Old Primers and Powder

[OldLincoln]

About 3 years ago I had a project reloading 3K rounds of 45 acp. I did it in stages rather than portions, completing case prep for all then decided it would be safer to prime them all storing them in my reloading jars. About that time I had my accident and set everything aside till now. My body is in better shape and I'm ready to resume. Before you ask I am NOT going to powder 3K round before closing them up, but will do 100 at a shot.

I have an idea but want to confirm... Should the primers and powder still be okay? Casings with primers are in 2qt size plastic jars with lids stored inside the house my closet. Powder is in my powder box stored in same closet.

[dustnchips]

Is the house air conditioned? If not, what is the normal relative humidity? Just things someone would want to know in order to give you an answer. I assume the powder is in sealed containers so it should not be a problem. I'd just load up a hundred rounds and try them. A small investment before you load them all.

[OldLincoln]

Yes air conditioned and low humidity.

[AIRret]

Old Lincoln, please keep us updated on your results.
When you shoot those first 100 I would suggest you shoot every round with at least 2 seconds in between each. I'm slightly concerned about a squib round……it's good to be careful.

[Bobshouse]

I keep my powder, primers and reloaders out in the garage. The ones im loading now have been sitting in the garage for over 4 years, had zero problems. I do keep my powder capped and my primers stored in their original containers. Your loads will perform perfectly, load them up and shoot them!!

[Bawanna]

You should be just fine. I've seen your powder storage box and know how meticulous you are.

The powder should be good for sure, the primers in a jar in the house should be good to go as well.

You can just light off a few primers with no powder and make sure you get a good blast.

Then as everybody has suggested load a 100 or so and go try them. I have little doubt they'll work fine. I can feel it in my cells.

Tell me about this accident. Do I know about that? Forgive me if I've forgotten, my memory sometimes is disgraceful.

I think of you often down there, I stumble across the Old Lincoln custom grip for bad thumb prototype from time to time.

[OldLincoln]

My thoughts are reconfirmed. I'll load it and see what happens.

I remember that thumb grip and love what you made as the final product. Pics are in the emporium for the curious.

THE accident was as usual a stupid act on my part. About 40 years ago I bought an inexpensive aluminum ladder and over the years wore it out. I hammered the rivets tight a number of times but the frame would twist. I used that "feature" many times to walk the ladder along a wall when working high. As I slowed down using it, after each use I'd tell my self to replace it before I got hurt. Never got around to it as I only used it a time or two a year by then. The LAST time I used it I was half way up storing a big Christmas decoration box above my head and turned with it to put it on another shelf. The ladder shifted a bit and collapsed trapping my feet and I did a header onto the garage floor. Ended up with a concussion that made my walk unsteady and took to using a cane. Also screwed up my memory pretty good. I'm better now and walk and memory are almost back. Best part is I feeling like getting out a bit.

Funny all those years I intended to replace that stupid ladder and it cost me bad. I destroyed the old ladder and had my son take me to Home Depot and bought a $75 professional grade 6' that is solid. Problem is I'm not allowed on ladders anymore. Funny huh? For those with wimpy ladders, don't wait to replace them cause they can kill you.

[Bawanna]

Amen on the ladders, never cared much for them anyhow.
Lots of other things we don't use often that are wore out and should be replaced but since you rarely use them it's hard to part with the money.
Glad your on the mend, I had not heard of this incident so my memory must still work a little bit. That's a good thing.

We're probably about due for a upgrade on Dad's old Colt, maybe this winter when we're huddled inside out of the cold we can conjure up something.

[AIRret]

Wishing you the best, Old Lincoln. It could have been much worse, i.e. you could have been paralyzed!

[Bawanna]

That would suck for sure.

[SteveOak]

Primers from the factory come in boxes that are open to the air. They are sold in places that have 90+% humidity like Florida. I have never heard of any problem with a primer and have to think that if the potential for a problem due to exposure to the environment existed, the manufacturer would ship them in a sealed container as they do powder.

[Bawanna]

I think primers are also a whole bunch better now than they were years ago.

You still see a bad one from time to time but in the overall scheme of things, not very often.

You have a good point Steve. Should be fine and dandy.

