Old CCI primers

[Duster340]

Hey Folks,

Hope everyone is well. Figured I'd use the time I have doing the social distancing stuff to clean, organize and work on projects around the house. Finished the garage, shed, workshop, pantry, gun room...so hit the reloading bench to organize and inventory. Came across these old CCI primers I got as part of lot of reloading supplies awhile back and trying to get an idea of their age? Would like to use them if possible anyone using similarly aged primers?

Thanks as always

 

[PO2Hammer]

Neat.
Any date code stamped inside?

 

[Blue68f100]

I started hand loading in the early 70's and those are older that that. I was doing shotguns in the 60's and don't recall that packaging. So my best guess is before 1960.

 

[Rod47]

I remember seeing that packaging in late '60's. Can't be more specific, sorry

 

[Slamfire]

Load them up, they will go bang.

What would be neat is if you shot them over a chronograph with similarly loaded ammunition with later primers. It is my opinion, that the velocities samples would test out as statistically identical.

I do not remember those packages, I would say pre 1970's.

 

[Duster340]

Neat.
Any date code stamped inside?

No obvious date stamp. Found this on the inner pack.

 

[Master Blaster]

Here is some info I found online: https://www.northeastshooters.com/xen/threads/how-old-are-these-cci-primers.357890/

Interetsing that the box says they are recommended for use with wax bullets.. How old is Cowboy Action shooting?
Did exhibition shooters in the 1950's load wax bullets??

https://forum.cartridgecollectors.org/t/speer-primers/30322

Pictures of all the old boxes with dates above

 

[Howland937]

That's awesome! I bet they'll still work fine, but maybe just prime a couple of cases without loads first? My kid thinks he's found treasure anytime a box doesn't have a web address on it.

 

[LiveLife]

Came across these old CCI primers

Would like to use them if possible anyone using similarly aged primers?

Primers are definitely made to last and resist intrusion of moisture with barriers/sealants - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/question-about-primer-life.866613/#post-11462389

My guess is they are still good as my primers from 70s/80s that are still fully functional for me.

But they may be more valuable for those who are collecting "old stuff" and I for one would gladly trade twice the number of current production primer of your choice for those "old" primers.

 

[Shimitup]

Funny, I've been handloading since the early 80's and never had reason to wonder that CCI was an acronym for Cascade Cartridge Inc. Learn new things every day.

 

[Duster340]

Primers are definitely made to last and resist intrusion of moisture with barriers/sealants - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/question-about-primer-life.866613/#post-11462389

My guess is they are still good as my primers from 70s/80s that are still fully functional for me.

But they may be more valuable for those who are collecting "old stuff" and I for one would gladly trade twice the number of current production primer of your choice for those "old" primers.

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

I may just have to take you up on that offer

 

[dcloco]

You might contact CCI. They might want the packaging.

Believe the others are corrects - original, vintage 60's...from the motherland!!! (Idaho!!!)

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Interetsing that the box says they are recommended for use with wax bullets.. How old is Cowboy Action shooting?
Did exhibition shooters in the 1950's load wax bullets??

Absolutely ! I was reading some fun mags from the mid to late 50s, and the country was nuts for 'fast draw'' competitions.

Arguments about who was faster, who was more accurate positively raged in the letters to the editors columns.
Remember, there was really no good way to time the competitions, at least not an economical way.

Various gun club representatives would issues blanket challenges, there were write-ups about this and that competition.

Crazy.

 

[Charlie98]

Interetsing that the box says they are recommended for use with wax bullets.. How old is Cowboy Action shooting?
Did exhibition shooters in the 1950's load wax bullets??

Speaking of CCI... they used to sell plastic cases and rubber bullets... you pushed in a primer and pushed in a rubber bullet that looked like a heel-base bullet, and used it for indoor practice. I see those around now and then at gun shows. That may be a similar concept... I remember reading about shooters using a brass case and standard primer, and 'cookie cutting' bullets into the case from wax sheets (I'm sure there was a depth standard.) The primer was enough to pop the wax 'bullet' out for practice.

 

[JimKirk]

I started loading in 1965 ....those were in use at that time frame...

 

[FROGO207]

I started around 1968 and those were the "good ones" according to my grandfather and uncles that taught me. The different types came in different colored packages. I remember green, red, yellow, and light blue. There may have been others.

 

[Cemetery21]

My box has a price of $7.00, if that helps.

 

[1KPerDay]

Mid to late '60s IMO. I have a couple thousand LRP left in the green and white diamond packaging. I inherited them from my dad, who got them from a friend of his who died of cancer. They go bang. They do seem a bit snug in my primer pockets compared to more recent stuff. Make sure you get them below flush.

 

[Reloadron]

Would I use them? Yes I would. I would load maybe 5 or ten rounds and see or for that matter just prime maybe 5 cases and see if they go bang. My currently oldest are early 90s and I load them without giving it a thought. Granted those are likely 60s but nothing to lose.

Ron

 

[Scooter22]

I started reloading in 1974 and the boxes weren,t like that. I,ve used CCI from day one.

 

[JimKirk]

I don't have a CCI Primer box of the same type as the OP ...
But here are a few variations .....