Winchester WinClean - Reloadable?

FPrice · July 20, 2002, 09:31 PM

After reading a post from someone about WinClean ammo, I decided to try some. It actually shoots pretty well, at least in 9mm and .45ACP in my guns. The inside of the casing remains very clean after firing and there is MUCH less left inside the barrel than with most other brands of ammo.

However, in looking at the .45ACP cases, I noticed that the primer flash hole is big, at least 50% bigger than other ammo. I am wondering if this would cause any problem in re-using these cases?

Has anyone tried to reload these cases yet?

Jim Watson · July 20, 2002, 10:02 PM

Winchester put out a press release a while back that said they would reload normally. I do not sort them out of my mixed brass box.

cheygriz · July 21, 2002, 12:23 AM

They are loaded in standard Winchester brass, which is among the best available. You can definitely reload them.

jjmorgan64 · July 21, 2002, 05:42 AM

I've never had a problem, treating it like normal brass.

FPrice · July 21, 2002, 09:54 PM

Thanks for all the help.

blades67 · July 22, 2002, 01:30 AM

Too bad we can't get the WinClean powder and primers as well. I wouldn't mind making some (almost

) selfcleaning ammo.

Chuck McDonald · July 22, 2002, 10:36 AM

Trust me on this...you do NOT want the "winclean" primers. They are not shelf stable, and produce ammo with limited shelf life... they may resolve that problem some day...but at the moment they have a long way to go.

I have 1915 head stamp ammo (.45 ACP) that works like a champ even today.... the new stuff won't last....IIRC the shelf life on the new primer is like two years.

FWIW

Chuck

FPrice · July 22, 2002, 12:37 PM

"Trust me on this...you do NOT want the "winclean" primers. They are not shelf stable, and produce ammo with limited shelf life... "

Do you know why this is? Is it a by-product (intentional or otherwise) of producing a cleaner-burning primer? I am curious, as this product line matures, and some gets left on the shelf for an extended time, how would one know if the ammo is still good?

This bit of info begs a few questions.

July 20, 2002, 09:31 PM	#1
FPrice Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: People's Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,456	Winchester WinClean - Reloadable? After reading a post from someone about WinClean ammo, I decided to try some. It actually shoots pretty well, at least in 9mm and .45ACP in my guns. The inside of the casing remains very clean after firing and there is MUCH less left inside the barrel than with most other brands of ammo. However, in looking at the .45ACP cases, I noticed that the primer flash hole is big, at least 50% bigger than other ammo. I am wondering if this would cause any problem in re-using these cases? Has anyone tried to reload these cases yet? __________________ Frosty Price "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai

July 21, 2002, 12:23 AM	#3
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	They are loaded in standard Winchester brass, which is among the best available. You can definitely reload them. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

July 21, 2002, 05:42 AM	#4
jjmorgan64 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2001 Posts: 519	I've never had a problem, treating it like normal brass. __________________ The Forty-Four spoke and it sent lead and smoke And seventeen inches of flame. -Marty Robbins JM

July 21, 2002, 09:54 PM	#5
FPrice Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: People's Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,456	Thanks for all the help. __________________ Frosty Price "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai

July 22, 2002, 01:30 AM	#6
blades67 Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 1999 Location: Chandler, Arizona, USA Posts: 6,014	Too bad we can't get the WinClean powder and primers as well. I wouldn't mind making some (almost) selfcleaning ammo. __________________ Guns cause crime like spoons cause Rosie O'Donnell to be fat! I hunt, therefore I am.

July 20, 2002, 10:02 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Winchester put out a press release a while back that said they would reload normally. I do not sort them out of my mixed brass box.

July 22, 2002, 10:36 AM	#7
Chuck McDonald Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2002 Location: Tejas Posts: 179	Clean components Trust me on this...you do NOT want the "winclean" primers. They are not shelf stable, and produce ammo with limited shelf life... they may resolve that problem some day...but at the moment they have a long way to go. I have 1915 head stamp ammo (.45 ACP) that works like a champ even today.... the new stuff won't last....IIRC the shelf life on the new primer is like two years. FWIW Chuck __________________ Fear God and Dreadnought

July 22, 2002, 12:37 PM	#8
FPrice Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: People's Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,456	Chuck... "Trust me on this...you do NOT want the "winclean" primers. They are not shelf stable, and produce ammo with limited shelf life... " Do you know why this is? Is it a by-product (intentional or otherwise) of producing a cleaner-burning primer? I am curious, as this product line matures, and some gets left on the shelf for an extended time, how would one know if the ammo is still good? This bit of info begs a few questions. __________________ Frosty Price "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai