So now I have 1,500+ large rifle primers. Neat old stuff, now what do I do with them? Would you trust them?
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Willy Snyder
PO Box 2732
Pocatello, ID 83206
So now I have 1,500+ large rifle primers. Neat old stuff, now what do I do with them? Would you trust them?
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Load a few if they go bang use them all.
X2
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Shoot them but save the boxes for collectors and man caves.
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
– Amber Veal
"The Highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about".
- Wayne Dyer
I have the same vintage large pistol primers. I probably need to shoot mine I guess. I think they will be fine. Just load them in the cases no powder or bullet and shoot them in the basement or out the back door. If they go "POP" you're all good.
Take care,
Rick
I mostly load for pistol. Maybe I work up a load for these in 45 colt?
I had a box of Winchester primers that were much older than that - they were in a wooden box. All 100 of them worked fine and the box will be for sale.
I've shot probably 10,000 ot the same vintage and older over the last 10 years with virtually zero problems.
More than a few were of the age the trays were wood.
Use them.
Last edited by 15meter; 03-31-2026 at 07:48 PM. Reason: lousy spelling
When I was a young hellion I had a cigar box given to me full of little wooden trays of primers , Large rifle and pistol. Pre WW2 . I took them and dumped out the birdshot form 12 gauge shotshells and filled the old paper shells with primers as tight as I could pack them. Then capped with a cardboard disc and tape. I shot them at the old yankee basement cellar walls , trees and anything in the back yard. Kinda neat seeing many of them pop on impact some popping in the air and all. Fun times.
No , I did not read that in a manual or stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.... it's just the facts Ma'am.
What's the difference between a pig and an Engineer ?
You can argue with the Pig.
I had some old primers and they were fine to shoot. I hope you have the same luck.
The sooner I fall behind...the more time I have to catch up with
They'll definitely blow up but if ya give them to me I'll get rid of them for you.....
I’d shoot ‘em.
"Courage is not the absence of fear.”
Disarming is a mistake free people only get to make once...
I'd trust them just like I would any other primer. I'd like to find some of the old boxes like that for my collection.
If they were stored inside, controlled temps, YES.
I’ve been using primes I bought from the early 90’s. All result in verifiable chrony results, along with some powders from same era. Been stored in closest in the house.
I have some they keep going bang haven't had any trouble with them
If you're worried about them, prime some empty cases and try them. If they pop, go forth and load ammo![]()
We used to give 9mm's to the women and kids. Now that everybody is running 9mm's as their primary, maybe we need to give the women and kids .32's so we can keep feeling manly.-Bigslug
What you do well,,,,,,,,,,,,, you will do often. - Winger Ed
Personally, I'd use them if your loads are just going to be for paper shooting and tin can rolling on the range. What's the worse that could happen?
Murphy
If I should depart this life while defending those who cannot defend themselves, then I have died the most honorable of deaths. Marc R. Murphy '2006'.
| BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
| BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
| BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
| C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
| HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
| PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
| LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
| GC | Gas Check |