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Visual differences reload vs factory

buffalobo
Rumor has it we have a guy in the area who is passing off reloaded Winchester brass as new factory loads. Repacking them in factory boxes.

A fellow range member had some of these at the range today and they show slight color variation(as in fired and tumbled/polished) on the upper 2/3 of the case, also head stamp not as crisp and clear as when compared to fresh opened box from factory. Also slight(very slight) difference in radius on edge of primer(possible difference in primer lot and not indicative of anything?????)


Any other visual indicators to look for?

Any sure fire way to tell visually or having round pulled apart to tell if reload?

I talked the guy who bought them out of a box to take to experienced reloader and ammo guys for further inspection and disassembly if needed. He is concerned about backlash if accusation made and not substantiated, as the guy he bought them from is bigshot at his work.

Opinions and info appreciated.
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • navc130
    Under a magnifying glass of 4X or more, reloads will show striations on the case from going in and out of the die. Rifle cases will USUALLY show a slight bulge one-eighth inch ahead of the rim or extractor groove. Pistol cases will USUALLY show a bulge where the bullet is seated because the case was sized smaller than the bullet diameter.
    I suppose those signs could be eliminated if a person cared to go to the trouble.
    It would be interesting to hear the results of your investigation.
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  • casper1947
    If these are semi-auto I would see if the discoloration begins at the top of the tray.
    The exposed brass would tarnish over time due to the exposure to air. S-A would fit tighter than revolvers.
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  • bpost
    Send one to the supposed manufacturer and ask if it factory ammo or a fake.
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  • JustC
    there will be die marks on the cases if it is reloaded ammo.
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  • papernicker
    Maybe he has a hankering to meet Bubba [:0]
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  • Cheechako
    Pull a bullet on one. If they are fired cases it will be asy enough to tell by the appearance of the inside.
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  • victorj19
    quote:Originally posted by Cheechako
    Pull a bullet on one. If they are fired cases it will be asy enough to tell by the appearance of the inside.


    +1
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  • bambambam
    quote:Originally posted by Cheechako
    Pull a bullet on one. If they are fired cases it will be asy enough to tell by the appearance of the inside.


    Not if he uses an ultrasonic cleaner like I do. Clean as a whistle in & out.

    If the bullets where taken out of the box and handled, they may have a tarnish to them after being on the shelf for a while.

    Hope this guy isn't doing what he is rumored to do, that would require a hell of alot of insurance.[B)]
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  • Riomouse911
    Under a magnifying glass of 4X or more, reloads will show striations on the case from going in and out of the die.

    +1. Almost all of my handgun reloads are easy to tell because of these small marks. Many can be seen without a glass or microscope.
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  • cpermd
    Primer color?
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  • machine gun moran
    The presence (or absence) of the red factory primer sealer that Winchester uses on some of its loaded ammunition may be an indication, although they also use it on some of their factory-primed cases, so it could appear in some handloaded ammunition as well. A giveaway in auto-pistol ammunition that was loaded using previously-fired brass, would be an ejector mark on the rim.

    You could break a round down and identify the components used. There are differences in anvil construction and the color of priming compounds, as well as in powders and bullets from the various makers. Something like two-legged Remington primer anvils, Hornady bullets, or Alliant powder in Winchester cases, would be a dead giveaway.
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