igolfat8 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Is it safe to store Small Pistol Primers in a glass jar? I have a few thousand I want to store and it would take up far less space in my safe if I took them out of the individual containers and put them in a glass jar. I don't see why I couldn't do that since its not under any vibration or exposed to air. igolfat8 NRA Classification: MarksmanPosts: 20Join date: 2013-04-06 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaosshooter00 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Neve hard of anyone doing it that way, but don't see why not. Airtight storage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeislarge Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I think most prefer to use in groups of 100 due to the primer tube capacity of most progressive presses. OR maybe primer tubes were designed to use with primer packaging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSeevers Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 (edited) Depends of your definition of safe. Will they go bad? Probably not since if they stay dry, everythings fine. Did you just make a bomb? Yep. I have heard about but not witnessed a person carrying a pail of primers "disappearing". Might be a old wives tale but.. Not if you have witnessed a 650 primer tube going off you can appreciate what 100 primers going off is like when they are touching each other. The plastic packaging is to contain an explosion and separate the primers as well as keep em dry. Edited January 8, 2014 by BSeevers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I can say that it is not something I would do. The bomb aspect is the primary reason. I have seen a tube of primers go BOOM and that was not a pleasant experience by any means... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 NOT a good idea. Keep the primers in their original packaging. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue edge Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 NO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razorfish Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Perfectly safe but you need to remember to drill a 1/16" hole in the lid. Now place a 6" cotton string soaked in diesel fuel through the hole. All Done. Oh wait... I thought we were building a bomb. If not, then no, not safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pasley Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 it would take up far less space in my safe igolfat8 NRA Classification: Marksman Posts: 20 Join date: 2013-04-06 Does anybody else keep primers in their safe? I just have mine on a shelf in my reloading room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckols Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 No! The space that 5000 primers in proper packaging will require is nothing compared to the downside you offer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighCountryStalker Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 NO! "Primers should never be handled, used, or stored in bulk, since primers in bulk can explode simultaneously." The link to the rest of the SAMMI recommendations: http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/publications/download/SAAMI_ITEM_201-Primers.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Don't listen to the nay sayers.... I have approx 30k primers stored in a sealed 1 gallon glass jar...never an explosion...and I'll occasionally shake them up in the jar.....Did I mention that they were all spent? Leave the primers in their original packaging until needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeislarge Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Don't listen to the nay sayers.... I have approx 30k primers stored in a sealed 1 gallon glass jar...never an explosion...and I'll occasionally shake them up in the jar.....Did I mention that they were all spent? Leave the primers in their original packaging until needed. I have a Lee Jockchucker Primer Reloading Press for sale if you're interested. Comes with dies for large and small pistol/rifle primers. Make me an offer and it's yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Don't listen to the nay sayers.... I have approx 30k primers stored in a sealed 1 gallon glass jar...never an explosion...and I'll occasionally shake them up in the jar.....Did I mention that they were all spent? Leave the primers in their original packaging until needed. I have a Lee Jockchucker Primer Reloading Press for sale if you're interested. Comes with dies for large and small pistol/rifle primers. Make me an offer and it's yours.I'll trade you 30k once used primers for it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 I am thinking back to my childhood at one of the times I almost killed myself and would give the thumbs down on storing anything that can expand violently into a glass container. Some people might even call it an IED these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igolfat8 Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) Thanks for all the responses. So whats the difference between storing a pound or jug of powder in a jar, albeit plastic? Powder can go boom too. I am not a chemist and don't know what's inside of primers so maybe I am missing the big picture??? Edited January 9, 2014 by igolfat8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtp Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) Thanks for all the responses. So whats the difference between storing a pound or jug of powder in a jar, albeit plastic? Powder can go boom too. I am not a chemist and don't know what's inside of primers so maybe I am missing the big picture??? Primers by comparison are far more explosive/powerful. Smokeless powder is more like 'flammable and produces gas' vs highly explosive; it's the containment of the powder in a casing and barrel that makes it explosive. Powder containers are also designed for holding powder specifically, something about them splitting open vs allowing any pressure to build up. Edited January 10, 2014 by rtp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agalindo Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Glass jar will create static which is very bad. Laden Jar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuildSF4 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Primers are designed to go off with an impact and are explossive, smokeless powder is classified as a propellent (as stated above smokeless powder only explodes if it is contained, and this would be due to the containing vessel failing at a high pressure). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Thanks for all the responses. So whats the difference between storing a pound or jug of powder in a jar, albeit plastic? Powder can go boom too. I am not a chemist and don't know what's inside of primers so maybe I am missing the big picture??? Edited by igolfat8, Today, 11:25 AM. When "soft" plastic like jugs, bags and such light off around you, you may get your eyebrows burned off and or some plastic melted to your skin or clothing. Using glass or brittle materials like PVC for example can build up more pressure and when they finally give way they generally fracture into many pieces that have a lot more energy than any part that might seperate off a plastic jug. All of the sharp little shards have more of a chance going into you to cause more than just surface damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igolfat8 Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 OK, Since I have already tossed the individualized OEM primer trays years ago and the primers are in a glass jar now what do you suggest that I put them in that is more safe? A zip lock baggy perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.roberts Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 (edited) Wrap the jar with dryer sheets. eta: Good luck! Edited January 10, 2014 by a.roberts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 The absolute best thing would be to leave the jar alone and contact your local bomb squad to remove it. It you are keen on salvaging them - first off - be VERY careful. Each individual primer has, as a round number 10 ft-lbs of energy contained in the primer pellet. If you have 5000 in a jar, you have an extremely dangerous situation. Ask your reloading friends if they can give you their empty primer boxes. If necessary, contact the manufactirer of the primers and ask them to send you empty boxes. Once you have the boxes, even decanting the primers from the jar is risky. Definitely wear protection (EOD suit would be good!) and proceed with great care. Too much jostling, static or impact can be disastrous. I had not understood originally that you had already put the primers in a glass jar. Not a good situation at all. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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