See if anyone knows about these Winchester pistol Primers. Just bought some WW Pistol primers, pack reads "Large Pistol for Standard or Magnum Pistol Loads"
So does WW now just make one type large pistol primers, instead of standard & Magnum?

Another ques , I have some older Winchester western pistol primers marked: K4003P, No. 7-111 staynless large (Reg.) pistol. Anyone familiar with these, same as above?

Might Call winchester tomarrow and ask them

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Symbol Primer Types
W209 #209 Shotgun Shells
WLP #7 - 111 Large Regular Pistol
WLR #8-1/2 - 120 Large Rifle
WLRM #8-1/2M - 120 Large Rifle Magnum
WSP #1-1/2 - 108 Small Regular Pistol
WSPM #1-1/2M - 108 Small Magnum Pistol
WSR #6-1/2 - 116 Small Rifle

What color are the primers? The new ones have a gold color to them and that is when I believe they went to different primers for magnum and non-magnum. All of my older silver ones, both small and large, say standard or magnum, as I recall.

If memory serves, Winchester has always had two different brisance pistol primers: magnum and standard. I believe the note is just to say that some handgun load data uses standard pistol primers, and some use magnum. The standard primers are acceptable for use in magnum handgun loads if and when load data calls for them.

I don't typically use magnum primers in my magnum handgun loads, specifically because I use primarily Accurate powder, and the nitrocotton-based powder doesn't require that hot a primer.

Those WW primers you purchased are Winchesters idea of being able to use them in either standard or magnum loads. I've used them almost exclusively now for a couple of years, when any new loads or calibers I'm playing with show better groupings than using CCI or Federal.

I can't recall Winchester every offering a separate Large Pistol Mag primer. Not in the last 15 years, anyway.

What is the manufactures product code numbers for those Winchester large pistol primers?

My new Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition has a good table called U.S. Boxer Primers Chart.
It shows Winchester had small pistol primer WSP (1 1/2-108) and also small pistol magnum WSPM (1 1/2M-108).

For large pistol primers the chart says ++WLP (7-111) at the bottom of the chart it defines ++ as "may be used for magnum, large pistol loads".

I wish SAAMI would clean up the primer naming mess between manufactures.
I have to keep the above mention chart handy when reading load recipes to keep the names and numbers straight.
Example: Note that the Winchesters 6 1/2 small rifle primer is not interchangeable with the Remington 6 1/2 small rifle primers, even though both name and number match.
Remington loads the 6 1/2 in their 22 Hornet cases. You need to use Rem 7 1/2 for high pressure cartridges like 223 Rem.

If I recall correctly, Winchester started labeling their primers that way back in the early 90's, when the "first" primer shortage occurred. I think it was a marketing ploy to get folks to just buy the one type of primer. I still have some old "white box" Winchester primers that are not so labeled.

The ones you have are the "standard" primer. I believe Winchester still makes the "magnum" primers, but they are hard to find around here anyway.

EDIT-- I stand corrected, I guess they don't make the "magnum" primers anymore.

quote:

All of my older silver ones, both small and large, say standard or magnum, as I recall.

Goodness, have they changed primer color again? They just went from brass to nickle in the mid 60s, IIRC. I know Remington did. They just trying to keep me confused. It's working too!