Proper storage of primers, how serious is it?

[gamestalker]

I have a pretty fair amount of SPM, SP, LR, LRM, and a few boxes of shot shell primers. In all, I probably have in the neighborhood of 15k-16K of them. I store them in small 100% water proof sealed metal military signal flare boxes, with oxygen inhibitors. My primary concern is, other than static electricity, or by accidentally dropping a container, is there some other factor I'm unaware of that could cause spontaneous detonation to occur. Over the years I have heard that primer dust can detonate very easily if it is concentrated enough, which I would think 3k-5k in one small box could produce a pretty good concentration.

They are in my reloading pantry, which is never exposed to extreme high or low temperatures. I would say that 75-80 degrees is about the average constant temperature in that pantry. I have to be honest, in that, I do get a little bit spooked each time I set one on my bench and open it up. Enough so, that I make sure I am not carrying a static charge by touching several conductive items on my bench prior to opening a container.

I would sincerely appreciate any thoughts on this topic. I would really like to store them in something that is absolutely 100% sealed from all humidity, but something that would be better suited regarding pressure relief, if a mass detonation did ever occur. A recent post about a primer detonation resulting from a possible static charge has me a little bit unnerved, and now I am beginning to question my method of storage.

GS

 

[kyhunter]

Your storage sounds great to me. Youve already went above and beyond in my opinion. Mine are in a plastic box in a drawer in a dry 73 degree room and thats plenty for me. Ive never put too much worry in a spontaneous detonation. They are not exactly uranium. Play it safe like it sounds you already are and you are in good shape

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Your biggest concern about ignition is if your house catches fire. At that point it's not going to matter much.

 

[Fire_Moose]

I wouldn't keep them in an airtight box like that. You drop that thing and you got a grenade....


Are you in a very humid Environ?

Sent from my CZ85 Combat

 

[fiftybmg]

Your method is great for keeping the primers fresh indefinitely.

I wouldn't even worry about thousands of primers getting caught up in a fire, because in the greater scheme of things the added burn is not anything like that a house fire can produce.

Worry more about your powder storage. 5 pounds of powder in one place needs to be the max. Larger batches are hazardous to the fire-fighters.

 

[rcmodel]

You drop that thing and you got a grenade....

No you don't.

How do you think they got from the manufactures plant, to the distributors warehouse, to the place you ordered them from, to your home??

Thats right!
Semi-trailer Trunk Monkeys throwing them on and off trucks & loading docks like they were boxes full of Nerf balls.

As long as they are in original factory packaging treys, dropping them will have no effect on them.

If they were ever going to grenade, they would have, long before you ever got them home to store them.

rc

 

[BigV]

I have close to 30K primers of all sizes and manufacturers. Some are from the early 70's. I do nothing special to store them. They sit on a shelf in 1K factory boxes on top of my reloading bench. I have recently reloaded 1K .223 using 40 year old Remington match small rifle primers. A recent range trip to practice with a couple of my AR's I used over 500 rounds all loaded with 40 year old primers. Every one of them fired with no problems.

 

[ReloaderFred]

You're over thinking this. The factory packaging is all that's necessary for proper storage, as long as they're not exposed to moisture and temperature extremes.

SAAMI did a fire training video that explains what happens when ammunition, etc. is exposed to flame, impact, etc. Here's the link:


http://youtu.be/3SlOXowwC4c

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[mljdeckard]

I live in a very dry climate, so I have never worried much about primer storage. I've also never kept any long enough to worry about long-term storage. But I don't see why an ammo can wouldn't work just fine.

 

[jim243]

Let's see what would be good advice to give?

1. Don't crush them into your cases with excessive force.
2. Don't try to seat them into the primer pocket sideways.
3. Don't store them next to your powder.
4. Don't reload during a thunder storm.
5. Don't hit them with a hammer on the side walk to see if they are still good.
6. If your house gets hit by a bolt of lightning, run like hell (LOL)

Otherwise you should be good to go.

Jim

 

[lightman]

Your closet/pantry with a steady temp sounds great. I also agree with the others that have said the factory package is fine. They are tougher than you think, although they do deserve respect. I understand your concern, but I think you are being plenty safe. I think I read the post about the guy touching the primer and having it detonate. Lets just say I'm skeptical! Lots of us suspect that theres more to the story. No disrespect meant! Lightman

PS, Still laughing about the truck monkey!

 

[vtail]

Let's see what would be good advice to give?

1. Don't crush them into your cases with excessive force.
2. Don't try to seat them into the primer pocket sideways.
3. Don't store them next to your powder.
4. Don't reload during a thunder storm.
5. Don't hit them with a hammer on the side walk to see if they are still good.
6. If your house gets hit by a bolt of lightning, run like hell (LOL)

Otherwise you should be good to go.

Jim

You forgot one:


Don't try to crunch them between your teeth to see if they are still good.

 

[m2oore]

That youtube video was messed up!! All the ammo being destroyed....*sniffles*

 

[Bovice]

You forgot one:


Don't try to crunch them between your teeth to see if they are still good.

I wonder if the dentist can fix that chip...

 

[Slamfire]

I store them in small 100% water proof sealed metal military signal flare boxes, with oxygen inhibitors.

I would not store them in metal boxes. I would not store powder in metal boxes either. You want something that will pop easily, dissipating as much energy away from what is inside the container. People who store gunpowder and primers in old refrigerators, gun safes, are creating something that will build up a lot of pressure before rupturing. This will create one heck of a big bada boom if it goes off.

