooms ...
Thanks for your offer GBExpat. Back when I first started handloading I was saving them for the exact reason you stated.......there's gotta be something I can do with them......anyway I eventually tossed them.
I solved my storage problem by putting them into a tray that had only a couple CCI41 NATO SRPs. I color coded the spots in the tray and put a note in the box to remind myself. They're both Mil-spec primers, the difference being the size so I figured it wouldn't be possible to mix them up in my loading since neither will fit in the other's primer pockets.
TimSr
Member
Glad you found a solution. The thing with primer storage is so they cannot shake around against each other. A cardboard "sandwich", those small paper envelopes used for tiny parts, or small cardboard boxes with a piece of filler such as foam rubber or cotton all will work fine. Tightly sealed containers, even plastic jars can hold a lot of pressure before they "blow". The absolute worst place to put primers is in a glass container. A single primer can shatter a glass jar, and send a thousand tiny glass projectiles through the air. Worst than than, a glass jar with bunch of primers falling to a hard floor could have the same effect as a glass fragment grenade.
LOL! I've been waiting for someone to ask that question.
LOL! I've been waiting for someone to ask that question.
snuffy
Member
Wrong term, you PUSH them out GENTLY with a FL, neck or universal decapping die. Key word is gently.
1. In order for primers to fire, they must be held securely in the pocket of the brass case that is chambered in the appropriate firearm, then hit hard by a pointed firing pin.
2. Or they must be smashed by a hammer against something heavy.
3. Or heated to at least 500 degrees,(a guess).
4. Crushing them like when they get pushed in sideways won't set them off.
To kill a primer is just about impossible. Water soaking only works if they're kept wet. Drying water soaked primers will make them active again. Oil woks for a while but usually results in a reduced pop, not enough to light the powder. Penetrating oil, the same erratic ignition. All MODERN primers have a sealant applied to the top of the assembled primer, or to further explain to the top of the anvil. What do you think causes the color coding to each primer? It's a lacquer based paint. This thin film keeps out most things that will cause the primer to be inert. I remember being cautioned when I first starting loading back in 1962 NOT to handle primers with my fingers, the oil on my fingers,(lanolin), would cause the primers to not fire!
Primer "dust". That myth rears it's ugly head again! The priming compound/pellet is inserted wet. It is pushed in with pressure to fill the entire bottom of the empty cup, every bit of it. Then it is covered with a paper disc, then the anvil is placed on top of that paper disc. Then it is covered with that lacquer sealant. Now where does that primer dust come from? My guess is there's a magician conjuring up the dust from an unknown source.
Storing any primers in other than the original sleeves is goona generate a lot of flack, some rightly so. But I have, on occasion kept some in an envelope, plain paper envelope. I kept them single layer no more than 2 rows and stored the envelope flat.
I've decapped live primers and reused them on a few occasions, no pops, all went bang when supposed to. I tried WD40 to "kill" some primers; squirted a couple, came back next day and they still popped...
I've decapped live primers and reused them on a few occasions, no pops, all went bang when supposed to. I tried WD40 to "kill" some primers; squirted a couple, came back next day and they still popped...
I have never been able to toss them ... they just have the look of something that may come in handy in the future, y'know? Which probably explain the large & eclectic accumulation that populates much of my basement ... and garage ... and closets ... and spare bedrooms ...
I'm a pack rat as well. Every storage nook and cranny in the house is stuffed with something. Who knows, I might need it someday and usually, I do find a need sometime down the road.
But, I do not feel so attached to empty primer trays and they get tossed.
But, it sounds like a good idea to squirrel away one or two in case of "emergencies" such as tcoz's. I got room for that.
thump_rrr
Member
I store them in brass.
I then add some powder to the brass but since it may spill I put a bullet on top.
I then add some powder to the brass but since it may spill I put a bullet on top.
gojones
Member
I have only had a few occasions where I loaded regular instead of magnum primers in cases. I just fired them and then deprimed, clean cases and start over. I have never even thought about storing loose primers. Too much risk for me.
