How Well do Primers Age?

[South Pender]

I'm wondering just how well primers hold up over long periods of storage. This probably has a lot to do with the storage conditions, where humidity or extremes of temperature might factor into this. Is the priming compound pretty much immune to losing its brisance over time if stored in dry conditions at a stable, moderate temperature?

 

[I Dont Care About You]

Yes. They will be fine if stored in cool, dry location.

 

[oldrodder]

I'm presently using some CCI that cost me $11.10/K. I'm guessing early '70's! Also using CIL that are older than that, brown and green box. Stored in a cool, dry room.
YMMV!

 

[big boar]

Give me a week or 3 to do some tests. I’ll get back to you on this with some old primers.

 

[big boar]

Well, looks like Oldrodder beat me to it.

 

[Ruger007]

I think I just used the last of my CCI small pistol primers labeled $.69. late 70's is my guess. Where stored in not perfect locations either. Many moves and in a unheated garage. All went bang.

 

[bearhunter]

Primers made in the fifties will still be just as good as they were in the fifties, which means they won't be as consistent as the primers made today and will vary in consistencey between lots and even from the same box.

Even the worst primers today are jewels when compared to 70+ year old primers.

Just be aware when using old primers, that if you don't know how they've been stored, they may not be dependable.

 

[Eagleye]

I still am using some C.I.L. 8½ and 8½M Primers that went obsolete a long time ago.
They are consistent, reliable, and the cleanest primers I have ever used. Dave

 

[dan belisle]

Im still using stock i bought in the 80's and 90's. No issues to date. - dan

 

[Philthy1]

Should be ok for 100 years or so

 

[m777]

I worked my way through an over sized brick of RWS LP primers from 1963 this year with no problem.
But some CIL ones I have seemed to have leaked some sealant? or something that has them stuck in the tray

Clint

 

[fingers284]

Primers will be usable as long as we have guns to use them in....TBD

 

[Raton57]

Hope they are good for a long time as I have some I got with cans of powder with $2:50 price tags on them.

 

[fiddler]

I have some primers that are likely 60+ years old. They spark off well and so does the powder of the same age.

 

[hatman1793]

A friend & I scored a couple thousand Winchester SPP that were at least 20-25 years old. Cannot attest to the price, but these SPP’s were of the nickel plated kind.
Upon inspection 90% of the primers had corrosion on the surface, some primers had more, some less. The corrosion didn’t appear as typical rust but a kinda yellow-brownish film. They must have been stored in a humid environment. However, they all worked but you could really notice the corrosion.

Powder will not really degrade as long as the container is the new plastic bottle type & new air cannot enter. Older paper containers with tin lids & bottoms will clump & become different to meter. Should you encounter/possess any of this my suggestion is to wait for the Queen Victoria’s birthday celebration. A few bundles of this powder in tissues strategically placed in the Burning SchoolHouse make a fine display.