Primers and Powder

[Jackalope33B]

Is there a way find out when a box of primers or jug of powder was made based off their "Lot #'s"?

I tried calling the companies that made them and they were of no help.

 

[GregKonze]

Re: Primers and Powder

Look at www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-366372.html where a guy named d'Artagnan discussed decoding the lot numbers of CCI/Speer primers, etc. The first letter apparently is a code for the month of manufacture, with January being letter A and on down the line, up to M, but they skip "I" which looks too much like a 1. Next is the day, 1-31, then another letter for the year, starting with 1995, A, B, C, etc, but skipping "I" and "O" again because they look like numbers. He used the example lot number H14M, which means made on August 14, 2006. I have not checked on the accuracy of this info!!!
I just remembered seeing it a while back, and thought I would reference to help you. Hope this helps!

 

[BuzzBoss915]

Re: Primers and Powder

There are no standards and no Rosetta Stone. I have worked for many different companies, programing their Videojets. You can never figure out their codes, they only make sense to those that create them and if they won't tell you, it's impossible to know. here are two basic methods, the Julian date, or more likely, the # day of the year with a alpha/num for the year. Like 201QL which would be 200 additional days from January 1, but without knowing the code for the year numbers, (QL) you can only guess.
But, my question is why do you need to know? Primers and powder, stored properly, last a very long time, decades.

 

[Jackalope33B]

Re: Primers and Powder

A buddy of mine has some primers. He said they were stored properly, but does not know how old they are. I would hate to load a bunch of rounds to find out the primers are duds.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BuzzBoss915</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But, my question is why do you need to know? Primers and powder, stored properly, last a very long time, decades. </div></div>

 

[DocB]

Re: Primers and Powder

Jack,

If stored properly, not a problem. I'm still shooting 20 year old Winchester white box primers. I've done the same with CCIs. If what your buddy has is Winchester white box, I'll take'em if you don't want them.

HTH,
DocB

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Primers and Powder

when your powder stinks like vinegar or worse, it has gone bad and can be used as grass fertilizer.
cheers.