Inherited S&B primers

[joeyj]

I inherited 2,000 primers from my father-in-law. He liked to save things, so I have no idea how old they are. Is there any way of telling? I've never had much luck with S&B primers to start with. A year ago I switched to Winchester and have never had problems with them. Joe

[Delkal]

AFAIK there were no S&B primers when I started reloading in the early 90's. And since Czechoslovakia was in a civil war around that time I doubt they were exporting anything. So 20-25 years max? But as long as the packaging looks good with no traces of water or mildew you are probably good. I reloaded with primers older than that and they all went bang.

[TooBigToFit]

I had some S&B primers around 3 years ago when I started reloading. Cabela's was selling them $20 per box, so dirt cheap.

They worked pretty well. They were harder to seat than CCI or Winchester though.

[wanneroo]

I had some S&B primers around 3 years ago when I started reloading. Cabela's was selling them $20 per box, so dirt cheap.

They worked pretty well. They were harder to seat than CCI or Winchester though.

I did the same, bought up a bunch.

I will not use them in my Hornady progressive. CCI primers run through there perfectly, too many issues with the S&B, so I will use the S&B for different things like 32 ACP.

[bogey1]

Just found a ammo box in my basement tonight with about 8K in it (wolf).

[Bang]

In 2009 I found the only box of primers for sale at the Valley Forge gun show. That's how bad it was back then. They were a major American brand which I no longer recall. I called the company and gave the man who answered the lot number. He came back on and said they were shipped from them in 1982, adding that they could not warranty their use.

27-28 years old, and beyond, I used them with no problems.

[frankski]

I bought a few thousand back during the component drought when nothing else was available. They’re fine, just like S&B ammo.

[abner13]

A few years ago , I bought a lot of reloading stuff and got several thousand Alcan primers , which probably haven't been made since the late 60's or early 70's. Stored in a USGI ammo can , they worked fine.

[Walleye Hunter]

I can't see how age could be a problem, has anyone had ammo go bad due to age? And aren't there primers in that old ammo from the day it was made? And the guy who gave the reloading class at King's Shooter Supply told us that wet primers dry out and can be used, gun powder not so much.

[abner13]

Storage conditions are everything. Word was that the old corrosive priming mixes were more stable under less than ideal storage than early non-corrosive formulas. That was seated and sealed in ammo though.