primers

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
They're still good...maybe....sometimes....it depends...not at all, toss them....but don't do that........I dunno!

Seriously, I wouldn't use them for taking on Cape Buffalo or Black Bart at high noon, but for plinkers heck yeah.
 

JonB

Halcyon member
I save them and use them for fireforming new cases.
They do get closely inspected, any with visible cracked primer compound gets rejected.

Side note:
I recently sold all my 762x54r reloading stuff (I've been gathering this stuff for many years to reload for my SIL, but never did one cartridge).
In the box was some baggie brand Gunshow reloads, I think I got them all from one dealer.
I broke down the reloads and sold the cases (as used) with the other stuff.
34 rounds total, 5 different styles/weights bullets, some .308 and some .311
also 8 different powders,
and 5 different primer brands, judging by color of compound and anvil.
I'm glad I never gave them to my SIL to blast 'em.
 

Red Bear

Member
years ago i used to throw them away no more. price of primers they get used now. ever had a problem using them.
 

shuz

Active Member
I closely inspect the ones I've decapped. If they look ok, I will reuse them. I have never had one that I had decapped not go bang when reloaded.
 

obssd1958

Well-Known Member
The only problem that I've had so far, was with some 5.56 military rounds, that I tore down. The staked in primers ballooned out enough that they were loose going back in different brass. I used a little drop of super glue around the primers after they were seated, and I'm going to try them in a bolt gun. Never know until you try!
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
Keep an eye on your bolt face, it doesn't take very many leaky primers to pit it really bad.
Yeah, like one. I reused a primer in a full powder 8x57 load years ago and it leaked, and left a small burn crater in the bolt face. Never had one leak with a cast bullet load.
 
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Rally

NC Minnesota
Maybe save them for plinkers, but not likely. My luck would be the bad one when it mattered!
I have a tote tub I keep “used” ammo in. I use that ammo first when I go plinking and make a point of not inter mingling it with my marked ammo.
I’ve often bought brass already primed by someone else at garage sales etc, and loaded them. That’s the kind of stuff that goes in the tote. I’ve shot a bunch of antique ammo that way that was given to me or part of a deal.
 
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dale2242

Well-Known Member
Check to be sure the anvil hasn`t fallen out.
I have had that happen on rare occasions.
Other than that, they should be fine.
like others have stated, use them for plinking not defense.