Head Stamp!

poline · September 7, 2010, 09:01 PM

Does anyone know what the following head stamp in 45 acp means. thanks for all and any response.
[ AP 02 ]

m&p45acp10+1 · September 7, 2010, 09:48 PM

For .45 acp I do not worry about headstamp. I have 4 types I sort by.
1. Steel/aluminum cases - those go in the trashcan.
2. Split/badly deformed - those go in the trashcan
3. Small primer - those go in a coffee can for those trips to go plinking, or to the ranges that act like you are stealing if you pick up your own brass.
4. Large primer in reloadable condition - those get sized/decapped, and belled then put in a 5 gal. bucket. Then all I have to do is prime, charge, and seat/crimp.
I have too many other things to do than sort by headstamp. It would take too long to do that with the 3 5 gal. buckets full that I have of it.

poline · September 7, 2010, 10:10 PM

Whoa!!!!!!! What is this small primer thing? Are you saying that there is 45acp brass that uses small primer? Can one use small primer in 45 acp?
Can the small primer pocket be enlarge to take Large primers?

Michaelm45 · September 7, 2010, 10:24 PM

Could be Arms Corporation of the Philippines. 02 could be the year.
Yes, some cases use a small primer.
No, they cannot be enlarged.

Shoney · September 8, 2010, 04:36 AM

According to the Cartridge Collectors web site which lists known head stamp codes, AP could stand for:

Arms Corporation of the Philippines, Parang, Marikina City, Metro Manila, 1800 Republic of the Philippines (formally Squires Bingham Co.)

or

Unknown Factory, France

The 02 is the year of manufacture.

Sevens · September 8, 2010, 08:58 AM

There is some Fiochhi head stamped .45 Auto brass that uses a small pistol primer. Also, Win NT (non-toxic) uses a small primer.

I believe they are the scourge of the earth and will cause primer detonation at the bench for any poor soul who has one of these infiltrate their load bench.

demigod · September 8, 2010, 09:31 AM

It's ARMOR PIERCING of course!!

m&p45acp10+1 · September 8, 2010, 02:47 PM

I have found 3 different headstamps with small primer pockets. W-W (Winchester), Blazer Brass, and a few Federal. I can spot them when sorting my brass. I trhow them in a coffee can to the side. I have loaded some of them with standard SP primers for my 200 grain home cast LSWC with Bull's Eye. They shot the same. If you do not shoot anything that uses SP primers you can either scrap them and sell to a recycler, or throw them away.

poline · September 8, 2010, 03:59 PM

So, if one had 45acp with small primers [I think I have some by S&B] one would start with the starting low and work up? The large primer just won't phyically fit in the pocket, right???????

**Unclenick** · September 8, 2010, 04:25 PM

That's correct. Small primers are used for non-toxic (NT) lead-free loads because the lead styphnate sensitizing compound used in standard primers is replaced in them with ddnt (diazo-dinitro-phenol) which explodes more violently than lead styphnate. As a result of that explosive violence, they need either to reduce the primer compound quantity or widen the flash hole or do both in order to be sure the priming charge doesn't actually blow the primer cup open.

I've never heard of anyone having trouble reloading these, but you obviously do have to segregate them from your normal brass. Personally, I toss them just to prevent a mixup.

There is a good article lead-free ammo and NT primers, here.

This is a link to the Cartridgecollectors.org list of headstamps.

September 7, 2010, 09:01 PM	#1
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	Head Stamp! Does anyone know what the following head stamp in 45 acp means. thanks for all and any response. [ AP 02 ]

September 7, 2010, 09:48 PM	#2
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	For .45 acp I do not worry about headstamp. I have 4 types I sort by. 1. Steel/aluminum cases - those go in the trashcan. 2. Split/badly deformed - those go in the trashcan 3. Small primer - those go in a coffee can for those trips to go plinking, or to the ranges that act like you are stealing if you pick up your own brass. 4. Large primer in reloadable condition - those get sized/decapped, and belled then put in a 5 gal. bucket. Then all I have to do is prime, charge, and seat/crimp. I have too many other things to do than sort by headstamp. It would take too long to do that with the 3 5 gal. buckets full that I have of it. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

September 7, 2010, 10:24 PM	#4
Michaelm45 Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2004 Location: NV Posts: 215	AP 02 Could be Arms Corporation of the Philippines. 02 could be the year. Yes, some cases use a small primer. No, they cannot be enlarged.

September 8, 2010, 04:36 AM	#5
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	According to the Cartridge Collectors web site which lists known head stamp codes, AP could stand for: Arms Corporation of the Philippines, Parang, Marikina City, Metro Manila, 1800 Republic of the Philippines (formally Squires Bingham Co.) or Unknown Factory, France The 02 is the year of manufacture. __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

September 8, 2010, 08:58 AM	#6
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	There is some Fiochhi head stamped .45 Auto brass that uses a small pistol primer. Also, Win NT (non-toxic) uses a small primer. I believe they are the scourge of the earth and will cause primer detonation at the bench for any poor soul who has one of these infiltrate their load bench. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

September 7, 2010, 10:10 PM	#3
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	Whoa!!!!!!! What is this small primer thing? Are you saying that there is 45acp brass that uses small primer? Can one use small primer in 45 acp? Can the small primer pocket be enlarge to take Large primers?

September 8, 2010, 09:31 AM	#7
demigod Junior member Join Date: March 13, 2008 Location: AZ Posts: 1,129	It's ARMOR PIERCING of course!!

September 8, 2010, 02:47 PM	#8
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I have found 3 different headstamps with small primer pockets. W-W (Winchester), Blazer Brass, and a few Federal. I can spot them when sorting my brass. I trhow them in a coffee can to the side. I have loaded some of them with standard SP primers for my 200 grain home cast LSWC with Bull's Eye. They shot the same. If you do not shoot anything that uses SP primers you can either scrap them and sell to a recycler, or throw them away. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

September 8, 2010, 03:59 PM	#9
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	So, if one had 45acp with small primers [I think I have some by S&B] one would start with the starting low and work up? The large primer just won't phyically fit in the pocket, right???????

September 8, 2010, 04:25 PM	#10
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	That's correct. Small primers are used for non-toxic (NT) lead-free loads because the lead styphnate sensitizing compound used in standard primers is replaced in them with ddnt (diazo-dinitro-phenol) which explodes more violently than lead styphnate. As a result of that explosive violence, they need either to reduce the primer compound quantity or widen the flash hole or do both in order to be sure the priming charge doesn't actually blow the primer cup open. I've never heard of anyone having trouble reloading these, but you obviously do have to segregate them from your normal brass. Personally, I toss them just to prevent a mixup. There is a good article lead-free ammo and NT primers, here. This is a link to the Cartridgecollectors.org list of headstamps. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle