Question on Primer Storage

[1972]

I have a question on primer storage. I keep large and small pistol and large and small rifle primers on hand. Even if I only have a few thousand of each on hand it’s still more than I want to store in the house. I have rural acreage and can easily build a storage magazine at the back of the property that is away from all buildings.

I can make this magazine completely “water tight” so there is no danger of any water (rain, snow, ground water, etc) ever being a problem. I can put a really good roof on it and ensure the contents are high and dry.

What I’m worried about is “atmospheric moisture” and, mostly, “temperature”, or perhaps I should say “temperature changes”. I live in the Northern part of the country, so while it never gets all that hot here in the summer, it can get pretty cold. It rarely goes up over 80 in the summer, and this magazine would be in a shaded area anyway, but in the winter it could get down to 20 or 25 below.

Would this be a problem for primers? I know it’s not supposed to effect powder at all, as long as it’s dry and sealed. Would primers be the same? As long as they are dry, would it matter if the temperature ranged from a high of 80 in the summer to possibly minus 25 in the winter?

Anybody got any thoughts on this?

 

[Farlsincharge]

My thoughts are that if they were stored in airtight containers with a small amount of dessicant, then you would have nothing to worry about. I would run electric heat just to keep the chill off anyhow, but that's me.

 

[acrashb]

it’s still more than I want to store in the house. [...]
Anybody got any thoughts on this?

First, storing primers in your house is quite safe. They might go "crack" in a fire, but aren't a hazard to anyone in the vicinity (firemen wear gear adequate to protect them).

As for storage, here is your definitive guidance:
http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/publications/download/SAAMI_ITEM_201-Primers.pdf

The only mention of temperature / humidity:

Modern sporting ammunition primers will not absorb moisture under normal or even severe conditions of atmospheric humidity. There is no advantage to be gained from air-tight containers. [...] They should be kept dry and not exposed to high temperatures (in excess of 150° F). If exposed to wet conditions or high temperatures, they may deteriorate, yielding misfires or poor ignition of the propellant powder.

 

[wcat]

In an empty coffee can that has a good lid, and a Ziploc bag that I have made lots of tiny holes and that bag is filled with blue Silica Gel, when the gel starts to get pink, I replace it (or dry it in the oven).
Never had a bad primers in the 25yrs I reload (touching wood).

 

[shredder0]

In an empty coffee can that has a good lid, and a Ziploc bag that I have made lots of tiny holes and that bag is filled with blue Silica Gel, when the gel starts to get pink, I replace it (or dry it in the oven).
Never had a bad primers in the 25yrs I reload (touching wood).

I hope you did not mean dumping the primers into the coffee can. There are specific warnings against doing this. Always keep the primers in their original packaging so that primer dust cannot collect. So, hopefully you meant putting the packages of primers in the coffee can.

 

[Henry Nierychlo]

Primers are not considered that dangerous according to NRCAN Canada. They are not likely to set each other off if one does happen to go off. Powder is the stuff to worry about. Put them in a cool dry place in a corner of your basement or crawlspace in a cardboard box.
Regards, Henry

 

[Suputin]

Why don't you want to store a few thousand primers in your house? What trouble do you think will come of this?

The only way a large number of primers are going to detonate all at once is if they are exposed to fire. IF that is the case one would think that a few bricks of primers going off is gonna be the least of your worries cause the fire consuming your home is likely going to be more of an issue.

Primers contain a fairly touchy explosive compound. Like any explosive they don't react well to alternating temperature extremes, especially heat. Cool and dry is the best thing for them.

 

[wcat]

I hope you did not mean dumping the primers into the coffee can. There are specific warnings against doing this. Always keep the primers in their original packaging so that primer dust cannot collect. So, hopefully you meant putting the packages of primers in the coffee can.

OF COURSE NOT! hehehe, they're in their original packaging. I use a large coffee can, put in the primer boxes, then put the silica gel bag on top before closing lid.

 

[jethunter]

In an empty coffee can that has a good lid, and a Ziploc bag that I have made lots of tiny holes and that bag is filled with blue Silica Gel, when the gel starts to get pink, I replace it (or dry it in the oven).
Never had a bad primers in the 25yrs I reload (touching wood).

I just keep mine in the original containers stored in wooden cupboard in the basement. Some of them are 30 plus years old. No problems. They aren't explosives and you don't need a bunker magazine to store them.