I mentioned to my father-in-law the other day that I would like to get into reloading, so he showed me a bunch of supplies he has. He inherited then from him uncle, who used to be a gun dealer, I'd guess in the late 80's/early 90's. He's got to have about 100,000 primers of all types and PLENTY of different types of powders. I'm not sure of the actual age of the components though. They have been stored in a cool dry place, and assuming the powder is in sealed unopened containers would it still be good?
Shelf life of powder and primers
- Thread starter marc308
- Start date
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
Yes and no. What I mean by that is on the powder make sure you smell the powder when you open it. If it has an acrid strong smell then it is time for it to be used as fertilizer. It should have a nice light solventy' smell. Best is to get a cheap bottle of anything new if you may not be familiar with new powder smell and open it up to get a wiff of what good powder smells like.
I personally don't know any way to know bad primers other than physical damage or they just don't go bang. If one does not work in a batch that shows it had a good strike than they all get dumped.
Yes and no. What I mean by that is on the powder make sure you smell the powder when you open it. If it has an acrid strong smell then it is time for it to be used as fertilizer. It should have a nice light solventy' smell. Best is to get a cheap bottle of anything new if you may not be familiar with new powder smell and open it up to get a wiff of what good powder smells like.
I personally don't know any way to know bad primers other than physical damage or they just don't go bang. If one does not work in a batch that shows it had a good strike than they all get dumped.
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
I am using Federal and winchestER primers from the mid 80's. work fine. I am also using some pull down H4831 from the 50's that is in perfeCt condition and shoots better for me thaN new 4831. Using it in 22/250 with heavy bullets 75-80 gr. Good advice from previous post, have someone who knows powder look at it before you try it.
I am using Federal and winchestER primers from the mid 80's. work fine. I am also using some pull down H4831 from the 50's that is in perfeCt condition and shoots better for me thaN new 4831. Using it in 22/250 with heavy bullets 75-80 gr. Good advice from previous post, have someone who knows powder look at it before you try it.
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
Generally, shelf life of both powder and primers is excellent. I know of one case, (a friend) that had a metal can of IMR leak and he noticed it on some cases stored in same cabinet. Bad oxidizing, in one year time, 2! I wouldn't have believed it.
But I had something similar recently. I had a box of empty 45 cases in a plastic container, and for some stupid reason, put a handful of firecrackers in that box, for quite a long time, one or possibly two years. Turned the cases black and green fuzzy stuff. Tumbled the cases for (like) four days in corncob and removed MOST of the discoloration, so I gave up.
Generally speaking, powder lasts decades, primers clean dry cool location, same thing=decades. BB
Generally, shelf life of both powder and primers is excellent. I know of one case, (a friend) that had a metal can of IMR leak and he noticed it on some cases stored in same cabinet. Bad oxidizing, in one year time, 2! I wouldn't have believed it.
But I had something similar recently. I had a box of empty 45 cases in a plastic container, and for some stupid reason, put a handful of firecrackers in that box, for quite a long time, one or possibly two years. Turned the cases black and green fuzzy stuff. Tumbled the cases for (like) four days in corncob and removed MOST of the discoloration, so I gave up.
Generally speaking, powder lasts decades, primers clean dry cool location, same thing=decades. BB
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
I have some primers I got from an old man way back in the early 80's and they were pretty old then. They all go bang just like my new primers. If stored properly I'd think you could get 50 years out of powder or primers either one. I recently shot some WWII 30-06 that did fine as well.
I have some primers I got from an old man way back in the early 80's and they were pretty old then. They all go bang just like my new primers. If stored properly I'd think you could get 50 years out of powder or primers either one. I recently shot some WWII 30-06 that did fine as well.
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
I got primers from the 1960s that still go bang. As long as your stuff was stored correctly, should be good to go.
I got primers from the 1960s that still go bang. As long as your stuff was stored correctly, should be good to go.
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
"Shelf life of powder and primers "
A common question without a common answer. Seems primers last pretty much forever but not all powders do.
I still have a few pounds of Hodgedon's original 4831 WW2 surplus that's fine. I still have a few hundred WW2 surplus small pistol primers that work fine. Did have a can of IMR-4895 that spoiled when it was only about 25 years old but that's the only example I've experienced.
"Shelf life of powder and primers "
A common question without a common answer. Seems primers last pretty much forever but not all powders do.
I still have a few pounds of Hodgedon's original 4831 WW2 surplus that's fine. I still have a few hundred WW2 surplus small pistol primers that work fine. Did have a can of IMR-4895 that spoiled when it was only about 25 years old but that's the only example I've experienced.
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
i have some old 4831 thats in bags and it still works great.
not sure how old it is.
i have some old 4831 thats in bags and it still works great.
not sure how old it is.
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
I have some surplus ball powder from the early 60's that seems as good as new. Dad has some National Match primers that he got in 1960 that was surplus then. He still reloads with them and has never had a problem. Keep yur powder dry and keep shoot'un.
I have some surplus ball powder from the early 60's that seems as good as new. Dad has some National Match primers that he got in 1960 that was surplus then. He still reloads with them and has never had a problem. Keep yur powder dry and keep shoot'un.
