How long do primers last

[GFaulkner]

NOTE: Not an offer to sell. This is my first post - and I have a question.

Good morning to the list! First post here - I just found you folks a few days ago.

I am a real estate agent in the Austin area, but grew up in Dallas. My father was a life time NRA member, who shot at the "Distinguished Master" level in 2700 matches in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Shreveport and more - back in the '60's and 70's.

My dad passed away a while back and I got his guns and gun stuff. His target pistols are amazing - who here knows about Clark guns in LA?

Anyway - my dad shot only his reloaded ammo, claiming it was more accurate that anything the Army had, or that you could buy at the store. I have several thousand rounds of Army ball, and a bunch of wadcutter's, too (.45's), but none of his reloaded stuff - so I can't say for sure - but I know how good he was.

BUT - I also have a TON of primers. A couple of different brands, some labeled large, some small. They date from the '60's and early 70's.

Are they any good? The boxes themselves are in perfect shape - so I assume the primers inside are still good - but I don't know.

If they are - great. If not - how to get rid of them?

Thanks!

[G.A. Heath]

I can't place why I know about clark guns, but I want to say what I heard was good. I want to say it was something to do with very high end gun smithing Primers will remain good virtually forever if stored properly.

[chamberc]

NOTE: Not an offer to sell. This is my first post - and I have a question.

Good morning to the list! First post here - I just found you folks a few days ago.

I am a real estate agent in the Austin area, but grew up in Dallas. My father was a life time NRA member, who shot at the "Distinguished Master" level in 2700 matches in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Shreveport and more - back in the '60's and 70's.

My dad passed away a while back and I got his guns and gun stuff. His target pistols are amazing - who here knows about Clark guns in LA?

Anyway - my dad shot only his reloaded ammo, claiming it was more accurate that anything the Army had, or that you could buy at the store. I have several thousand rounds of Army ball, and a bunch of wadcutter's, too (.45's), but none of his reloaded stuff - so I can't say for sure - but I know how good he was.

BUT - I also have a TON of primers. A couple of different brands, some labeled large, some small. They date from the '60's and early 70's.

Are they any good? The boxes themselves are in perfect shape - so I assume the primers inside are still good - but I don't know.

If they are - great. If not - how to get rid of them?

Thanks!

Modern Primers like you describe will easily out live most folks.

[crazy2medic]

Keep in a cool dry place they will last for forever! Recently discovered some 30.06 ammo I loaded in 1979, 40yrs later the stuff still shoots like it did the day I loaded it!

[Malawler]

If stored properly, they will still be ok. I have shot 6.5 Swede Mauser ammo loaded in 1938!

[bfm1851]

if your primers were kept cool and dry as stated above they will be good. I have primers that are at least 10 years old and no problems with them.
Clark Custom Guns is a gun smith shop in Princeton LA. started by Jim Clark. You may have heard of some of the shooters associated with this shop, Terry Cross, Jerry Miculek and his wife and the sister of Jim Clark, Kay Clark Miculek just to name a few. Good people and a great place to have work done.