Do old primers go bad? I mean old

[smokinjim]

I have some old small pistol primers Winchester no. 108
The only thing that may give age is the primer trays, they are made of wood. I'm gessing 1960s.

I made some reloads with old powder and these primers they shot but with low valosity. I chonograph the loads.

Now I need to try them with new powder to see if it was the primers or powder. Yes the powder was very old but looked and smelled good.

 

[Funshooter45]

Primers are pretty rugged. If they were stored in halfway decent conditions, even 50 years isn't that big a deal. Powders are a bit more sensitive to conditions when stored, but they can last a long time as well.

 

[gamestalker]

I've used powders stored in a storage facility that wasn't climate controlled for over 15 years with temps from sub zero to above a hundred with excessive humidity and they were just fine. I wouldn't use them if they had been exposed to moisture, or enough condensation that the boxes show evidense of moisture being present.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As a side note, since the trays are made of wood proving they are old they just might have collectors value. Before you shoot them off you might want to check if they are worth anything. If you're lucky you can sell them off and buy 2X as many new primers. You will be happy because you have new primers and the collector will be happy because he got some old primers. BTW, don't destroy the box or anything else that is part of the packaging.

A picture of those wooden trays would be nice...

 

[EMC45]

A man was killed 3 years ago trying to dismantle a Civil War shell in his driveway in Va. It blew up. If powder and ignition devices (primers) are kept in ideal conditions they will be fine. They will still have the desired effect. I have some very old powder, it works just fine.

 

[243winxb]

Smokinjim, Waiting to hear what caused the low velocity?? A friend gave me these during the primer shortage. All reloads fired ok. Wood dividers in cardboard.

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[TheCracker]

An guy that lives a few houses down that doesn't reload anymore gave me some old cci primers last summer. I called cci and gave them the lot numbers and to ask if they would be ok to shoot. There were a couple hundred small pistol primers. About 500 large pistol primers, 1100 small rifle primers and about 300 large rifle primers. All were manufactured between 1971-1975.

I've shot all them besides about half of the small rifle primers and have had no problems. ZERO dud primers. I also could not tell any accuracy differences.

Now for the kicker. For the last 10-12 years of their life they were stored in a cardboard box in a shed outside in the high humidity of the pinewoods of east Texas. I was expecting some duds but try all functioned perfectly.

 

[floydster]

I am using primers I bought back in the 60's and 70's. No problemo.

 

[smokinjim]

Caused low velosity

243winbx

Not sure what caused low velosity yet. I loaded to different rounds 38 special and 357.The 38 special load was 125 gr fp plated bullet with 4.6 grs of bullseye, coal 1.461, old winchester primers 108, 5 rounds shot through my S&W 642 1 7/8" barrel with avg. 758 feet per second. My 1992 Hercules reloaders guid said 1000 feet per second with only 4.4 gr of bbullseye. Oh but with 5.6" barrel. OK might be ok. Shot 5 rounds of same through my S&W 586 4" barrel with following results
1st. 786.0
2nd. 927.3
3rd. 915.3
4th. 859.5
5th. 1,006
Pic of old powder and primers below. Used auto powder drop and check pretty consitant.

Next 357 mag loads.
Used 125 gr plated bullets Hercules 2400 powder. Needed to keep FPS 1,200 or less for bullets. Powder 12.4 to 12.6 gr per load. My Lyman 47th book said 13.0 grs of 2400 tested was 1,159 Velosity, coal 1.580. Now as you know I did not us Mag small pistol primer used small pistol primer winchester 108. Forgot to read crony on first two shots was injoying the triger pull of my 586. Third shot errer reset crony and
4th 726.9
5th 665.5 Sounded like quick double bang
6th 844.0

I'm thinking the powder may be the problem. In the picture below I used the oldest 2400 powder on left, center is not quite as old and on the right 2400 is newest. Also in picture is the Bullseye I used it has a sticker on it $2.30.
The powder cans may be worth more than the powder. LOL

 

[Woody3]

I don't see any pictures. Can you re attach them?

 

[smokinjim]

I don't see any pictures. Can you re attach them?

Yes

 

[243winxb]

I started reloading in the late 1960's. Don't remember any wood trays. The powder can on the low left is one i have not seen.

 

[Woody3]

My uncle just gave me his old press and a can of powder that looks exactly like the powder on the far right. Looks and smells right. Haven't tried it yet but I'm guessing it will be ok. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[sonier]

theres a lot of FPS deviation there, id expect a few loads to chrono close together and low FPS loads when a primer would fail. That to me appears to be the powder, maybe the powder is not burning correctly anymore, this would cause all the FPS deviations. the primers appear to be in good shape, but i think that powder might be acting a little finicky.

 

[suzukisam]

I have several of the same square cans of bulseye and 2400. I tested them and they shot just as well as my new 2400 and bullseye. probably depends on how it was stored.

 

[brickeyee]

A man was killed 3 years ago trying to dismantle a Civil War shell in his driveway in Va.

It was a black powder shell he was trying to deactivate.

Black powder is nasty stuff, and can become less stable with multiple moisture and heat and dry cycles.

Simply using a tool (even wood) to try and dig out the now hardened mass of powder by breaking it up can set it off.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I still think you should try to sell them to a collector like I said above.

 

[schwammy]

I got hold of some the middle and right side cans of 2400. I've been using them in .44 Mag loads and they have been fine.