Wet primers?

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07-22-2011, 21:45
Dalendenver

Wet primers?

I was in Utah 2 weeks ago helping my wife with the burial of her mother, succumbed to Alzheimers. While we were gone we got that mother of all rain storms in Aurora. It decided to go through my basement. The gutters could not handle all the water.

As we were cleaning up and shoveling mud out last night I was reminded that my Rockchucker kit was against the basement wall under the window that blew out. I have had this stuff for 35 years but this rain storm took care of it. Rusted everything except the scale. [Rant1]

The locked box that I keep my powder and primers in also got filled up with water. The powder should be ok but I am afraid I lost over 3000 primers. Does water do them in?

I hope all of you fared better during the thunderstorms.
07-22-2011, 21:50
Byte Stryke

not sure, but you could always seat one into an empty case, drop it into a weapon (No Projectile or powder) just to see if it will fire.

pointed in a safe direction, it shouldn't be any worse than a firecracker
07-22-2011, 22:05
Dalendenver

Good idea...if my press wasn't all rusted.
07-22-2011, 22:24
Limited GM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byte Stryke

not sure, but you could always seat one into an empty case, drop it into a weapon (No Projectile or powder) just to see if it will fire.

pointed in a safe direction, it shouldn't be any worse than a firecracker

BS! Dont do this^^^^^. A primer has more umph than you credit. They will and have, sent a bullet downrange.

Water wont harm them. The Lecks had thousands and thousands under water when the Guadalupe river flooded their house. I personally shot probably 10,000 of those. never a glitch nor any different deviation of velocity.

Let'um dry good and load a few rds to satisfy your peace of mind.......or just give them to me. :)
07-22-2011, 22:32
Byte Stryke

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limited GM

BS! Dont do this^^^^^. A primer has more umph than you credit. They will and have, sent a bullet downrange.

Water wont harm them. The Lecks had thousands and thousands under water when the Guadalupe river flooded their house. I personally shot probably 10,000 of those. never a glitch nor any different deviation of velocity.

Let'um dry good and load a few rds to satisfy your peace of mind.......or just give them to me. :)

you did see the part where I said No Projectile or powder and pointed in a safe direction, right?

I think the length of immersion will also have bearing on the situation as well.

:D
07-23-2011, 03:45
mcantar18c

I've looked into how to render primers inert, and as far as I know/seen the water will disable them until it dries, and then they're fine.
07-23-2011, 08:24
Byte Stryke

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcantar18c

I've looked into how to render primers inert, and as far as I know/seen the water will disable them until it dries, and then they're fine.

As will oils and solvents.
07-24-2011, 13:17
ray1970

I remember the first time I popped a primer in an empty case. Indoors. Holy crap that thing was loud. I was expecting a small "snap" sound. What I got sounded like I just discharged a .22 in the room. Really made my ears ring. [Coffee]
07-24-2011, 13:30
Clint45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byte Stryke

As will oils and solvents.

I have heard that penetrating oils, such as WD-40, will ruin primers regardless of if it later dries. Can anyone confirm or refute this?

Oh, at the hunter safety class I took as a teenager, the instructor wanted to demonstrate the power of a primed shotgun casing and placed a quarter on top of the muzzle . . . it flew straight up 5 feet and stuck in the ceiling.
07-24-2011, 14:50
Byte Stryke

next time I am just telling whoever asks to throw them away...
I never meant this to turn into a debate about how deadly a primer could be...

fer fuck sake.
07-24-2011, 15:47
SA Friday

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint45

I have heard that penetrating oils, such as WD-40, will ruin primers regardless of if it later dries. Can anyone confirm or refute this?

Oh, at the hunter safety class I took as a teenager, the instructor wanted to demonstrate the power of a primed shotgun casing and placed a quarter on top of the muzzle . . . it flew straight up 5 feet and stuck in the ceiling.

Probably not. the basic ingredients of petroleum products are molecularly alkenes, and probably won't react with the more commonly used primer compounds. Read multiple reports of primers working after being hosed with WD-40 and then dried out. Chlorine Bleach, on the other hand will react with most of the commonly used primer compounds and render the compound inert. I soak all my "nice one, dumb-ass" rounds in chlorine bleach before I chuck them.
07-26-2011, 14:37
Dalendenver

Thanks for all the replies. I am just getting to them after getting the basement empty. I will dry them well and see what happens. Price has gone too high to just give up on them.
07-26-2011, 14:54
hollohas

Seriously. Byte said EMPTY case. That's the only way to test them. Just go outside when you do.

I'm sure someone would be willing to loan you their press to load up a few EMPTY cases to test once those suckers dry. Or go grab a cheap Lee hand primer for $10. I'd rather test a few first than just assume they're good when they dry.
07-27-2011, 13:20
Dalendenver

Good news!! I sprayed penetrating oil on my press and everything now works smoothly. Doesn't look as pretty as it did but if it works that is all that matters. Once I get the basement back together I plan to build a reloading bench in my man cave. Then I can test some primers in EMPTY cases. I got them all dried out last night.
07-27-2011, 13:41
nynco

Use an automotive heatgun to dry them out.

Kidding please don't[Bang]
07-27-2011, 15:07
68Charger

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynco

Use an automotive heatgun to dry them out.

The microwave is much quicker... [NoEvil]
07-28-2011, 18:04
Clint45

Quote:

Originally Posted by SA Friday

Probably not. the basic ingredients of petroleum products are molecularly alkenes, and probably won't react with the more commonly used primer compounds. Read multiple reports of primers working after being hosed with WD-40 and then dried out. Chlorine Bleach, on the other hand will react with most of the commonly used primer compounds and render the compound inert. I soak all my "nice one, dumb-ass" rounds in chlorine bleach before I chuck them.

Good information, thanks.
[Beer]
07-28-2011, 18:20
SA Friday

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68Charger

The microwave is much quicker... [NoEvil]

Ya, but the BBQ will give them that smokey flavor.
07-28-2011, 18:58
68Charger

Quote:

Originally Posted by SA Friday

Ya, but the BBQ will give them that smokey flavor.

mmmmmm, spent primers.....
07-28-2011, 19:34
Byte Stryke

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dalendenver

Good news!! I sprayed penetrating oil on my press and everything now works smoothly. Doesn't look as pretty as it did

That really is a damned shame Brother. If you need me to come get it out of your house to save you from the painful memories, I would do that for you.
07-28-2011, 19:55
DSB OUTDOORS

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynco

Use an automotive heatgun to dry them out.

Kidding please don't[Bang]

I'm glad you added the please don't!! I missed that at first! And I'm like WHAT?? [Tooth]