Using old primers for hunting loads, no!

[ROVERBOY]

Well, I had a missfire Yesterday. Handloads that were loaded with free primers that were probably 25+ years old. That didn't do anything for my nerves and confidence. And the buck jumped a little and was scared but, didn't run. I ejected the missfire and jacked in another, and it fired. And I missed. Oh well........

 

[backyardtndeer]

Never know how that free stuff may have been kept. Hate it likely cost you the deer.

 

[ROVERBOY]

Never know how that free stuff may have been kept. Hate it likely cost you the deer.

I've got my primers in a ammo box shut when I'm not using them.

 

[backyardtndeer]

I've got my primers in a ammo box shut when I'm not using them.

I keep a dehumidifier running in my basement next to my safe which is right behind my bench. Temp is constant. My primers and powders are kept in dry boxes.

 

[MUP]

Had you fired them in test loads without FTF?

 

[ROVERBOY]

Yeah, they had never did that. Always fired just fine. I had to reset my scope Today. It was shooting way low. I had one that didn't fire Today. Went ahead and tried it again too. Nothing.

 

[nso123]

Any chance that the primers were not seated all the way?

 

[ROVERBOY]

Any chance that the primers were not seated all the way?

Well, it's possible but, they all looked like the depth was consistent looking.

 

[nso123]

Well, it's possible but, they all looked like the depth was consistent looking.

I am only asking because that can make a round not go off if the primers were can move in the pocket. It could be bad primers, but I have shot some old primers without any issues.

 

[dogsled]

I've got my primers in a ammo box shut when I'm not using them.

Ditto. I have some primers that are 20 years old and some mil '06 from the 60's that still work like they should. Storage is the key. Guy I hunt with traded me a box of Federal 7mm Rem Mag that was supposedly only a couple of years old. Took them to the range, 18 of 20 did not fire, one hang fire. I pulled the bullets and the bases were corroded. He told me later that the ammo was stored in a plastic bin in the garage.

 

[Omega]

It happens, new or old, doesn't matter. Primers are hard to kill, I've fired 30-06 rounds I found in a lake still in enbloc clips. Ran them in my vibratory brass cleaner due to some surface brass corrosion, but all went bang. I've also fired many 7.62 that had FTF in our weapons (dented primers) and most went bang too, with a handful that needed a couple tries. Now, these are military rounds that have sealed primers, but I've fired civilian rounds that I had stored for over 5 years without issue, and they were stored in badly climate controlled areas.

 

[LY]

We use both primers and powder from the 80's and 90's. In fact I just opened an old school metal can of 4227 a couple of weeks ago that still has the $15.99 price tag on it.

Never had a problem.