Dating Staynless Primers

[BillTell]

Just picked up a bunch of primers in an auction. Included in the lot were some Winchester Staynless Primers. I've looked on the internet, and have only mostly found out info on the Red and Yellow primer boxes. I'm trying to get as close to an exact date as I can on these. I'm guessing somewhere in the later 1950's? Like about 57-59? But any definitive answers on how to date them would be great! Thanx in advance. And, yes, the primer boxes are wooden, not plastic.

 

[Hartkopf]

Are you going to load them and shoot them? Please post results if you do!

 

[FROGO207]

Approximate date will be 1953-1958 for that style box. The first Staynless primers were made in 1923-4. Olin coperation took over making them in 1932 but kept the Winchester name.
FWIW they will all work fine most likely.

 

[BillTell]

I'm probably not going to shoot them any time soon. I may "load" a couple in a piece of brass just to verify they go off. lol I learned my lesson ONCE on buying ammo at auction, (it must've been stored in a damp location and about half were duds) so I was very leary about buying this lot. I picked up the primers for about a buck a box. There was a nice mix of everything from small pistol to large rifle, and every magnum in between. Included were 9 boxes of the Staynless 116's, and the one box of the 120's. I figured I'd dump them in a container, and sell the empty boxes on ebay, and make my money back for the whole shebang. The others were more modern CCI's, Winchester, Rem, etc. Pleasantly surprised, every box looks like it was kept high and dry. So I will definitely get around to shooting some, probably give some to my buddy for what he needs, and sell the vintage boxes. These Staynless primers all look like the day they were made with no corrosion marks, discoloring, or any dampness staining on the paper boxes outside. The 116's were all from the same lot. (stamped on the side of the boxes). I'm happy with the outcome from this auction.
I just wanted to know what the date on these would be. I figured the wording would be the clue, but someone's gotta really know their reloading history.

 

[jeeptim]

Fyi....
Last year loaded the very same era western primers
Saved the cool wood devided boxes.
Loaded 1000 all worked no misfires.
I first loaded a hand full all good so loaded the rest.
Date no clue at least 50 years

 

[792mauser]

Dinner first then a movie?

 

[p404445]

I just bought out an older reloading set-up also.
Some of the primer boxes have been contaminated with some kind of fluid, and you can see some of the primers are coroded.
Do you think those in the same box with no corrosion are safe to use?

 

[Blue68f100]

I figured I'd dump them in a container, and sell the empty boxes on ebay, and make my money back for the whole shebang.

Don't do that. Keep them in there original boxes. They will be worth more to a collect as is.

Dumping them into a container is just asking for trouble. Drop the container and they don't have anything isolating the primers may set off the hole bunch.

 

[murf]

or a glass jar

murf

 

[RainDodger]

I bought some bricks of old Remington primers from an estate sale. They were roughly 50 years old. They work fine. I've just about used all of them.

 

[jeeptim]

I am truly amazed at some of the old primers I have used.
I once took apart 50 or so 303 Brit with cordIte stick powder cases were marked 1934 was getting lots powder non ignition. Replaced the powder reseated the bullet with the same primer ALL worked like new. Some 75 years old.

 

[tmd16556]

I was going through some old primed brass with the same primers in them this afternoon. I finally found my great grandfather’s notes hidden in the boxes from 1957. So I agree with the 1950s for a date.

 

[BillTell]

When I say, "dump them in a container", I didn't mean a jar or something, I meant in an empty modern primer box. It was just a phrase. I've got a few empties that had reloading notes on them. I would sell one or two of the empty boxes to see if it's worth it. I don't know where I could sell the full boxes to make it worthwhile after shipping with a haz-mat fee. A lot easier to just sell the boxes for display.

 

[Needlenose357]

Had the basement flood a few years back and 8 or 9 full bricks of primers were submerged for about a day. I let them dry out and started using them and have yet to have a misfire. I would save them for plinking ammo, but don’t let the age deter you from shooting ‘em up!

 

[Dudedog]

Not going to dump then in a glass jar I see.
(didn't see post 13 when I started)

 

[murf]

i didn't want someone else getting the wrong idea. primers can ignite from static electricity and that is why they are kept separated in the package.

luck,

murf