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Thread: Old WCC primers

  1. #1
    Boolit Master

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    Old WCC primers

    I picked up a bunch of these yesterday. Any idea how old they might be?

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  2. #2
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    Lot WCC-82 1982 me thinks

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    Western Cartridge Co. no longer existed in 1982 and by then had been absorbed into Olin Defense Corp.

    If they were 1982 manufacture they would be identified by different nomenclature with an NSN or DODIC number.

    I think these are WW2 or Korean era.

    Are the primers round domed or flat?
    Nickle plated or brass colored?
    Blue lacquer or red or clear?
    Is the inner tray wood or plastic?
    If plastic inner tray is it black or some other color?
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  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pressman View Post
    Lot WCC-82 1982 me thinks

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    From this photo me thinks not!

    These are earlier than 82 but the Contract number is higher. I would guess 50-60's. Maybe someone else can tell us more from the Contract #'s.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Outpost75 View Post
    Western Cartridge Co. no longer existed in 1982 and by then had been absorbed into Olin Defense Corp.

    If they were 1982 manufacture they would be identified by different nomenclature with an NSN or DODIC number.

    I think these are WW2 or Korean era.

    Are the primers round domed or flat?
    Nickle plated or brass colored?
    Blue lacquer or red or clear?
    Is the inner tray wood or plastic?
    If plastic inner tray is it black or some other color?
    Tray on mine is wood.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    GONRA sez - save these for a Cartridge Collector!
    Sell 'em - use $$$ to by some Fresh Commercial Production.
    Everybody wins!

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    Wood trays date them before about 1970, they would be round domed, rather than flat, and probably have a 3-leg anvil with either clear lacquer on unplated brass cup, or red lacquer in nickle plated cup. Correct?
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  8. #8
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by Outpost75 View Post
    Western Cartridge Co. no longer existed in 1982 and by then had been absorbed into Olin Defense Corp.

    If they were 1982 manufacture they would be identified by different nomenclature with an NSN or DODIC number.

    I think these are WW2 or Korean era.

    Are the primers round domed or flat?
    Nickle plated or brass colored?
    Blue lacquer or red or clear?
    Is the inner tray wood or plastic?
    If plastic inner tray is it black or some other color?
    Domed brass primers, wood tray, 3 leg anvil; I don't see any lacquer. I was thinking I'd eventually use them up in the Garand, maybe save the boxes if there was any collectability to them. I bought 17 boxes, cheaper than new primers.

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fatelk View Post
    Domed brass primers, wood tray, 3 leg anvil; I don't see any lacquer. I was thinking I'd eventually use them up in the Garand, maybe save the boxes if there was any collectability to them. I bought 17 boxes, cheaper than new primers.
    Might carefully inspect the wooden insert for primer dust. If there is NONE, they are clear lacquered, which military noncorrosive primers were. If there is yellow-green light dusting of the wooden liner, you might want to test the primers to be sure they are the later lead styphnate mix, and not the pre-1952 corrosive ones
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  10. #10
    Boolit Master

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    I don't see any sign of any dust, so there must be some clear lacquer. I assumed that they were non-corrosive because of the label that says "Non-Corrosive".

    Click image for larger version. 

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  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fatelk View Post
    I don't see any sign of any dust, so there must be some clear lacquer. I assumed that they were non-corrosive because of the label that says "Non-Corrosive".

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Clear lacquer, you are good to go! Thanks for the pic! Primers are late 1950s to late 1960s.
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  12. #12
    Boolit Master

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    Cool, thank you!

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by fatelk View Post
    Domed brass primers, wood tray, 3 leg anvil; I don't see any lacquer. I was thinking I'd eventually use them up in the Garand, maybe save the boxes if there was any collectability to them. I bought 17 boxes, cheaper than new primers.
    I still have several hundred of these I bought ~20 years ago... they shoot good!!!

  14. #14
    Boolit Master

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    I figured that for a dollar a box I couldn’t go wrong. Combined with the ammo can full of five cent pulled M2 bullets I’ve had for ten or twelve years, all I need is some inexpensive 4895.

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master Char-Gar's Avatar
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    I have tried several times seating round faced primers with a flat face priming punch and have never been happy with the result. I keep a set of 4 Pacific Primer Arms around just in case. They are large (flat and round) and small (flat and round). Just saying....
    Disclaimer: The above is not holy writ. It is just my opinion based on my experience and knowledge. Your mileage may vary.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check