Toprudder
Member
That is, in fact, the proper way to ship lead styphnate (the primer compound).
I was searching the web once for info about primers and stumbled across a government document regarding the proper way to handle/store/ship bulk lead styphnate. Fully soak it with water, keep it under water during shipment, then dry it out at the destination before using it.
Nature Boy
Member
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- Apr 21, 2015
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- 8,254
Thanks guys. One more thing for me to worry about blowing myself up over.
I've been keeping the extra 10-15 primers that sometimes don't get loaded in those tiny zip lock bags. Next sleeve I open I'll make sure to save the dunnage
I've been keeping the extra 10-15 primers that sometimes don't get loaded in those tiny zip lock bags. Next sleeve I open I'll make sure to save the dunnage
Dudedog
Contributing Member
You want to keep the separated. If you don't have an old primer box maybe stick them on a piece of tape, stick the tape on some wax paper.
Jars are a bad idea IMO. Crating a Grenade
Otherwise load them in cases and pop them.
Jars are a bad idea IMO. Crating a Grenade
Otherwise load them in cases and pop them.
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I just can't get over people comparing primers to grenades and bombs. Do you know what it takes to set off a primer? Haven't you ever crushed one while reloading? Just touching a primer or dropping it on the floor isn't going to set it off as it takes a sharp blow from the back. Sure primers and all flammable and explosive material should be respected but come on a grenade?
At one time I ended up with close to 1000 loose primers and no primer boxes so I put about 300 primers each in a small plastic zip lock bag then put the bag in a blue Midway plastic bullet box. The plastic box was kept where it wouldn't get knocked around in the reloading area. I started to keep primer trays and eventually loaded or moved these 1000 primers to trays but I probably had them in plastic bags for a couple years. I now have a stash of empty trays I keep on hand in case I need some, not so much for safety but it makes storing them easier then when in a bag.
At one time I ended up with close to 1000 loose primers and no primer boxes so I put about 300 primers each in a small plastic zip lock bag then put the bag in a blue Midway plastic bullet box. The plastic box was kept where it wouldn't get knocked around in the reloading area. I started to keep primer trays and eventually loaded or moved these 1000 primers to trays but I probably had them in plastic bags for a couple years. I now have a stash of empty trays I keep on hand in case I need some, not so much for safety but it makes storing them easier then when in a bag.
It is not that one primer is a problem or easy to set off. If the primers are improperly stored, like in a can or jar, if one primer goes off, it will cause a chain reaction which now becomes a bomb.
Primer packaging is designed to prevent the chain reaction should one primer detonate.
There is enough history behind this that the manufacturers have special packaging, there are lots or warnings in reloading material about primer use and storage, and there are lots of stuff on the internet on primer chain reaction detonations.
Reloading manufacturers design their priming equipment to minimize the chain reaction problem or have safety shields to contain the blast.
It is easy to minimize the risk, it just is not worth taking it.
Primer packaging is designed to prevent the chain reaction should one primer detonate.
There is enough history behind this that the manufacturers have special packaging, there are lots or warnings in reloading material about primer use and storage, and there are lots of stuff on the internet on primer chain reaction detonations.
Reloading manufacturers design their priming equipment to minimize the chain reaction problem or have safety shields to contain the blast.
It is easy to minimize the risk, it just is not worth taking it.
Wis-Harpo
Member
Primer Storage
I store my questionable primers in a jar OF OIL.
I store my questionable primers in a jar OF OIL.
Bama Drifter
Member
brass, original pack or WD-40...
Oil bucket or factory packaging is the way to go... as has already been beaten to death. Any time I've pulled a few rounds, I immediately set the primers into my Lee hand primer tray to put into some prepped brass. I see no point in tearing down ammo if you don't have the time or readily prepped brass to reload.
Oil bucket or factory packaging is the way to go... as has already been beaten to death. Any time I've pulled a few rounds, I immediately set the primers into my Lee hand primer tray to put into some prepped brass. I see no point in tearing down ammo if you don't have the time or readily prepped brass to reload.
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