Is it really only the primers that are at fault?

The brew in those Mercuric primers was formulated to handle all sorts of extremes. Most primers have a lacquer seal over the compound in the cup. This is to prevent contamination of the mix whilst in storage.

How stable is the old cordite? I have just dumped several pounds of smokeless stuff that had deteriorated badly in its original tins. It was made in the early 1980s and had been kept in the proverbial "cool, dark place".

Any ammo techs out there?