Can primers get wet?

[andrewtac]

I have three boxes (6,000) primers that possibly got wet.  Not really submerged but wet.  Should I throw them out?  I can tell on the 100 packs which ones have obviously gotten wet.  It looks like just the 100 packs that were on the bottom.

[chevrofreak]

From what I understand the priming compound is saturated with water to make it safe to put into the cups and they only become explosive once they dry.

Edited July 29, 2018 by chevrofreak

[Hi-Power Jack]

Had a flood in my house few years ago, and wondered the same thing.

 

Got a note here that a guy (one of our BE members) used to work in a

primer factory, and as chevo mentioned, the priming material is put into

the cup WET - so, no problem if it gets wet, as long as it dries.

 

So far, I've had no problem lighting off my "wet" primers    

[andrewtac]

Thanks for the help.  I disposed of some that were submerged and it looked like the compound had leached out, but saved most of them.

[ChemistShooter]

Hmm, from the previous comments, the water isn't a problem.

 

It's what might have been in the water. I sorta think your primers were not soaked in distilled water.

 

Look them over when they're dry. I use CCI and the lead styphnate compound is a golden color. Going on the assumption all the primers use the same compound, it might be wise to see if the compound still has that gold color and not black or brown.

If the compound is soluble in water, then water has probably dissolved some of it away. There's probably a lot more primer in there than you strictly need, so you'll get away with losing a little of it.

[StratRider]

I have to wonder how you would dry them out. 

Bake in the oven at 425 for an hour ? 

outside in the Texas sun is probably hotter than that.

Air dry in the garage for a week then test a few in empty open cases would be the way I'd go.

[andrewtac]

Update for those who end up with the same problem.  I am using a loadmaster while I am waiting on my evo pro.  I use the mikes reloading primer system.  Evidently if the primers get wet they get sticky.  I was having issues with primers not dropping in and hanging up in the chute.  I trouble shot, broke some parts, cussed the machine about.  Finally decided to try a new box of primers, works perfect again.

[rustybayonet]

If they got wet with water, you can dry them out test a few if all the test rounds work you should be good to go. If your test rounds are ify, use them for plinking.