Copper primers

jimbo1096 · Feb 27, 2023

My memory is failing. I was cleaning up the bench this weekend and found some 38spl wadcutters I guess I had reloaded years ago. The box was one of the wallet type, I used them when I was out camping and doing my desert walks in the 70's and 80's. I think they hold about 24 rounds, something like that. The part of this story I am curious about is, they had a copper colored primer like the military used, and I don't remember having in a very long time. Yes these were reloads, cases showed resizing and they were different head stamps. Anybody remember using these type primers and how long ago that was?

gunman42782 · Feb 27, 2023

Different companies use different colors. Winchester used to use a copper colored primer, but pretty sure they are now silver.

the_leper_colony · Feb 27, 2023

jimbo1096 said:
... they had a copper colored primer like the military used, and I don't remember having in a very long time. Yes these were reloads, cases showed resizing and they were different head stamps. Anybody remember using these type primers and how long ago that was?

Seems like I got the impression many years ago, that at least some copper colored primers are Remington production. So I checked what I have on the shelf, and my Remington 6 1/2 small rifle primers are silver colored, but my 7 1/2 small rifle benchrest & 9 1/2 large rifle primers are copper colored (don't remember actually using either of those, but nice to have them!). So maybe Remington also made copper colored small pistol primers.
:)

NC FNS · Feb 27, 2023

My reloading history doesn’t go back far enough to answer your question, but I’ve noticed my Win primers are brass colored, and CCI’s are silver.

the_leper_colony · Feb 27, 2023

gunman42782 said:
Different companies use different colors. Winchester used to use a copper colored primer, but pretty sure they are now silver.

I think all of the Winchester (& CCI) primers I've ever used have been silver colored, but it may very well have changed over time.
:)

Cal30 1906 · Feb 28, 2023

I have some old primer that I still use and they are as good as the day they left the factory.
Remington did make a copper small pistol.

anachronism · Feb 28, 2023

Winchester primers haven't been plated for quite a while. I think that went away with the old white boxes. Winchesters on their second or third blue boxes now.