Pre-Priming Brass?

[woolfam]

I reload 9mm, not so much because it is economical to so, but because I enjoy doing it. I usually prep about 200 - 250 cases at a time (polish, deprime & resize, and bell & deburr the case mouth). I keep the prep'd cases in plastic bags. Can I include priming the cases in my prep routine? Would priming the cases and then storing them in the plastic bags possibly affect the performance of the primers? I usually finish loading the rounds w/in a month or two but I've worried that storing unfinished / primered rounds might degrade the powder in the primer.

Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[P95Carry]

IMO - zero concerns at all.

If primers are stored in good environment anyways - and primed cases in same - no difference! I will assume here average temperatures and fairly low humidity - but primers in boxes or cartridge cases - no difference in longevity.

For me - not an issue.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I doubt it would have much of an ill effect. Just search up how hard it is to "Kill" primers on pourpose.
I loaded some 7.62x45r brass yesterday that had been primed 3 or 4 years previously shot just fine. It's not like the little boxes primers come in are sealed in any way.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

factories sell primed brass and it works - likely they know what they're doing

Factories sell primed brass and it works - likely they know what they're doing. I have Winchester primed brass that I bought that way in plastic bags same as the unprimed brass that I bought that way.

If it doesn't work I have lots of expert company.

 

[theCZ]

I store my primed 9mm cases in a coffee can, and I've had zero primer failures in 6000 rounds that I've loaded in the past few years. Same for rifles but on a smaller scale.

 

[tbeb]

I've always primed cases and set them aside until I did some reloading. I keep some in plastic ammo boxes and others in boxes that factory ammo comes in, in my basement which is a cool, dry place. I've been reloading a long time, and never had any ignition problems.

 

[woolfam]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I had not thought about the fact that primed brass is sold. And I would keep the primed brass in the same environment as I do the primers themselves. And your are right, the primers themselves are not in sealed packages.

And now if you'll excuse me, I've got about 700 pieces of brass to prime.

 

[JDGray]

Even after getting a turret press, I still like sizing and depriming on my single stage. I always keep 300-400 hundred cases primed and read to load. JDGray

 

[Rockstar]

You don't need to debur straightwall handgun cases. If you're loading on a progessive, all you need to do is tumble them, then run them through your press.

 

[armoredman]

All I do with my 9mm cases is tumble, decap/resize, inspect, tumble, and then prime. I try to keep as much preprimed on hand as I can. I use the belling die to hold the powder measure on the press, so I bell, then charge.
Using a single stage, doing the priming ahead of time can be a real time saver.
Thanks for reminding me - I still have 80 to do, then buy more primers....

 

[rick_reno]

You'll be fine priming your cases - don't worry about it.

 

[pcf]

I've done informal testing with primers and solvents. If you soak them for extended periods of time (several days) in solvents or pentrating oil, it can affect their reliability.

If you soak loaded ammunition in solvents, oils, or water, you should be more concerned about the liquids contaminating the powder than affecting the primers.

Even if you manage to "kill" the primers with water, or a light oil or solvent, they will work again after they dry out.

Overall, there's no need to be concerned.

 

[Matt G]

I've pre-primed many times, meaning to get back to the cases within a matter of days or weeks. As life goes, it sometimes turns into YEARS.

Zero problems thus far even with rifle accuracy.

 

[birddog]

I always preprime brass. Makes the final loading on my Lee Turret that much quicker. Never had any problems, even after letting the primed cases sit for months, or a year.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Well I guess you got your answer...Prime-em and store-em in a cool dry dark place...

 

[woolfam]

I've received my answer and more! Thanks again, everyone, for the information. Interesting! The collective experience of the Borg is an abundant resource.

 

[Unisaw]

I pre-prime all of the time. As a matter of fact, I finished some reloads the other night that records indicate were primed in 2002. I guess I'm not shooting enough!

 

[Sam Adams]

I've got LOTS of pre-primed brass. I specifically bought a Lee hand press to be able to deprime/size and then bell handgun cases while sitting in front of the TV, pretending to watch some stupid chick flick with SWMBO. I'll usually prime after she's gone to sleep, while watching Mail Call or something else worthwhile.

You know those barrels of pretzels that you can get at Sam's (2 1/2 pounds or so of pretzels)? They are great for case storage - I've got over 2,000 9 mm cases (primed and ready to be charged and loaded) in one and roughly 1,500 of .45 (with some more room left) in another.

 

[trickyasafox]

i pre prime all my rifle brass and have never encountered an accuracy or function problem