Current Winchester Primer Quality

[slowr1der]

How's the current quality on Winchester primers? A few years ago I had issues with some WLR primers leaking and etching the bolt face, despite having good luck previously. There were tons of complaints online around that time of the same problem. So I quit using that batch and switched to CCI and S&B. I never had any plans to go back to Winchester after that.

However, this latest Sportsman's sale coincided with me needing to get some more primers. Unfortunately they were sold out of the CCI's that I needed, so I ordered some Winchester Small Rifle and Large Pistol primers. I haven't picked them up from the store yet, so I can still cancel my order and I'm really having second thoughts. Did I mess up? I don't want to deal with leaky problems, ruining bolt faces, or any other issues. Should I cancel my order and just pay an extra $7-9 per k to get CCI elsewhere, or have they fixed the quality issues here?

 

[sparkyv]

I'm using WLR primers in loads for the 460 S&W with no issues, but they were purchased three years ago. Not exactly "current".

 

[Blue68f100]

I don't have any current ones mine are 5+ yrs old that Winchester sent me when I had some bad ones. If you still have some that are bad and have the casing to show they are blowing, contact Winchester. They will replace the primers, normally at a 2-1 ratio. I went through that 7 yrs ago. They also paid for repair to my gun.

 

[Chuck R.]

I'm running a lot(s) from last year: WSR, WSP, WLR and WLP and am not having any issues.

 

[243winxb]

No issues seen online since about 2016. I would buy any/all Winchester primers. Currently using WLP & WSPM.

My old album at Photobucket still has the OLD photos & dates.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Some of their past issue was enough to pretty much put me off them since there were some many alternatives. I was given some recently and tried them out to see if there had been much change.

I found that they still had issues feeding through a Vibraprime (too wide) or the new DAA Primer Pro (sticky lube)

 

[entropy]

Never had problems with Win. primers. Their 209 is my favorite shotgun primer. Bought WLP's when I couldn't get CCI's , they worked fine. The only primers I ever had a problem with was Magtech Large Pistol, the Glock 21 I had some years ago sometimes wouldn't set them off, but my RIA 1911 and Hi-Point JHP did 100%.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

I am loading and shooting thousands of WLR primers right now and have not had a problem. The only problem I have had w/ them recently was not finding the 10k I need, so I had to buy CCI.

 

[RainDodger]

About 4 years ago, I also had a problem with Winchester primers. They were failing/perforating, right on the shoulders where they transition from the vertical sides to the horizontal face. By the time I noticed it (on ONE shooting day), they had eroded a crater-like circle on the bolt face of my Sako .243. I was not a happy camper. I contacted Winchester and went back and forth with them. I sent a brick of primers back to them to verify, which they did. I sent them pictures of the ruined bolt face and a photo of the receipt for the new bolt that I finally found. They never told me the results of their tests, but they replaced the primers and they reimbursed me $390 for the Sako replacement bolt. New bolts for a 1973 Sako L579 are not a commonly found item! Of course I had to pay the gunsmith to set the headspace, but that's the way it goes. I felt very happy with Winchester for the way they handled it, though it took about 6 months. I've been using (and being VERY observant) Winchester primers recently, with no problems.

 

[jmr40]

Winchester had an problem with certain lots of primers a few years ago. Since it wasn't considered dangerous they didn't issue a recall, but they did replace certain lot numbers if you called them. I've never had a problem.

 

[Walkalong]

The only issue I have with them is the newer brass WSR primers cannot take pressure the way the old nickle plated WSR primers could. I pierced my first ever primer in a bolt gun with them. Rounded edges on those pierced primers. Never again, cost me a new firing pin. CCI-450s took/take the same pressure with no problem.

 

[SlowFuse]

I had those issues with the Win SP primers 4-5 years ago. I sent pics to them and they sent me a prepaid card for the retail value of a pack of 1K. I didnt spend the card on more Win primers, in fact like one other said theres too many choices to have to picked them back up.

Since its been a while may have to try them again!

 

[Axis II]

Well crap.. I hope the Winchester Small pistol primers I just had the misses grab tonight will be okay. Will be using with RMR, BE8, HP38 and our M&P and Smith revolvers.