How old are these primers

I thought I got a great deal on GunBroker. $600.00 for six cases of Winchester Large Pistol Primers. I got a bit of a sinking feeling when I opened the first case. There isn't any corrosion or discoloration. There is what looks like a lot number stamped on each case.  HKL439G

Bill

Hello messenger,

Nickel colored primers and older style boxes just mean that they are not of current manufacture.  If they were stored properly, you'll be fine.

If the primers were brass colored and the boxes were blue but they were not stored correctly, you would never know it.

Jim

+1 if there is no apparent moisture damage to the packaging you should be good to go.

In the photo the the packaging looks pretty crisp - that's a good thing.
- Dave

dronning wrote:+1 if there is no apparent moisture damage to the packaging you should be good to go.

In the photo the the packaging looks pretty crisp - that's a good thing.
- Dave

 
Everything looks as if it was made yesterday. I've bought the blue boxes from the gun store that didn't look this good.

Bill

They should be fine.  I picked up 5K of their small pistol primers in that packaging, at the local gun show last year and they all went bang.

They look brand new to me. All things being relative

I haven’t seen Norma Primers in decades.  Rumor has it that they were repackaged RWS?

Brought 20k back with me from Germany in 74. This is all I have left. They all went bang.

Len

Remember the old 25 lb kegs of H4831, well I have the keg still, powder has been gone for 30 years.

Bill,
You got a good deal!!  I've used these primers in thousands of 45ACP, 50 AE and 10mm rounds without any issues.  I venture to state that they are better then current Winchester production.
AP

Those are dangerous and you should send them to a professional for proper disposal.

Fortunately for you, I happen to have multiple decades of experience in this field; I can take care of them for you. I will PM you an address and shipping instructions.

No need to thank me; I do this work out of the goodness of my heart.

john bickar wrote:Those are dangerous and you should send them to a professional for proper disposal.

Fortunately for you, I happen to have multiple decades of experience in this field; I can take care of them for you. I will PM you an address and shipping instructions.

No need to thank me; I do this work out of the goodness of my heart.

And submarines have screen doors! Good one, John. LOL

I think they are all gone now.  But I have used Magnum Rifle primers that are near 50+ years old.   No problems,
Dad and I shot a lot of magnums 300Wby, 378 Wby, 338, 7mm, 264,

I recall that packaging ended early 2000s. Mine, 3 cases, were good but they only worked once....

Bill,

 I believe that lot number is for the late 90's.  I just finished the last 1,500 I had the same time period as yours and they were fine.  Yours appear to have been store well.  I don't think you'll experience any issues. 
 
Kevin

I have thousands that worked only once.

well if they don't work you will be able to tell if you have a flinch or not