Best way to handle old primers

[Balrog]

I have some old primers (about 10 yrs old) that have been sitting on a shelf in a storage cabinet in an air conditioned building. Now they are probably fine, I know, to use, but I am about to load a big batch of ammo for long term use, and was thinking I might just buy some fresh primers to do it with.

What is the best way to deactivate the old primers so they do not cause a problem? I dont want to just throw them in the trash and somebody get hurt.

 

[Schwing]

I would not even consider throwing them out. I have seen primers that are 40 plus years old go bang every time.

Load a few up from a few different boxes and, if they all fire, I would assume they are good and use them.

 

[WestKentucky]

Don't pitch them, I'm using some primers I got from another reloader when I bought his bench 7 years ago. I don't know how old they are, but each tray of 100 has a 39 cent price tag on it. Only thing I have run into with them is the occasional hard primer, but that's more of a build issue than a time issue. They always go bang on the second strike.

 

[444]

All the primers I use are more than 10 years old.

Years ago, one if the buying panics was primers. I joined in and bought a LOT of primers. I am still shooting them all the time.

 

[Handloader109]

Please two ways, load em up and shoot them, prime empty case and just have fun popping primers(revolver or single shot) or I guess a third way is to pass them on to someone who needs primers. You only deactivate by firing them.... Water, oil, nothing really DE activates

 

[JohnnyFlake]

There should be no problem in using them. I have used primers that were 25 years old and I know of other people that have as well, with no problems of any kind.

However, if you wish to render them inert, fill a coffee can or small bucket, about half way with cutting oil and pour them in. In about 30 days they will be completely useless! I have also heard of some people using 20% solutions Muratic Acid.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I have some 40 year old primers that still do what they were made to do, just use them.

 

[bluetopper]

If you're not going to use them, give them away to a reloader.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I'm still using primers I bought in 1979, and have yet to have one not fire. Your 10 year young primers are fine and should be used as intended.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[hdwhit]

As to the question of disposal, check with local authorities. The active ingredient in most primers is lead styphnate and many states and some localities have strict rules about disposal of anything containing even small quantities of lead.

 

[goldpelican]

As to the question of disposal, check with local authorities. The active ingredient in most primers is lead styphnate and many states and some localities have strict rules about disposal of anything containing even small quantities of lead.

So on that note... a followup question - what does everyone do with the thousands of USED primers that accumulate? Mine just sit in a container looking all contaminated waiting for the day I find a suitable way to dispose of them. Do metal recyclers take them? I'm sure everyone's got a bucket of scrap brass, 22LR, steel cases and used primers kicking around.

 

[bluetopper]

Maybe what Clinton said, don't ask, don't tell.

 

[snuffy]

So on that note... a followup question - what does everyone do with the thousands of USED primers that accumulate? Mine just sit in a container looking all contaminated waiting for the day I find a suitable way to dispose of them. Do metal recyclers take them? I'm sure everyone's got a bucket of scrap brass, 22LR, steel cases and used primers kicking around.

They are all brass. I toss the primer catcher cup into the bucket with my scrap brass, it goes to the recycler once a year. Last time it netted me 30 bucks, which got spent the same day on a pound of powder and 500 new primers.

I have some primers that are over fifty years old, that still work. Ever hear of win. primers designated 120M? Those are match large rifle that I got back in 1975 after shooting a DCM, (Department of Civilian Marksmanship), match at my gun club. They were made available to the shooters as well as match FMJ bullets. They will still shoot!

 

[ReloaderFred]

I save all my expended primers and take them to the recycler when I sell off my scrap brass. He says "brass is brass".

Don't bring attention to yourself by going to the "local authorities". They probably have no experience with primers or powder and will take the most extreme attitude towards them both. In some locals, you could end up on the 6:00 o'clock news, depending on what part of the country you're in.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Walkalong]

Like snuffy & Fred, I scrap used primers as well. I save the used primers in a metal container near the bench, and sell them with the scrapped brass cases when I have enough to fool with.

As to the age of yours, 10 years for a primer is young.

 

[Reloadron]

Ten tears old? I just finished loading some .308 Winchester, about 150 rounds. I primed them with CCI-BR-2 Large Rifle I would venture I have had maybe 24 years. I use properly stored primers that exceed 20 years old all the time and never have problems.

Ron

 

[Weber]

I have a bag full of these old primers.

 

[col.lemat]

Send them COD to me I collect old primers.

 

[JimKirk]

I have been shooting Remington 5 1/2 primers in the red box like in Weber has in his photo ... they are somewhere around 1966/68 models .... I shot some with the same load verses some loaded with CCI 550 of 2015 date .... the velocities were within the normal variance that you see between loads using the same primers ... this was in a 357 SIG Cartridge....

So I say shoot'em !!

 

[GBExpat]

Last winter I used(up) some primers that my Dad bought when LBJ was in the Whitehouse. They all worked as they should.

Relative to such things, 10 years is nothing.

 

[Reefinmike]

So on that note... a followup question - what does everyone do with the thousands of USED primers that accumulate? Mine just sit in a container looking all contaminated waiting for the day I find a suitable way to dispose of them. Do metal recyclers take them? I'm sure everyone's got a bucket of scrap brass, 22LR, steel cases and used primers kicking around.

I pour all of mine into a gallon jar so that one day if I really need to know how many rounds I've reloaded, I can start counting So far, I have that jar about 3/4 full. Probably would have been easier to keep track by cutting off and saving the end flap of each 1,000ct box of primers I use.

 

[alsaqr]

What is the best way to deactivate the old primers so they do not cause a problem?

Ten year old primers are not "old". Few days ago i reloaded some Berdan cases using primers made 60 years ago. They all go bang.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The best way to "deactivate" old primers is to load them and shoot them. You can buy new primers if you want but there is no reason to throw away perfectly good primers. Send them to me and I will give them a proper send off. Really...

 

[Robert101]

The general consensus is shoot the buggers. I know I do. I've yet to throw a primer away due to age and probably will not ever.