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
I agree with what has been said, generally speaking this stuff will have a shelf life measured in decades. However, WWII primers could have mercury and I would not use them even if they worked because they can harm your bore if you don't clean it right after shooting. BB
I agree with what has been said, generally speaking this stuff will have a shelf life measured in decades. However, WWII primers could have mercury and I would not use them even if they worked because they can harm your bore if you don't clean it right after shooting. BB
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
I just shot up some CCI mag rifle primers from the early seventies or late sixties.
Look up when FedMart went out of business and primers were a 1.27 per 100.
Powders are good for 100 years or more if stored right. Winchester can prove it.
I just shot up some CCI mag rifle primers from the early seventies or late sixties.
Look up when FedMart went out of business and primers were a 1.27 per 100.
Powders are good for 100 years or more if stored right. Winchester can prove it.
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
I don't know if there might be a rule against this link, (hopefully not?) but it is germane to the discussion and I mentioned it above.
see here: http://coyotesrus.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=calling&action=display&thread=19107
if you follow all the off the cuff opinions etc, you will see the culprit was a leaking metal IMR 1# can. Apparently, powder can degrade in a much shorter time frame than I would ever believe? BB
I don't know if there might be a rule against this link, (hopefully not?) but it is germane to the discussion and I mentioned it above.
see here: http://coyotesrus.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=calling&action=display&thread=19107
if you follow all the off the cuff opinions etc, you will see the culprit was a leaking metal IMR 1# can. Apparently, powder can degrade in a much shorter time frame than I would ever believe? BB
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BuzzBoss915</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't know if there might be a rule against this link, (hopefully not?) but it is germane to the discussion and I mentioned it above.
see here: http://coyotesrus.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=calling&action=display&thread=19107
if you follow all the off the cuff opinions etc, you will see the culprit was a leaking metal IMR 1# can. Apparently, powder can degrade in a much shorter time frame than I would ever believe? BB</div></div>
Link bad. You need to just copy and paste what is said.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BuzzBoss915</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't know if there might be a rule against this link, (hopefully not?) but it is germane to the discussion and I mentioned it above.
see here: http://coyotesrus.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=calling&action=display&thread=19107
if you follow all the off the cuff opinions etc, you will see the culprit was a leaking metal IMR 1# can. Apparently, powder can degrade in a much shorter time frame than I would ever believe? BB</div></div>
Link bad. You need to just copy and paste what is said.
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
I checked it when I posted it, and checked it again right now, upon reading that it's a bad link. Still working for me? Must be that GLOBAL WARMING SHIT AGAIN! BB
I checked it when I posted it, and checked it again right now, upon reading that it's a bad link. Still working for me? Must be that GLOBAL WARMING SHIT AGAIN! BB
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
Okay, sorry. It's a private board.. Forget it, not worth the trouble to register and get approved, etc. etc. It's two pages long, with photos, I can't copy and paste it here. Anyhoo, it shows some bad powder. The powder looks rusty, and the fumes caused bad corrosion on the brass cases. It's interesting and all that, verified by a Hodgdon's rep. via phone conversation. BB
edit: oh, another thing. Mention made that smokeless powder absorbs humidity, which is why the paper bags is probably not such a good idea.
Okay, sorry. It's a private board.. Forget it, not worth the trouble to register and get approved, etc. etc. It's two pages long, with photos, I can't copy and paste it here. Anyhoo, it shows some bad powder. The powder looks rusty, and the fumes caused bad corrosion on the brass cases. It's interesting and all that, verified by a Hodgdon's rep. via phone conversation. BB
edit: oh, another thing. Mention made that smokeless powder absorbs humidity, which is why the paper bags is probably not such a good idea.
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
in 2003 I was given powder and reloading equipment from my father-in-law that he had stored in his garage in Houston since teh late 1950s. The powder dated to the early 80s. I tested some for burn (as in did it burn, and shot some of the hand loads from my .445acp - they went bang). Eventually I tested some of the pistol powder (Bullseye) against new a new lot of Bullseye. It ran a bit slower but still ran.
The 1960s pistol primers worked just fine. I burned the last ones up in 2010.
Jeffvn
Jeffvn
in 2003 I was given powder and reloading equipment from my father-in-law that he had stored in his garage in Houston since teh late 1950s. The powder dated to the early 80s. I tested some for burn (as in did it burn, and shot some of the hand loads from my .445acp - they went bang). Eventually I tested some of the pistol powder (Bullseye) against new a new lot of Bullseye. It ran a bit slower but still ran.
The 1960s pistol primers worked just fine. I burned the last ones up in 2010.
Jeffvn
Jeffvn
Re: Shelf life of powder and primers
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Steven Dzupin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The United States stopped using Mercury in primers before WW1.
Mercury dosen't hurt the barrel,it rots the brass.
Chlorate and dampness hurts the barrel ie.RUST.
</div></div>
Okay, if you say so? I still have my doubts. Besides, this thread is about shelf life of stored powder and primers, not loaded ammo. I would expect cartridges, properly stored, (not dug up in your back yard) to be serviceable 100 years after the fact? BB
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Steven Dzupin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The United States stopped using Mercury in primers before WW1.
Mercury dosen't hurt the barrel,it rots the brass.
Chlorate and dampness hurts the barrel ie.RUST.
</div></div>
Okay, if you say so? I still have my doubts. Besides, this thread is about shelf life of stored powder and primers, not loaded ammo. I would expect cartridges, properly stored, (not dug up in your back yard) to be serviceable 100 years after the fact? BB
