large rifle primers

[45-70 Chevroner]

I just came into some old rifle primers, they are in green and red paper boxes with wood trays (Remington #9 1/2 Large Rifle). There are 2700 of them. They will only be used for cast boolit loads. I have read that some reloaders have had problems with these primers rupturing but they didn't indicate what kind of loads they were shooting. Have any of you tried these old primers?

[John Boy]

I have read that some reloaders have had problems with these primers rupturing but they didn't indicate what kind of loads they were shooting. Have any of you tried these old primers?

Load a couple of cases with these primers - no bullet and shoot them. If the go off, you have 2698 primers left to use!
I have several sleeves of these primers left - no issues with either smokeless or BP reloads

[fa38]

I had about 1800 of them a couple of years ago. They worked just fine with no misfires.

[Char-Gar]

The Remington 9.5 is my favorite LR rifle primers and the older the better. What you have heard is nonsense.

[sundog]

What Charles said.

[45-70 Chevroner]

Thanks for the input guys. Yeh I tried a couple and they went bang.

[convert69]

I have some older lg riffle primers, can I use these in pistols?

[gwpercle]

Primers seem to have a long shelf life.

[swamp]

I have some older lg riffle primers, can I use these in pistols?

In my experience the rifle primers are taller than pistol primers.
swamp

[ascast]

ditto "char gar" those were the best you could get in their day

[Victor N TN]

I have primers I bought in the late 1970s that still go bang. And I got some primers from a friend (?) that were a year old that went "click"... Difference being, he just sets his boxes on the bench. I put mine in zip lock bags with either desiccant packs or dry chalk inside ammo cans. No moisture... it goes bang. Store them right they last a LONG time.

[44man]

I never had a problem with Rem. Long ago Fed had a few lots that would spurt leaks at the edges. It would ruin the bolt face in time.
It was tracked to a cleaner that ate the cup, Fed replaced them with a recall.

[mdi]

I have some older lg riffle primers, can I use these in pistols?

Nope. Large Rifle primers are taller than Large Pistol Primers...

[Char-Gar]

Hearing from the older shooters how tought it was to get reloading components in WWII, when Viet Nam got into gear about 1965 I stocked up on primers. I wrapped them up in aluminum foil and sealed with tape. I still have several thousand SR primers from that buy as I don't use many SR primers. About 5 years ago, I tested some of those old primers against some fresh ones and I got smaller groups with the older primers.

[Char-Gar]

I have some older lg riffle primers, can I use these in pistols?

No, they are too tall. They are likely to drag on the recoil shield of the revolver frame or slam fire in an autopistol.

[Virginian]

The Remington 9.5 is my favorite LR rifle primers and the older the better. What you have heard is nonsense.

I have to agree with this statement. I would shoot them anytime.

[TXGunNut]

With proper storage powders and primers have a longer shelf life than we do.

[Digital Dan]

In my experience the rifle primers are taller than pistol primers.
swamp

They are not interchangeable due to dimensional differences.

[GONRA]

GONRA suggests any SHTF stockpyle guys make SURE their primers are NOT "lead free".
If you store "lead primers" dry and cool (as mentioned above)
they will end up in your Historic Family Legacy Museum.

[Mk42gunner]

With proper storage powders and primers have a longer shelf life than we do.

Isn't that the truth. Even with somewhat improper storage, small arms ammo lasts better than most people.

Robert