Storage of primed brass

[GIGGIDY]

Is there any issues with storing primed brass in a box on the shelf? I want to prime a bunch of .223 and put them up for loading at a later date but don't know if it is OK to do so.

The reason for this is I lost (threw out I think) the box for the primers and want to get them out of my tray.

Thanks.

 

[ipscgraz]

I have brass that I primed 10 years earlier for various reasons...never had a problem. Primers last almost forever if they stay cool with little temperature variation.

 

[762Russian]

Wouldn't be any more dangerous than storing fully charge rifle ammunition, but it should be treated like it; boxed up and locked as you would primers, powder or live rounds.

 

[GIGGIDY]

Awesome, thanks guys.

I was more concerned that the primers might "dry out" or something. LOL

Just always read that they should be stored in the original box and didn't want to load them up in a month or two and find a bunch of bad primers.

 

[just having some fun]

I put primed brass in a zip lock bag if I don't want to load them right away
the brass stays brighter longer

you can also put a note in it of where the brass came from/ primers/ etc

 

[sunray]

"...OK to do so..." Absolutely. Lots of shooters do just that. A box with a lid is best. Tupperware, for example, but a shoe box is just as good.
Primers don't 'dry out'.
"...should be stored in the original box..." That's the primers themselves so you don't mix large rifle with large pistol, etc.

 

[dinsdale]

I prime 1000 or 2000 cases ahead of time and then run the through my Lee Pro 1000 later.

 

[hugh manuell]

I store my primed brass in ordinary MTM-type boxes and put a little bag of dessicant in each box.

Hugh

 

[smellie]

Good suggestions here, specially as regards storage.

Modern primers WILL degrade slowly IF the seal is broken (for example, as by pressing it into a casing) and THEN the primed casing is stored poorly. I ran into this problem when I located, completely by accident, a box of primed 8x57 which I had primed, put into storage several years before and then forgotten about. Don't like knocking live primers out, so I loaded the cases just to see what would happen. Results included half a dozen hangfires out of 20-odd rounds, one hangfire that was about a second and a half, not even the barest hint of accuracy..... but they did fire.... after 12 years of storage outdoors in an unheated shed. Primers in this case were RWS that I bought back about 1964 and finally shot off in 1977.

Should be no problems if they are stored with some attention to damp. Good suggestion here regarding dessicant gel; think I'll try it next time I lose some cases for a decade or so!
.

 

[257Roberts]

I store my primed brass in ordinary MTM-type boxes and put a little bag of dessicant in each box.

I do the same, If it helps or not I'm not sure it's just what I do.

 

[freddygotarf]

I put primed brass in a zip lock bag if I don't want to load them right away
the brass stays brighter longer

you can also put a note in it of where the brass came from/ primers/ etc

I do the same .Primed brass in ziplock bags.

 

[B]

Wouldn't be any more dangerous than storing fully charge rifle ammunition, but it should be treated like it; boxed up and locked as you would primers, powder or live rounds.

You have bad kids or something? Why would anyone lock up ammo? Or primed brass for that matter.

 

[ajarmst]

You have bad kids or something? Why would anyone lock up ammo? Or primed brass for that matter.

I have good kids and I try to be a good parent. To me, part of that is keeping my ammo (and primed brass) locked up, and teaching my kids that that is part of responsible ownership. I trust my kids (with certain limits), but I don't necessarily trust all of their friends. When I got to be old enough and mature enough (about 12 or 13, IIRC), my father let me have a key to the ammo cans, because he knew that I wouldn't go into it without a proper reason --- but we still kept them locked up.