I picked up some of the Winchester Train & Defend Training ammo on clearance at Walmart and now I'm wondering if I made a bad decision. I didn't notice until I got home that it used lead free primers. Now I'm second guessing myself. I've read that lead free primers have a limited lifespan, but the opinions I'm seeing of how long they will last seem to vary. Do any of you all have personal experience with it? I bought enough in calibers that I don't shoot all of that often that it should last me quite a few years. I'm going to try to shoot it first when I take those guns to the range, to shoot this up, but I'm wondering how long I have? I also don't know how long it's been on the shelf at Walmart.
Lead Free Primer Life
- Thread starter slowr1der
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Jim Watson
Member
I think the difference is measured in more years vs fewer years. A few months on a store shelf isn't going to matter.
The Federal Catalyst primer was developed on a government contract which surely specifies a long minimum shelf life.
The Federal Catalyst primer was developed on a government contract which surely specifies a long minimum shelf life.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I wouldn’t worry about it if you store your ammo in a fairly controlled environment. In other words, no temperature extremes.
1KPerDay
Member
Shoot some and see. My understanding is unloaded primers might have less shelf life depending on storage. Loaded ammo should be fine for a long time.
Speedo66
Member
You never know. Everyone wants to gouge the Feds, shorter shelf life means more ammo purchases.
LiveLife
Member
Primers are made to perform reliably and resist exposure to moisture, vibration, temperature extremes of handling/storage over long periods of time, even in extreme conditions of combat.
My lead free/non-toxic (NT) primers that are decades old still perform reliably.
Different brand primers disassembled showing different colored barriers/sealant and anvil (Color you see under the anvil is actually the color of barrier/sealant used and not the color of priming compound) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/primer-quality.827782/#post-10668354
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