Pre-Priming Brass

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jwrowland77

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Was just sitting here thinking about seeing places that sell brass already cleaned and primed. Well, knowing that you're supposed to keep the primers in the original package until using, how long can you keep brass primed, until you absolutely need to go ahead and load it?

I had contemplated priming brass, say a few hundred, and keeping them in an air tight container until I got ready to load them up, but haven't because of the warning of keeping them in the original package until ready to use.

How many of y'all prime your brass and let it set for a little but before loading them? Let say, no longer than 6 months for argument sake.
 
I think that the warning to keep primers in the original packaging is to keep them separated from each other for safety not to preserve them.

The packaging is not air tight at all- how would it be different than storing primers in brass cartridges?

I would pre- prime as you wish and not be concerned.

Bob
 
I prime cases just before i load them. i do not pre-prime them.

I do have some factory new pre-primed cases and they are packed in the same manner as un-primed cases. I would prefer they not be primed but it was all I could get in that particular cartridge at the time.

Many folks do pre-prime cases with no issues.
 
Well, think about it. What is the difference whether it's in a plastic tray in a box or seated in a case, or loaded in ammo for 40 years.

Go ahead, won't hurt a thing.
 
i do it all the time. some sit in plastic boxes for years at a time.

suggest you mark the container with the primer type. after a couple of years, i tend to forget!

murf
 
At any given time I have 1k too 2k pieces of various brass primed and ready to powder/bullet. Been doing this a long time--haven't seen any problems yet. Go for it.
G
 
A couple of years ago I came across some factory primed 45. The fellow I got it from claimed he had it for at least ten years. I bought 1000 pieces of it. Works fine. Also a few years ago I sat down and primed about 500 rounds of 9mm. Put it in a zip lock bag and forgot that I had it till just a while back..........works fine.
 
I clean, sort, size, trim, prime and store my brass in labled coffee containers.
I also store sized and lubed bullets the same way.

When I want to try a new bullet, everything is ready to go. I have been at this about thirty years. So far, no problems.
 
I just loaded up 100 .223 rounds tonight that were primed and empty, sitting mouth up, in a loading block for 2.5 years. COVERED with dust.

I ran them down over a 22 cal brush screwed in to a block, to make sure there were no dead flies or Asian beetles in them, then loaded them up. Took 3 random rounds outside and all fired just fine.

So, at least 2.5 years. :)

I've also inherited primers that were over 40 years old once; CCI, bulk packaging was WAY different back then. 10 primers stacked right on top of each other with a thin layer of paperboard between stacks, arranged 10x10 in each TINY box. All of those fired just fine too. I still have some, save them for Memorial day shoots so I don't go through them fast. :)
 
Great news to hear. I think I'm going to start priming my brass after I do all the case prep. It'll just save me a step when I get ready to load.
 
I have about 75 or 100 cases of 7mm-08 primed in a slightly evacuated bag without powder or bullets. Other than a little discoloration on the brass (which would happen without primers) it loads just fine.
 
I have a fair amount of brass sized, prepped, and primed, all ready to load. I have 50 Starline Nickle .44 Mag brass all ready to go that has been primed for 10+ years. I don't really remember how long. It's no different than having 20 or 30 year old ammo, or older.
 
I found a coffee can full of primed .30 Spl brass in the junque cabinet I had primed in 1980 something and forgot about.

I loaded them and shot them last year.

Prime away!

rc
 
I too have several hundred primed and ready cases stored. The admonition to keep primers in their original packaging is to prevent any unwanted detonations. It's never happened to me, 'cause I've never tried it, but a glass jar full of loose primers is said to be a bomb, easily set off with an impact...:what:
 
There is no problem I can see with pre-priming brass.

With that being said, I don't. I might wanna switch primers at the time I load (ie, magnum primers, etc...)

The Dove
 
I purchased primed shotgun hulls a couple years ago. The price was good and the hazmat fee didn't apply.
 
All my brass is pre-primed at some point prior to loading. Some is primed just prior to loading, but others are primed a long time before loading. Primers have a long, long shelf life. I'm loading primers that I obtained in the 1970's, and have never had a misfire.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
I prime all my rifle brass ahead of time and store it in sealed ammo cans. That way when I want to try a new load I just weigh out the powder, seat the bullet and go testing. Been doing this for years......
 
Primers can be usable for 50+ years.
Pre-primed brass will last just as long.

The key is to keep it in a cool dry environment.
 
I preprime my rifle brass because I load on a single stage press. Then, only two steps to a final round.
 
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