Do Primers Go Bad

[EWY]

Back during the Obama shortage a friend was disposing of some things for the wife of a recently deceased friend. I bought 2,000 ALCAN small pistol primers. I would have to guess that these are from the late 70s. They work just fine.

 

[Dr. Mac]

Would you explain what you mean by a reloader issue?

One "reloader issue" may well be excessive headspace. If that were the case, most of the firing pin striking force would be absorbed moving the case forward, especially with a "hard cup" primer. Could cause misfires.

 

[Griffon58]

Hang fires can sometimes occur when a firing pin that gets stuck. That wouldn't explain the no fires, but I'd check it out.

I too have had issues over the years with a bad batch of 2-3 year old primers. Remington 209's and Winchester Large Pistol. The companys' not ask/full replacement policy is evidence they know it happens. If it continues you may have no choice but to call the company.

 

[Oi.223]

I have primers that I bought when Bill Clinton was in office, and we were buying anything we could get ahold of. They have $12.50 price tag on them.
They still work great.
A friend of mine bought a bunch of reloading stuff at an auction, there was a couple of trays of Winchester primers that had wood trays. He verified they were non-corrosive and loaded them up and they shot fine.

 

[WYO300RUM]

Dry 50 cases in your oven at 170 degrees for 30 min. Let them cool Then prime them JUST Load primers. No powder. No bullets. Shoot them all. If you have misses its probably primers. Only other things to check: headspace on cases. My 300 blk out Ruger American wont shoot the ammo i load for my ar blk out. I get what looks like a reasonable primer strike but they don't go off. That brass is .006 longer than the ar brass. If I set the brass back for ar I get 2-4 out of 10 that don't go off in Ruger.
I suppose you could have a weak slow firing pin/spring. Strong enough to dent but not fast enough. Try the oven trik first.

I have a simalier problem with my Ruger SR556 AR. I sized some fired cases . Loaded them. Someshot some didnt. Good firing pin dents on all.

 

[LVJ76]

I've been using primers from lots made in 2010 and 2011 and no issues. The ones that gave me problems we're about 15 of them left out in the garage by mistake. Besides those no issues.

I use Silica to keep my primers, powder and bullets dry, it helps.

 

[Tony Formicola]

I too am working off old stockpiles and have never had an issue. I am using primers which I stockpiled from 2000,2004 and 2008 with no issues. They are all stored in airtight containers in a humidity controlled environment.

 

[del2les]

FYI for all you reading this.. WOLF Primers are the ticket, believe it or not. Many Brenchrest shooters are using them. Theyu have the lowest standard deviation of any primer... evend Federal Match and CCI BR. If you can find them you owe it to yourself to try them! FWIW.

A few years ago, I would have laughed at anything Wolf, but on a whim and about 6-7 years ago, I bought 5k of Wolf small rifle at a clearance sale, and I thought they would be "ok" in a couple of varmint rifles at shorter ranges and my AR. Well, they held groups as tight as the best BR primers I had on hand and for about half the price. At least then at the sale price.

 

[del2les]

I bought 2,000 ALCAN small pistol primers. I would have to guess that these are from the late 70s. They work just fine.

Now those are some memories "Alcan"

 

[Tree Farmer]

Dr. Mac identified a possible cause. I was having occasional misfires, particularly in cold weather. Finally determined I set the shoulders back too much creating excessive headspace.

 

[memtb]

I'm planning long term...I wish that I only had a few thousand that may get old! memtb

 

[Gator 06]

Ive had brick of federal primers out in un heated shed for years .matter of fact since 80s an never any problems

 

[Harvey Durham]

I was out shooting some reloads yesterday in a 6.5 CM comparing them to some factory loads. I had a couple hang fires and a couple no fire in the reloads. There's plenty of primer/pin contact and no issues with the factory loads. All I can figure is that the primers are too old?

You probably know more than I do about this but there's many reasons that can make a bullet misfire. Seating debit is the main one and of course the firing pen. I've never had a primer go bad though, not to say that they haven't.
Happy Hunting my friend,

Harvey

 

[Kmccord]

Left/democrats have proposed this in the past! To limit stockpiling.
Just saying

Yep, I remember something with Clinton white house was pushing for powder/primers shelf life, could you imagine the lawsuits when a gun failed to perform in a high risk situation. Which is what they wanted..