Old primers

[Bogeyman68]

Had a friend bring by a bunch of old reloading supplies and a couple presses. Nothing I really wanted to mess with but 1000 of these older large rifle primers were along for the ride. Wondering if still good to use. Not sure how they have been treated look ok. Was also some lead and the electric pot to melt it to cast bullets. Not sure I want to get into that either

 

[Starter52]

If those primers have been kept dry then they should work fine.

Primers have a long shelf life.

 

[J-Bar]

You are blessed. The lead and pot will open a new world to you. Save them until you can appreciate them. Test the primers in an empty case. If they “pop” then they should be fine for most purposes (perhaps not Olympic competition but you know...).

We should all have such a friend.

 

[Reloadron]

I am using primers I have had since the early to mid 90s and they all have worked just fine. Something funny is I still have 5,000 primer boxes of CCI BR primers which at the time I was selling for $75 (old shop stock). Today I am seeing them at about $60 per 1,000 go figure huh?

Anyway they work just fine and looking way back at my old load data notes the velocities haven't changed.

Ron

 

[Eddy19]

Old, how old are we talking about? Do not get rid of anything, what you don't care about at the moment, maybe something you wish had kept.

 

[Obturation]

Primers are cheap, if you aren't sure I'd just toss them. I'm funny about primers and powder from parts unknown, squibs can ruin your day, your gun and your face. Probably fine though.

 

[STI]

I have an 1911 magazine my uncle loaded in WW1 with FA18 ball, the last 3 years I have shot 1 one on New Years and shot just fine magazine also fed perfect.

 

[FROGO207]

I have used primers from the overhead in my grandfathers leaky old shop that were about the same age as those you picture. The temps were from minus 25* to around 120*F for years. Every one went boom and many deer were shot using the ammo made with them in realitives 30-30's. I have a hard time beliving that you can hurt primers if stored reasonably. Those are from the mid 50's to early 60's if memory serves me well.

 

[FROGO207]

Here are some old ones I have close by. The red box on top is old remington LRP packages.

 

[Obturation]

How old you think these are?

 

[FROGO207]

Mid to late 40's I believe.
When it wasstill the teal Winchester you could call them with the lot numbers and they would tell you. No longer records for these things after being bought out I was told about two yeats ago.

 

[frankmako]

use them, they should work fine. you can test one in a empty case.

 

[edwardware]

I've used primers made in the '40s through last year; I've never experienced a failure on the primer's part.

Load and shoot.

 

[Muddydogs]

It's almost the end of an era for me, I have 200 red box CCI large pistol mag primers left that I purchased in the 1990's. When there gone I guess I will be fully into the new age with the blue box CCI primers.

 

[whughett]

Being the frugal type I’ve never been able to lay in enough primers for them to become old.

 

[Bogeyman68]

Ok well decided to keep the lead melter and the mold Handel's thought it would be fun to cast some. Will these Handel's work with newer single molds?

 

[Bogeyman68]

Any advice on casting would be greatly appreciated.

 

[J-Bar]

Buy Lyman’s Cast Bullet Handbook.

You can also get good information online:

http://www.lasc.us/fryxell_book_contents.htm

Pay attention to the safety precautions; protective clothing, ventilation, no liquids allowed in the casting vicinity,

 

[Jeff Flannery]

View attachment 891017
Had a friend bring by a bunch of old reloading supplies and a couple presses. Nothing I really wanted to mess with but 1000 of these older large rifle primers were along for the ride. Wondering if still good to use. Not sure how they have been treated look ok. Was also some lead and the electric pot to melt it to cast bullets. Not sure I want to get into that either

I have some of the same primers and no issues at all

 

[whughett]

Ok well decided to keep the lead melter and the mold Handel's thought it would be fun to cast some. Will these Handel's work with newer single molds? View attachment 891091

From the photo those appear to be Lyman’s standard 2 cavity mold handles and as such will fit most iron 2 cavity molds.

 

[Random 8]

I used some ALCAN max fires in the last shortage, same packaging as yours. The "antique" price in a local second hand store was less than the open market price for new primers so I took a chance with ammo designated for casual shooting/practice to preserve my supply of known primers. They worked just fine.

 

[Bogeyman68]

The Handel's also had a couple single molds but they were ball type which I do not use. Was just trying to make sure I ordered the correct components

 

[Slamfire]

I am currently using mid 1990's primers without a problem, and I purchased a bunch of primed 30-06 from the 1950's and shot it all up in the late 1980's early 1990's. All went bang.

Lead styphnate primers are extremely stable. The old chlorate, corrosive primers would dud out, I know that from experience. I think the greatest threats to lead styphnate primers are heat and water. The primer cake absorbs water, in fact, was made wet so it would not go bang in the plant! But, tests on other forums have shown the shellack coating on top of the primer cake is surprisingly durable

This was from Accuratereloading.com

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Those Alcan primers are OLD but were top of the line when they were current.

If they go bang, and I see no reason they would not, they are a score.

 

[FROGO207]

I will always take any old reloading items wether I can use them or not that are offered free. Also will buy stuff for a deal for the same reason. You can always trade or sell the items off at a later date. Often I buy a box of stuff because there are one or two items in there I want that cost less than if purchased new. Anything else is a bonus and I sell it or give it away. Then use any proceeds to stock up on your needs.