Would primers that sat in the basement of an un-air-conditioned, probably un-dehumidified home that was vacant for a couple years or so still be good?

Most likely they will be just fine. Primers are pretty stable creatures. To be safe, just load a few, and give them a try.

I would think they would be fine.

Ok. That's good to know. Thanks, guys.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Would primers that sat in the basement of an un-air-conditioned, probably un-dehumidified home that was vacant for a couple years or so still be good?

Basement more temperature stable than an uninsulated garage. Likely still good.

quote:

Originally posted by markstempski:
Basement more temperature stable than an uninsulated garage.

True, but also possibly a good deal more damp.

Eventually I'll get the man cave finished, get my reloading bench set up, and find out.

A little example of primer’s durability...I moved into my house in 1986 and took some of my flotsam and jetsam from the move into the attic in plastic tubs (hotter than the devil’s butthole in the summer and cold as a witch’s titty in the winter...over and over)...long story short...after over 20 years in this environment I took down the tubs down to trash them (they were disintegrating in that environment). Before dumping out the contents I rummaged through the tub and found some CCI small magnum primers as well as Some Speer 124 grain 7.35 Carcano Bullets I bought in the 70s to reload. (Try finding true .300 caliber bullets in this day and time) Just for kicks I loaded the primers in .38 Special cases and they all went bang. Would I trust my life to them? No...nor would I ever use them in CAS. But they worked to ignite powder...go figure

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by markstempski:
Basement more temperature stable than an uninsulated garage.

True, but also possibly a good deal more damp.

Eventually I'll get the man cave finished, get my reloading bench set up, and find out.

Is an empirical question, but I am pretty sure are fine.

put some ear pro on and take one outside. put it on the concrete and smack it with a hammer. if it goes bang, you're good to go.

-TVz

Just put one in a case and try it.

quote:

Originally posted by TVzombie:
put some ear pro on and take one outside. put it on the concrete and smack it with a hammer. if it goes bang, you're good to go.

-TVz

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Would primers that sat in the basement of an un-air-conditioned, probably un-dehumidified home that was vacant for a couple years or so still be good?

That describes 98% of my primers over the last 40+ years.

I have been shooting reloaded 9mm for the past couple of months almost exclusively, and all of my components as far as powder, primers, bullets have all been purchased 10 years ago. They have been stored in my garages and I've had no issues whatsoever in my loads. Every single one of my Federal small pistol primers go bang so far.