How do you store loaded Primer Tubes?

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amlevin

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I load 10 Primer Tubes for my Dillon XL-650 before starting a loading session. I was wondering what others did with these tubes filled with primers waiting to be used.

Just laid out on bench?

On end in an empty Coffee Container?

On any kind of special rack that you might have built?

Other???

I have an empty plastic "jar" that used to hold some snack mix that I just put mine in for now. When loaded the end with the retainer clip is down and when empty I put it in the jar with the clip up, to let me know there are no primers in it.

I'm interested if anyone has a special method or something they have designed for the purpose. Pictures if possible.
 
The progressive press mounted priming systems and I do not get along so I don't use them on my L-N-L and SDB.

But if I did, I would make a block to hold the priming tubes in an upright position.
 
Take a small block of 2 x 4, turn it on edge and drill holes 2 3/4" deep for as many tubes as you want. Only thing to watch is a 2 x 4 can tip over. You can do the same with a 4 x 4 or a scrap of landscape timber.
 
Laying them on the bench has worked so far. Can't roll with the retaining pins in place.
 
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Primers deteriate faster out of their closed boxes.

I don't see how, considering the boxes aren't sealed....On topic, I'm with Eddie and jsut lay them on the bench.
 
I lay mine out on the counter. I do not want them falling over, rolling over, hitting the floor.

They do not stay in the tube for long. Like till the next day when I get back on the press. I would not store primers in these things for weeks or months.

Even though the chances of a primer igniting in the tube is very, very small, the fact that they are outside their packaging just adds to the uncertaintly.

When primers go off in a tube, the Space Station can be in danger!

Federal primers, Hornady LNL, explosion on the press.

FederalPrimersHornadyLNLtubeexplosi.gif
 
mine live in a coffee can on the bench....

Primers Deteriorate... meh... I've loaded primers that were 25years old and stored in a hi and dry place, no excessive humidity changes..10,000 sm pistol I had stuffed them hi on a closet shelf years ago and forgot I had them. go pop every time... I don't use them for hunting or hi performance stuff.. but bunches of wadcutters though... no failures yet...

Chain Fires up a tube... You ever reloaded with the old C&H Autoload? ... the ceiling above the bench looked like somebody patterned a shotgun... It'll wake you up! We used to keep .125Dia Brazing rod on hand to replace the follower. because it always the chain fire always corkscrewed the follower so bad...
 
I don't preload multiple tubes.
A hundred pulls on the handle and I am ready for a little break to pick up primers and check the powder hopper. Just sitting there by the hour cranking out ammo by the case is not for me; my use for a progressive is to turn out enough ammo for the next shoot or two in a minimum of time.
 
If you store them loaded, make sure you have a way to know what's in them (small pistol or small rifle or small pistol mag or .........)
 
I took a 2 inch x 1 inch piece of aluminum bar stock and drilled a series of 10 holes in it, bolted that down to a 1/4 inch x 6 inch piece of aluminum flat stock for stability, and I sit the tubes in that until I'm ready to load them. I usually load 1,000 cases at a time in my RCBS bench mounted Automatic priming tool and later charge and seat in the Dillon. They don't sit around more than an hour or so.
 
When I built the bench and mounted the press(s) I included some shelving at the rear or back side of the bench. These shelves are lined with a tool chest liner sheet-basically a 1/8 inch thick extruded foam sheet with a regular pattern of holes.

I line the shelves under tools, radios, reloading equipment mostly to dampen vibration and limit noise. It also helps some with things sliding about-they don't.

I put loaded primer pick-up tubes horizontally on the lowest shelf where they are handiest to the job. I don't pick-up more primers than I can load at a single sitting-usually 1000. Including logging and clean-up this makes for a comfortable evenings work; call it 2 to 2.5 hours.
 
I cut a piece of 2" aluminum angle to about 12" in length and drilled a bunch of holes in one of the flanges and two small holes in the other. I then bolted the angle to the wall near my bench. I have room for 20 or so tubes full of different primers.
 
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This is what I was talking about with regards to the the bracket I made for my primer tubes.

primer_tubes_02.jpg


primer_tubes_01.jpg
 
Just keep in mind, primers stored in tubes are not nearly as safe as primers stored in the original boxes.

I am not saying not to do it, and 1885's setup is really neat, (I like the way the tubes are separated and not piled together) I am just saying be aware of the potential of a tube full of primers and be safe.

What ever you do, don't put a bunch together in a bundle. The potential there is just too dangerous. :)
 
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