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Factory primers verses reloads question???

oldgunman
Are factory primers always gold and silver, and reloads silver in color? How can the average person identify factory or reload cartridges?? Is there a simple way or not.
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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    In the past past Winchester & Wolf have sold unplated, brass/gold appearing primers for reloading.
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  • heavyiron
    Hi,

    Nope. There is no way to tell for certain most of the time.

    Primers for reloading come with brass and nickel plating - it usually depends on the manufacturer.

    You would have better success looking for reloading tool marks on the cases and bullets than trying to use primer type.

    Regards,

    Heavyiron
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  • oneoldsap
    Look at the case mouth . If the case neck is tapered at the mouth and not square with the neck it's a handload . The color of the primers has nothing to do with anything .
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  • XXCross
    Factory processed ammunition does not have primers seated in the same manor that handloaders use. The standard for factory ammo seats the primer .003 to .005 below flush with the head of the shell case. By holding the ammo in question up to a light source, and using some form of straight edge on the end of the case, you can easily see if the primers are below the end of the case....and they will all be uniform. Any high, low or crooked primer is a sure sign that the ammo is a handload.
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