Storing primed brass

[sam700]

I don't remember where I heard it, but I heard somewhere that it's a bad idea to store you're brass primed for a long period of time without adding powder. In other words you wouldn't want to leave primed brass without a bullet seated sitting around for a few years without adding powder and a bullet.

They claimed something about moisture potentially ruining the primer. Doesn't really make sense to me and I always just dismissed it, but I was wondering if this was based on something.

 

[floydster]

I like to prep my brass and store it in plastic sealed containers, that means sizing and installing primers having them ready to load.
I have doing this for a long time and no problems, altho not for as long as a year, more like 6 months or so.

 

[X-Rap]

The point is more likely the shelf life of primers since I can't think of much differece between in the carton or in the pocket.
I keep mine in ammo cans that limit their exposure to moisture and live in a dry climate so they will probably last years. If I lived in a very humid area I would add some desicant to my ammo cans. Brass that is primed will be harder to store in dry containers because of bulk so that would be my main consideration.
Remember we have no control over the product until we have them in our hand, that said, In the 30 yrs I have reloaded I have not found a bad batch yet. A few individuals yes but nothing I could trace back to a specific brick or lot number.

 

[EAL2506]

Depriming primed brass that has not been loaded and stored for several years.

I read in a new post about storing primed, but not loaded brass for several years for whatever reason.

Is it safe to deprime a primed cartridge with the press depriming die?

 

[jwr747]

primers,as they come from the factory, aren't in air tight boxes.why would being seated in brass be any different.you can buy primed brass,and I'm sure some of that has "sat around" for a while. jwr

 

[jr45]

The point is more likely the shelf life of primers since I can't think of much differece between in the carton or in the pocket.

+1 for the above. I have stored primed 9mm brass for just over a year in a surplus ammo can will no ill effects.

 

[sam700]

I'm guessing what X-rap might be what this concept is based on. I'm thinking that maybe several years in a very damp envirnment might cause an issue and the primed brass might be more difficult to fit into a dry box.

 

[1858rem]

Is it safe to deprime a primed cartridge with the press depriming die

i have not had a problem with it before, but if you should try it yourself then put all powder away off the bench and dont ram it really hard as a few precautions

 

[rcmodel]

primers,as they come from the factory, aren't in air tight boxes.why would being seated in brass be any different.

It is different because until you seat them in a case, they are completely sealed with a foil disk and a drop of lacquer on the compound that also helps hold the anvil in place until seated.

When seated, the anvil is further crushed into the primer cup, which seats it tightly against the primer compound.
But it also breaks the lacquer seal, and may even perforate the foil seal.

As for storing primed cases?
No problem.
Put them in zip-lock bags in a steel GI ammo can and they will keep far longer then you will.

I also often use the wide-mouth screw-lid plastic clear containers available at the kitchen container aisle at Wally-World.

rc

 

[X-Rap]

[/Q Depriming primed brass that has not been loaded and stored for several years.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I read in a new post about storing primed, but not loaded brass for several years for whatever reason.

Is it safe to deprime a primed cartridge with the press depriming die?UOTE]
I have done it quite a bit when pulling bullets and recycling brass that I didn't have the best history on and never had one pop. Keep your glasse or better yet face shield on and as said clear flamables from the work area.
If you want total reasurance soak em all in WD-40 to kill em. You will have to boil the crap out of the brass with some kind of degreaser to get the stuff usable again though.

 

[X-Rap]

rc I did not know that.

 

[lgbloader]

Storing primed brass

I have brass in a few calibers that is primed and ready for powder and pro-jo and have never had any problems with it. I do keep them in ziplock's and label them up and stuff them in an ammo can as well.

LGB

 

[rcmodel]

Somebody mentioned that factory primed brass is stored and shipped all over the place in cardboard box's.
Not much humidity control there!

It is worth noting that water or moisture doesn't really hurt a primer, if it is allowed to dry out before using it.

The primer compound is a wet "putty" when it is placed into the primer cup to keep it safe enough to work with.

After the primer is completed, they are sent to a drying room where excess moisture is removed and the compound becomes dry & hard.

Getting it damp or humid again is not the worst thing that could happen to it.
If it is dry again by the time you use it.

Oil is the worst thing that could happen to it.

rc