Odd, older primer question

[tommag]

I bought a couple thousand primers for cheap, all in original packaging, except for a few shotshell primers. They are smaller than 209's, measuring .227 diameter at the bottom, .305 at the top, and .292 long.
I don't intend to find a use for them, but was curious. Did there (or is there still), two different sizes of shotgun primers?

[singleshotbuff]

tommag,

I believe they were intended for older Remington hulls which had a smaller primer pocket. Seems like they were called 97s? Maybe?? I could be wrong on the number, but they were definately intended for a certain hull, which i'm fairly sure was Remington.

You may want to post your question over on shotgunworld dot com to identify the exact hull they are intended for.

FWIW, they no longer make 2 distinct sizes of shotshell primers, all are a nominal 209 size. However, some foreign hulls do have a nominal 209 primer pocket that is undersize and is a tight fit with US 209 primers. These foreign hulls however will not accept the primers you describe.

Hope this helps.

SSB

[44man]

They are 157's, Federal called them 57's. For the old Rem/ Peters shells. Everything today uses 209 size primers.
When my old cases got enlarged primer pockets I would stuff 209's in them.

[rmb721]

Remington #97 primers are the same size as Winchester #209's.

The smaller primers that Remington used earlier were #57. CCI were #157

[singleshotbuff]

You gents are right, 57s not 97s. At least I was right that they are for Rem hulls. lol

SSB

[tommag]

You guys always come through.

[AllanD]

I have about a brick and a half of the very last 57* primers Remington made (mid 80's production green and orange boxes)

I still have a Civil defense can full of shotshells that they fit and when that
supply of primers is exhausted I'll feed the shells into my coal stove
and recover the brass from the ashes.

I have plenty of other shells that take "normal" sized primers.

AD

[M_59]

Those #57 primers work good in the convert-a-pell's though. They allow you to shoot pellets in your .22 centerfire rifle using the primer as propellant. I think they advertise getting something like 800 or more fps with them.

[DLCTEX]

M 59: Thanks! I was wondering what use I could find for the 57 primers I have, Proper size primer hole to fire gluelits. DALE