762shooter said:
Is there a shelf live with primer? I try to keep just a 1000 or so of each size on hand so they don't get too old. Does that make sense?
The primers on the bottom right (yellow/green label) is a box of 2500 RWS German primers. I bought up the leftovers from an old departed shooter. I think the primers were from the 60's or real early 70's. The work just fine.
Found the following.
The New Solution
Maybe we should explain why all of this is happening in the first place. Lead is one of the major ingredients in conventional primers. The chemical is called lead styphnate. It's the stuff that makes primers go pop in the first place, so it's really important. For years chemists have been looking for something to replace lead. One reasonably successful compound that can do this is diazo-dinitro-phenol. Commonly known as DDNP or "dinol."
There have been two problems with dinol. It is not nearly as stable as lead and is especially susceptible to moisture in the air. But over the years that problem has been considerably improved to the point now that dinol-based primers have a useful shelf life. The other issue is the fact initial pressure from a dinol primer is much higher than standard primers. It's not something we see, but when any primer detonates it actually pushes back out of the pocket a little and then is re-seated when the pressure builds and the case is pushed back against the breechface. Some pistols have experienced breechface damage from the lead-free primers so the industry had to address the problem.
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New for 2004!
PMC proudly announces the introduction of the first commercially available,heavy metal free, truly non-toxic primers for handloaders
For the first time, handloaders have the option of using primers that are not only lead free, they are completely devoid of the other heavy metals that are found in a number of the other primers currently available in the lead free market, such as Boron, Barium, Bismuth or Stronium! These primers are truly non-toxic!
And there is more good news! This patented product is also unique in that performance closely approximates all the features of the best standard non-corrosive primers. Thoroughly tested by the respected firm of H.P. White Laboratories, they are shown to have exceptional sensitivity and uniformity. No special handling is required, because they are non-hygroscopic and will withstand all adverse temperatures and humidity problems that have plagued other non-toxic primers. In fact, the not-to-exceed temperature range for PMC Green primers is -120 degreesF, to +175 degrees F.
Other advantages include:
They meet or exceed SAAMI specifications for lead-based primers!
Accelerated enviromental testing has indicated a shelf life of at least 25 years, surpassing all other current non-toxic primers by a decade.
Spectrographic analysis of the exhaust from these primers shows the only residual from firing is a amall trace of potash, which is completely harmless and commonly used as a fertilizer
PMC Green primers contain none of the aluminum, iron, boric acid, or glass that is found in some lead free formulas. No barrel damage, scorching, or erosion will occur from their use.
They work with a standard flash hole and do not need to be crimped into the case
They are available in small and large pistol and rifle, both standard and magnum sizes, as well as shotshells, and plans for .50 caliber BMG are now underway.
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This patent description is informative.
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5773748.html
Cartridge primers, are the initial explosive train component in ammunition consisting of a cartridge case, propellant, and projectile. Cartridge primers generally consist of a thin metal cup, a metal anvil, and an explosive protected by foil and sealed with lacquer. The explosive or primary initiator is a shock-sensitive material such as fulminate of mercury, potassium chlorate, or lead styphnate. Lead styphnate has been used as the primary initiator in primers for the past fifty years. These cartridge primers have a virtually unlimited shelf-life. It is not surprising that the performance and reliability of ammunition that has been stored properly for more than fifty years is indistinguishable from new ammunition. Hence, ammunition manufactured with primers using modern chemical initiators can be expected to remain functional indefinitely. This quality is essential to the stockpiling of ammunition required by the military. However, this quality also creates a potentially dangerous situation because it allows anyone to stockpile large quantities of ammunition without any anticipated legitimate use. Subversive individuals and groups are therefore able to "out-gun" law enforcement personnel attempting to execute lawful search and arrest warrants because of the nearly endless amount of ammunition that can be expended from a fortified position in an armed conflict.
damn war