It is my opinion that the absolute best storage media is the original containers. The stuff is shipped inside card board boxes and that is what it should be stored in.

From what I have found on DTIC, primer compound is made as a wet slurry , put in the cup wet, and becomes dangerous once it dries out. I expect if you live in a dry area the primer compound is not going to get any drier than when you bought it. Primers are also coated with a shellac or something similar to prevent contact with the air. I have heard about “primer dust”, never seen it, worry about it, have no idea whether I am worrying about something real or not, but I think it is best to be prudent and take that as a could be.

Primer cake is a mix of components and I have not found a nice and easy reference describing the lifetime, chemistry, or characteristics of each element in the mix. To date, I am far too lazy to try to create this on my own.

There are lots of primers out there used for grenades, explosive bolts, explosive parachute cutters:

CUTTER, DELAY, PROPELLANT ACTUATED, M21 (2 SEC) AND M22 (10 SEC)

3.4 Primary components. For the purpose of this specification, the ignition material (MIL-P-22264), the primer, the delay mix, and the output charge are defined as primary components. Only primary components from a single lot shall be used in a production lot of cutters. One primary component production lot may be used in more than one cutter production lot.

3.4.1 Percussion Primers. Only percussion primers from a lot manufactured within the last 24 months or recertified within the last 12 months shall be used in the cutter.

3.5 Inspections.

3.5.1 Primer x-ray. All primers shall be x-rayed and screened prior to assembly into the primer retainer
(see 4.4.4).
3.5.2 Primer sensitivity. The primer shall fire when drop tested at an energy level of 26-inch-ounces in a primer retainer assembly (see 4.4.5).

Obviously they are very concerned about these cable cutters working if they conduct that much inspection and recertify every 12 months.

Heat is the absolute worst storage median. I know it ruins gunpowder and I have found references to limited shelf life with small arms primers. There are high temperature primer compounds, I forget the demarking line. I would think any continuous storage of primers above 120 F is a bad thing, I think over 100 F is a bad thing it would just take longer to dud primers.

 

[Fishslayer]

Let's see what would be good advice to give?

1. Don't crush them into your cases with excessive force.
2. Don't try to seat them into the primer pocket sideways.
3. Don't store them next to your powder.
4. Don't reload during a thunder storm.
5. Don't hit them with a hammer on the side walk to see if they are still good.
6. If your house gets hit by a bolt of lightning, run like hell (LOL)

Otherwise you should be good to go.

Jim

7. Never store them in glass jars.

I've never checked but I wonder if the black plastic is conductive, ie, anti static.

 

[PJSprog]

Yep...mine, too, are just in the factory boxes sitting up on a shelf above the bench ... separate from the powder, which is also just in the factory containers.

 

[fecmech]

My main concern would be fire and I would not store them in a metal container. Humidity is not going to bother them, they're made wet. I would store them in a wooden box same as for powder ( not in the same box) and in the bsaement as heat rises in a fire. You want to buy time in a fire, that's the reason for the wood box and basement location. Wood takes time to burn through while metal transfers heat immediately. The video shows ammo in a fire, not primers. A friend had a commercial reloading business some years back that caught fire and had a couple hundred thousand primers stacked in original packages on the floor. They exploded in the fire and left a small crater in the concrete floor. IMO fire is your worry, not humidity or moisture.

 

[rcmodel]

Exactly!

Poor storage in humidity does not harm primers.

They were wet when they were made, and can be wet again.

As long as they are dry when you load them.

rc

 

[Motownfire]

You're good to go. I keep all of my primers & powders on top of my reloading bench & have for years with no issues.

Make sure your homeowners insurance is paid in full & you're good to go.

 

[Fishslayer]

Exactly!

Poor storage in humidity does not harm primers.

They were wet when they were made, and can be wet again.

As long as they are dry when you load them.

rc

Didn't somebody here do some rather extensive testing? The gist of it was that primers are extremely hard to kill permanently, even with the old standby WD40.

 

[gamestalker]

I guess I'll consider building several wooden boxes for storage. But does anyone have some idea how bad the explosion would be if 15K of primers all went up at the same time? Just curious if we would be in serious danger in a 3000 sq. ft. house, several rooms, and say 60 feet away from the bedroom that serves as my reloading room?

GS

 

[kyhunter]

Id bet youd be perfectly fine. Theyre not 2 pounds of c4 or a keg of dynamite. You're worrying a little too much. I have 5000 sitting in a drawer and ive never worried about them hurting me 1 room away much less 3 or 4

 

[gamestalker]

Funny thing is, I let a questionable incident of a primer detonating when being touched, questionable at best, influence 30 some years of giving little thought to it. Seriously, since reading that post, I have been dealing with some degree of apprehension, a low degree of such, but apprehension none the less.
Great, now it's back to the shrink again for something I shouldn't even be concerned about, having night mares about, or sleeping outside over. Oh well, once I finish loading this large batch of .40 I started on Tuesday, I'll get started moving back into my house and take down all the blast blankets I put up.

GS

 

[Jesse Heywood]

So you're going back to just wearing your tin foil beanie?

From what I recall during my days of youth, the misspent ones, one package of primers thrown on a fire sounded like a string of weak firecrackers set on very high speed.