Mystery primers

boucher

I was give 2000 primers that I can't identify. They are in plain white cases and have typed on the front GQ5527M 2 8 82WW42C1 979LOTWCC~1~840GI have contacted several manufacturers but have not received any responses. They appear to be small pistol primers. If anyone knows what they are I'd really appreciate your help.

Matt45

boucher-My un-educated shot in the dark is that they are Winchester (Western?)Cartridge Company Primers-Perhaps manufactured Feb. of 82?-Is it possible that they were part of a lot sent to a "major end-user" such a re-manufactuer like 3-D, or Ultramax?? Somtimes when a large company knows that the packaging will be pointless, they forego the cost of printing and take a simple way out.

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Reserving my Right to Arm Bears!!!![This message has been edited by Matt45 (edited 11-25-2001).]

rusty3040

i also have thousands of primers in white boxes with similiar markings , when i bought them i was told they were military primers , i haven't been able to find their ratings

Iconoclast

Definitely WW manufacture & likely military contract. I would advise contacting WW directly to determine their application. They may stonewall you for liability reasons. I know how I would handle them, but I'm not going to share that for the same reason.[This message has been edited by Iconoclast (edited 11-26-2001).]

boucher

Thanks for all your responses. I e-mailed winchester but they have not responded. They're either small pistol (magnum?) or small rifle. I think I will try loading some light 38 specials with CCI sm pstl and some with these primers and see if I can notice a difference. They would be just for plinking at cans so accuracy is not a priority. Any other suggestions? Should I use a slower burning powder?

kaboom

They are Winchester for sure if they have WWC on the box, and that 2-8-82 is almost surely the date of manufacture or the date of a purchase order. I once bought a batch of primers from a commercial reloader and they were packed in plain white boxes of 1000 each, only they were marked CCI and a number in small black letters. I would bet that you won't get any acknowledgment from Olin though, for the reason someone else mentioned, liability concerns. Lawyers run everything these days in the corporate world.If they were mine I would load a few in once fired .357 cases with a normal .38 spl powder charge, put on safety glasses and leather gloves, and see what they do in a strong .357 revolver. That is if they were mine, and I'm NOT recommending that to anyone else. I won't use any powder I can't positively identify in the original container, but I'm betting these primers would be OK if they are used for light practice loads, and probably OK with normal loads. BTW, I'm retired and don't have ANY money, so don't even think about a lawsuit if you try this and they turn out to be primers for mortar shells or something. And yes, I do have one finger on my left hand that was sewn back together 20 years ago and still doesn't work just right, so I know bad things can happen if you get careless for even a minute.

boucher

No Kaboom, I am not the type to point blame for my own stupidity. If I spill hot coffee I get mad at myself not McDonalds. I would imagine they are just Winchester small pistol primers, but in the interest of safety it is best not to assume. My only concern is if they are magnum primers or rifle primers.

dennisw

Check out the heat; Prime a case,load a known amount of med pistol powder top with wax wad,shoot over clean bed sheet. Pick up and weight unburned powder.Duplacate test with known mag primers and reg primers.Mag primers will fire a plinking projectile without powder to 300 fps.dew