What year(s) did Federal package primers in red & white boxes

[ShtrRdy]

I have a case of Federal Small Rifle Magnum primers that that a friend who passed away had stored in his basement for many years. Do you recall what years Federal packaged primers in red & white cartons?

 

[del2les]

I believe the more recent red n white boxes w/o the black/gold banner were from 1994 to 2013 or or so:

1994 H+Julian day 2004 H+(Julian day + 400)
1995 Y+Julian day 2005 Y+(Julian day + 400)
1996 R+Julian day 2006 R+(Julian day + 400)
1997 V+Julian day 2007 V+(Julian day + 400)
1998 W+Julian day 2008 W+(Julian day + 400)
1999 Z+Jukian day 2009 Z+(Julian day + 400)
2000 X+Julian day 2010 X+(Julian day + 400)
2001 T+Julian day 2011 T+(Julian day + 400)
2002 N+Julian day 2012 N+(Julian day + 400)
2003 J+Julian day 2013 J+(Julian day + 400)

 

[ShtrRdy]

I believe the more recent red n white boxes w/o the black/gold banner were from 1994 to 2013 or or so:

Is that your recollection or did you get that information somewhere?

 

[del2les]

Is that your recollection or did you get that information somewhere?

What are the date codes stamped on the boxes? See above nomenclature

 

[ShtrRdy]

The lot number is 4B3673

I peaked inside the flap of the case and the boxes are actually red and dark-blue/black with white lettering.

 

[del2les]

The lot number is 4B3673

I peaked inside the flap of the case and the boxes are actually red and dark-blue/black with white lettering.

Do they look like this? Not Gold Medal but the box color scheme?

 

[del2les]

Since 1974, Federal Cartridge Company has used four 10-year lot number schemes to identify the date of manufacture. Beginning in 2014 they started using the newest one. The last four characters in Federal lot numbers indicate the year and Julian day of manufacture:

1974-1983, the last digit of the year followed by the Julian day.
1984-1993, the last digit of the year followed by the Julian day plus 400.
1994-2003, the letters H, Y, R, V, W, Z, X, T, N, J (in that order) to indicate the year followed by the Julian day.
2004-2013, those same letters followed by the Julian day plus 400.
2014, the letter M followed by the Julian day.

 

[ShtrRdy]

I found the following description:

Dating Federal Cartridge Corporation Primer Boxes

My latest project:

www.mdshooters.com

If I'm reading the information correctly then what I have was produced in 1983.

 

[del2les]

I found the following description:

Dating Federal Cartridge Corporation Primer Boxes

My latest project:

www.mdshooters.com

If I'm reading the information correctly then what I have was produced in 1983.

IF they have been stored correctly, they will work, for I have used primers that were over 50 years old and ammunition even older.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Thanks for your help leading me to a likely year of manufacture.

Speaking of old primers - I have some CCI Large Rifle and Large Rifle Magnum that I bought in the 70's. There was a period of time I had them stored in a garage for 15 years. They experienced very cold and hot temps. Yet they still work fine. I use them for practice rounds.

 

[nocannons]

If you think that storing primers may be an issue try using a vacumn sealer. Tried this on some that i had about 12 years ago and opened them up about 4 months ago and they all worked.

 

[jdyoung]

If you think that storing primers may be an issue try using a vacumn sealer. Tried this on some that i had about 12 years ago and opened them up about 4 months ago and they all worked.

I agree !! I Purchased a hand operated vacuum sealer and bags for that purpose.

 

[wonderman4]

If you think that storing primers may be an issue try using a vacumn sealer. Tried this on some that i had about 12 years ago and opened them up about 4 months ago and they all worked.

Just don't vacuum seal powder for any length of time.

 

[cohunt]

Just don't vacuum seal powder for any length of time.

why