Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Primer question for Mule Deer

Winchester 1-618-258-2738 Sharon.

fwiw
I never had any problems with the silver colored Win WLR primers.
The problem started for me with the change to the brass colored version out now.
Thanks for the info 10gaugemag.
Tim

The Great Ammo Scare of a couple years ago caught me flat footed regarding small pistol primers, with which I prime my Hornet cases. My 86 year old shooting buddy donated a couple sleeves of truly ancient Alcan SP primers from his mountain of supplies that largely dates back to the 60's. I immediately noticed a marked improvement with my Hornet cast bullet loads (which have largely replaced my .22RF shooting) over those previously loaded with CCI SP primers. Then I found myself dreading running out of them and having to go back to "modern" primers. Frank laughed and gave me the rest of his stash- a whole case of them.

He also gave me a large pile of old (30's-40's vintage?) FA-70 primers (Frankford Arsenal). Corrosive LR primers used for all gov't rifle ammo from the 20's to the early 50's, but with the reputation among handloaders of a bygone era as being very consistent in nature and immune to adverse storage conditions/usage conditions (which was why the gov't stuck with them long after the rest of the country went to non-corrosive types). What the heck, I thought, might as well try them. Darned if they don't work beautifully (no accuracy difference from the Holy CCI's I normally use) and are a welcome addition to the "rainy day" primer stash. So what if I have to thoroughly clean the bore after shooting them- I clean it anyway.

I called the contact 10gaugemag noted above and left a message. I received a call back in 3 hours from Sharon.

She will be sending packaging for me to return some of the failures I still have.
She also will be sending packaging to return the primers I have on hand (hazmat).

She said the newer primers (my lots go back to 2008) are without problems and will replace old returned with new.

She asked about gun damage, but I didn't feel I had enough to warrant repair.

She would not actually admit to a problem, just the offer to make replacement.

Sounds ok so far.

Tim

I'm going to check the lots on the WLR and WLRM I have.



P

Good for you.

I still wish they would just reveal the lot numbers that have had issues so we don't have to guess. They surely have some info on that by now.

As it is I'm still going with Plan B.

Yea...I'd like lot numbers, but I think my "brass" win primers are only about 3 years old...most I've heard about appear to be older.

Update:

On a whim, I called the number above and got Sharon, live. I gave her the lot numbers I had on hand and she is sending out packaging for returning them. I've got to say that I'm impressed with her and with the company's response. Stuff happens; what matters is how it's handled. This is much better than Plan B.

Are we talking pierced primers?

Are there any reports of this same burn through failures of WLRM Magnum large rifle primers or only the WLR standard large rifle primers.

In searching, the common factors seem to be:
WLR Std large rifle primers
Copper colored cups
Blue box
Lot numbers beginning with "C" or "D" (mostly "D")

I don't have any WLR primers, but I do have about 3000 WLRM primers. I'd like to know if this problem has been seen in the WLRM primers or if the WLRM are probably GTG.

No. The failures are cup failures around the corners or edges.

The list I have involves many lot numbers, not just C or D. One of the lots I'm sending back per Winchester starts with H.

Where does one get the list Pappy?

HLL?

I started with a list I picked up here on another thread, from JB I think. The rest I gathered from other websites by googling " defective Winchester primers" or something of the sort. The list is by no means comprehensive or authoritative, simply a compilation of internet chatter from folks claiming to have experienced problems with the Winny LRs. Take it for what it is.

The best thing to do, I believe, is to contact Winchester at the number listed above and ask about the lot numbers you have. Neither of the lot numbers I have was listed anywhere, but Winchester is still going to recall and replace them.

I'll update the list I posted earlier in a bit, after linking up my Bluetooth keyboard to my iPad.

Okay, here's what I've got.

Once again, these lot numbers are simply ones that have been reported as problematic by internet posters. I have no way of knowing if the information is correct, or that other lots not listed are okay. It's your responsibility to contact Winchester for specific information.

LOTS REPORTED BY USERS ONLINE:

CAL401G
CFL486G
CLL555G
DAL594G
DFL717G
DHL766G
DNL 837G
DNL836G
EAL234G
GDL 225G
GEL 250G
DML834G WLR
EAL234G WLRM
CLL555G
CCL435G
EHL067G
DHL774G
DHL788G
DAL594G
CAL401G
GDL255G
GFL284G
DGL741G
FEL255G
DGL731G
DKL801G
HLL692G
DHL765G
DFL713G
DLL826G
DFL723G
DEL690G
CLL552G
DGL747G

LOTS IN MY POSSESSION RECALLED BY WINCHESTER:

CGL499G
HKL687G

I have these:

WLRM
HAL340G
HBL349G
HFL382G
KEL424G

WLR
HCL501G
DHL762G
KDL044G
YAL243G
YAL245G

None of these lots are on the list so far.




P

As noted a couple of times above, the list is just a list of internet chatter. I quit searching when I got tired of writing down numbers, not because there weren't more to write. What it tells me is that there were a lot of affected lots. Winchester hasn't gone so far as to issue a general recall, but is for now willing to address the issue case by case.

Be safe and call.

Pappy,

That's a LOT more than I came up with after making a similar Internet search a year or so ago.

Thanks for the list Pappy. I've got four full boxes of WLR's and one box of WLRM's - all purchased in the last three years or so. None match the numbers on the list but some are only off by a digit or two. Excellent info on the contact at Winchester - will call Monday and see what they say about my lot numbers.

About half way thru another WLR box (lot number also not on the list) purchased in the same general timeframe and never noticed any issues - need to go take a close look at the bolts on those rifles also.

Great info everyone - will post my experience and lot numbers after the call with Winchester.