[getsome]

Wow, glad you're on the mend OldLincoln, a fall like that could have turned out your lights permanently....I did something like that with a cheap 6 foot aluminum step ladder that I liked because it was so light and handy to tote around...I was on the second from the top step changing a light bulb in the garage door opener when all of the sudden it twisted and I hit the concrete with my right knee which still hurts and has a knot on it ten years later.....Aluminum ladders are dangerous and mine went straight to the trash where it belonged the day it was made....

[CJB]

The old chlorate primers were moisture sensitive. After mercuric primers fell out of use with the advent of brass cartridge cases, chlorate primers were the way to go. These had exceptional dependability - if kept dry. To that end, military ammunition was sealed with lacquer on the primer end, and with bitumen (like tar, but less viscous) on the bullet end. Go pull a bullet from a WWII .30-'06 or .45 Auto and you'll see the black bitumen seal on the bullet, and have a look at the primer and you'll see a red or amber lacquer. New lead styphnate primers, in commercial ammo since... the 1920s? (1930s?) uses those, and military ammo from Korea era uses those also (including WWII .30 Carbine ammo). The lead styphnate primers are not moisture sensitive but are sensitive to petrochemicals (oils and such).

So, new primers are good to go, but must be kept in moderate temperatures.

FWIW, I've got primers from the 1980's that still are reliable and consistent, and have been in a humid Florida garage since the 1990s.

Powder... can go bad. It will smell REALLY acidic when it does. Smells like strong, strong vinegar (acetic acid). At that point, they used to tell you to sprinkle it on your grass as a fertilizer, but I dunno if that actually works. Powder likes cooler drier spots.

I've still got Unique from the 1980's that has stored well in AC conditions.

[OldLincoln]

Thanks for all the concerns and advice. I'm going to start loading them on Bawanna's loader mañana.

When I realized I was still alive I tried to get up but fell then rolled flat and fought to stay awake. I got my neighbor's attention (Neighbor of the Year in out neighborhood). He fished out my phone but my hand shook so much I couldn't hit the 9 button so he called.

I pushed real hard on my son to get rid of his aluminum ladder but he says he only uses his for sheetrock saying he can walk it the length of a room securing the top (sigh!). I don't think he lets my grandkids on it but how would he know. He has another one identical to mine for real work.

[Bawanna]

How many getsomes does it take to change a light bulb in a garage door opener?

Just kind of slipped out of my head and got a chuckle out of it.

Ladders and lightbulbs are a wheelchair dudes arch nemesis.

Just this weekend I found about 6 florescent light tubes around the house. All bad. Wife and /or son changed them out and just leaned them someplace handy. I asked the wife how come we need to store burnt out bulbs around the house.

She said that was my job. Yeah right.

[Bills1873]

Dad had an old extension ladder that I inherited, pretty stout but very narrow. Never did like it, so I bought one of those wonder ladders that folds every which way. Best ladder I've ever used! Cost me nearly $300, and well worth it. That thing will be around for awhile. Guess I should get rid of the narrow one!
On the primer subject: I've 20 year old primers I loaded last winter in 9mm casings, they all (200) have been shot without any failures. Stored indoors, temp controlled.
Thanks, Old Lincoln, for sharing your story. Hopefully, it will raise our awareness to do things safely.

[CJB]

My thoughts are reconfirmed. I'll load it and see what happens.

The ladder shifted a bit and collapsed trapping my feet and I did a header onto the garage floor. Ended up with a concussion that made my walk unsteady and took to using a cane. Also screwed up my memory pretty good. I'm better now and walk and memory are almost back. Best part is I feeling like getting out a bit.

HolyKrapola Batman! I missed that part... glad you're on the mend.

[marshal kane]

I've used primers much older than 3 years and not a clue of how they were stored without any problems, however, I did inspect the cups and if the pellet showed any signs of deterioration I trashed them. Many primer pellets are treated with some lacquer to protect them from moisture so it's more than likely your primers are still good. As previously mentioned, reload a small batch and test them out.

[Joe in Frankfort]

Modern powders are "hydrophobic"...they don't absorb moisture. If stored in a normal cool dry place, should be okay. Same with primers. I still have some Remington "Cleanbore" rifle primers made probably in the late 70's.
I do store my primers in zip lock bags....being overly cautious like I am.