Help on dating these primers
- Thread starter DuckHunt
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
M1A1ABRAMS
Well-Known Member
I bought some Rem 9 1/2 also at a auction & was wondering how old they were. I figured at $36.95 for a 1,000. They are probably right before the Chinese sniffles. They have a bar code but I couldn't determine what the date was. So hopefully we can get some one to help us out.
FrogFire7
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure they're your type 
cohunt
Well-Known Member
I really like primers a lot--- but I've never thought of dating them-- my wife might be upset about that as I already spend enough time with them as it is 
On a serious note, look inside the box, sometimes inside the flap there is a Date code stamped
On a serious note, look inside the box, sometimes inside the flap there is a Date code stamped
Shoot them, unless you are having piercings on the edges with gas leaks burning holes in your bolt face. I have had one bad lot number over the past decades.
cdherman
Well-Known Member
Both look recent enough that I would just shoot away. Would not use them trying to find an accuracy load, as who knows what you will have with the next box. But for general use where you already have an accurate load, or just don't care so much, they should be fine. I used to like to buy primers by the brick, then by 5 bricks during Obama scare. Its nice during the life of a given pet load to never change lots. Now days, such behavior can no longer be sustained.
Back in the 70's, a lot # of 9 1/2 primers pock marked my Remington 600 Mowhaks bolt. Still have the rifle in 243 Win.
Over the years had other defective primers. Federal & last year WSPM. Defects happen to all.
1970's vintage is my guess.
Last edited:
Critter Picker
Well-Known Member
My best GUESS would be that they date back to late 80's maybe early 90's . I bought a brick that looked like that from a dealer in 92 or 93 when there was a shortage and I was caught with my pants down. What I can't say is how long the dealer had them on his shelf.
B1s BmagX2
Well-Known Member
From the look of those bolt faces I'd say, and I'm no expert, loose primer pockets, or undersize primers? Definitely a gas leak. Kinda 6 of 1 and a Half dozen of the other. My bet would be the latter, undersized primers. I've never experienced it but I suppose it would be possible with worn machinery running one lot of primers and retooled machinery running another. I've always had good luck with CCI, Winchester LRP, and Remington. Federal, while they make decent ammo I tend to stay away from their primers. Cups are softer and running high-pressure rounds doesn't make for a great combination. I will not use Federal ammo or reloaded ammo using their primers in my AR! Just cautious and not a big fan of "slam fires". In my earlier days, I did use Federal primers in most of my hand loads. It wasn't until I started having blown primers in a 22-250 that I started wondering what the heck was going on? Even when I backed off my charges, increased "bullet jump", double checked neck tension and thickness it was still touch and go. More recently I got another 22-250 and came up with 2 pet loads using Barnes 40-grain bullets over 40.5 grains of CFE-223, Winchester LRPs, and Hornady brass. I'm getting 4,250 fps, according to my chronograph, replicating the Hornady factory loads of the same weight. For a little more reach I like Berger 52-grain fbhp's over 36 grains of IMR 4166, same primer, PPU brass. I'm getting 3,850 fps. No problems until I got ahold of some Federal primers. I started working up loads using all the same components and never even came close to the same velocities before I started experiencing the same old problems. I might use Federals in shotgun and lower-pressure revolver or pistol loads, but I just want to keep it simple so I don't use them at all anymore. As for Remington, I'm using 6 1/2s in my 17 Fireball with no issues. I'm still in the process of working up a "pet" load so time will tell. Never bothered trying 9 1/2s in the 22-250 since I'm getting good results with Winchester.
crkckr
Well-Known Member
There should be a lot number somewhere on the package. I've never bought primers of any brand that were not marked. And while I haven't heard of everything, I've never heard of fake primers from Wish or Temu... although I guess it's possible!
The numbers are lot numbers, not dates. The only way you can find that out is to contact Remington. Personally, I'd pop a couple off (just the primers) and if they work I'd load a couple of rounds and if those worked ok, wouldn't worry about their age. Unless they've been exposed to a lot of moisture they're probably fine. I definitely wouldn't start them on a max load without making sure, tho!
Cheers,
crkckr
The numbers are lot numbers, not dates. The only way you can find that out is to contact Remington. Personally, I'd pop a couple off (just the primers) and if they work I'd load a couple of rounds and if those worked ok, wouldn't worry about their age. Unless they've been exposed to a lot of moisture they're probably fine. I definitely wouldn't start them on a max load without making sure, tho!
Cheers,
crkckr
MagnumManiac
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2008
- Messages
- 5,590
These marks below on my bolt face are caused by defective primers 'pinholing' on the radius of the primer cup, which is totally visible in the pic of the offending primer.
This was the very first 3 shots fired on a brand spanking new REM 700 LR in 300WM…Winchester accepted fault and replaced the bolt. I also had the 1,000 primers replaced.
Cheers.
This was the very first 3 shots fired on a brand spanking new REM 700 LR in 300WM…Winchester accepted fault and replaced the bolt. I also had the 1,000 primers replaced.
Cheers.
Attachments
I just purchased 5000 Rem 7 1/2 primers..don't know when they were manufactured, and I'm not concerned unless there is a recall. I just finished a box of 1000 CCI that are over 50 yrs old, and started another the price is $8.90 per one thousand on the box.
