When did Winchester change their primers?

Salmoneye · August 30, 2012, 10:44 AM

Running out of my old stock of WLR primers, so I bought some 'new' WLR' today...

Old packaging states: "Large Rifle For Standard Or Magnum Rifle Loads"

New packaging states: "Large Rifle For Standard Loads"

In looking I see now that they also sell a WLRM primers for 'Magnum' loads...

Did they actually change the primer yet keep the old designation, or is this a case of marketing two different packages with the same contents?

Is the WLR the same old WLR, and they made a new hotter WLRM?

I will reduce loads and work back up, but my pet loads are not near max to begin with, so I probably won't be able to see an appreciable difference...I just wondered why the 'change'...

roberto mervicini · August 30, 2012, 11:17 AM

Exactly when the change tooke place I can't tell but I would say around 10 yrs ago, maybe more... when it happen I did not change my loads for neither the reg. or magnum rifles, I simply use the new primers for the loads prescribed and frankly I did not notice any appreciable difference.
I am not a competition shooter, if my rifles are working within 1 MOA I am satisfied.

Sport45 · August 30, 2012, 10:49 PM

My WLR primers don't say anything about magnum and I've probably had them more than 10 years.

The WLP primers say that, but I don't recall ever seeing WLR double-duty primers. Not saying they weren't made, just haven't seen them.

Salmoneye · August 31, 2012, 05:03 AM

Sport45 · August 31, 2012, 05:16 AM

Cool. Can you make out any kind of date code on them? My WLR are all blue box.

roberto mervicini · August 31, 2012, 08:21 AM

Both are blue boxes, the WLR and the WLRM, the old boxes are the white marked FOR STANDARD or MAGNUM LOAD.

jimbob86 · August 31, 2012, 08:39 AM

Dunno ..... but when I started uing a CCI 250 mag primers under my deer loads, I got better performance than I did with the old white boxed "Winchester Large Rifle or Magnum Rifle" primers.....

The blue boxed WLP primers I have still say "standard or magnum loads" ..... don't know if that's changed .....had them awhile, as I don't shoot much .45 ACP anymore- too spendy.

Salmoneye · August 31, 2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Cool. Can you make out any kind of date code on them? My WLR are all blue box.

All I find are the lot numbers...

White box in the pic is: DAL223G4778

Blue box in the pic is; DDL671G

Both packages have the exact same bar code...

Paul B. · August 31, 2012, 07:12 PM

I had to go look.
White boxes marked, "For standard loads."
Later White boxes marked, "For standard or magnum loads." *
Blue box marked, "For standard loads.

* These were given to me about two years ago to epay me for loading up some ammo for my ex-son in law. I have a feeling the white box primers with both labels just might the the earlir Winchester primers that were hotter that what is in the blue boxes. I haven't loaded any from the blue boxes yet so haven't a clue.
Paul B.

cornbush · September 2, 2012, 08:24 AM

I have some of both, I have loaded with both, and I found no noticeable difference.

lll Otto lll · September 2, 2012, 12:08 PM

1999...........how time flies.

Salmoneye · September 2, 2012, 03:01 PM

Quote:

1999...........how time flies.

Since you know when, you must be able to answer the rest...

Did they change the primers and keep the same WLR designation and bar codes on the packaging, or as I suspect, did they simply change the packaging and start making a slightly hotter primer that they call 'WLRM'?

jmorris · September 2, 2012, 09:37 PM

Before the AWB they were in white cases and were silver, some time after that they changed to blue cases and are gold. They also went from mag/standard to all the same.

August 30, 2012, 10:44 AM	#1
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	When did Winchester change their primers? Running out of my old stock of WLR primers, so I bought some 'new' WLR' today... Old packaging states: "Large Rifle For Standard Or Magnum Rifle Loads" New packaging states: "Large Rifle For Standard Loads" In looking I see now that they also sell a WLRM primers for 'Magnum' loads... Did they actually change the primer yet keep the old designation, or is this a case of marketing two different packages with the same contents? Is the WLR the same old WLR, and they made a new hotter WLRM? I will reduce loads and work back up, but my pet loads are not near max to begin with, so I probably won't be able to see an appreciable difference...I just wondered why the 'change'...

August 30, 2012, 10:49 PM	#3
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	My WLR primers don't say anything about magnum and I've probably had them more than 10 years. The WLP primers say that, but I don't recall ever seeing WLR double-duty primers. Not saying they weren't made, just haven't seen them. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

August 31, 2012, 05:16 AM	#5
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	Cool. Can you make out any kind of date code on them? My WLR are all blue box. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

August 31, 2012, 07:12 PM	#9
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	I had to go look. White boxes marked, "For standard loads." Later White boxes marked, "For standard or magnum loads." * Blue box marked, "For standard loads. * These were given to me about two years ago to epay me for loading up some ammo for my ex-son in law. I have a feeling the white box primers with both labels just might the the earlir Winchester primers that were hotter that what is in the blue boxes. I haven't loaded any from the blue boxes yet so haven't a clue. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

September 2, 2012, 08:24 AM	#10
cornbush Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: The retarded place below Idaho Posts: 1,408	I have some of both, I have loaded with both, and I found no noticeable difference. __________________ The best shot I ever made was an accident

August 30, 2012, 11:17 AM	#2
roberto mervicini Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2007 Location: Laval, Quebec, Canada Posts: 151	Exactly when the change tooke place I can't tell but I would say around 10 yrs ago, maybe more... when it happen I did not change my loads for neither the reg. or magnum rifles, I simply use the new primers for the loads prescribed and frankly I did not notice any appreciable difference. I am not a competition shooter, if my rifles are working within 1 MOA I am satisfied.

August 31, 2012, 05:03 AM	#4
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076

August 31, 2012, 08:21 AM	#6
roberto mervicini Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2007 Location: Laval, Quebec, Canada Posts: 151	Both are blue boxes, the WLR and the WLRM, the old boxes are the white marked FOR STANDARD or MAGNUM LOAD.

August 31, 2012, 08:39 AM	#7
jimbob86 Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 8,722	Dunno ..... but when I started uing a CCI 250 mag primers under my deer loads, I got better performance than I did with the old white boxed "Winchester Large Rifle or Magnum Rifle" primers..... The blue boxed WLP primers I have still say "standard or magnum loads" ..... don't know if that's changed .....had them awhile, as I don't shoot much .45 ACP anymore- too spendy.

September 2, 2012, 12:08 PM	#11
lll Otto lll Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2008 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 295	When did Winchester change their primers? 1999...........how time flies.

September 2, 2012, 09:37 PM	#13
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	Before the AWB they were in white cases and were silver, some time after that they changed to blue cases and are gold. They also went from mag/standard to all the same.