White River Energetics Primers

Shovel

Shovel

Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2020
Messages
47
Location
Central Arkansas
Nice day so I motorcycled out to Des Arc, Arkansas and dropped in Garth Hardware to look for the advertised "medium" primers from the White River Energetics web site. Obviously a web site designer typo, but heck, I could have had some real collectables.

Guess since Des Arc is a small town having a cop immediately park across the street and a plainclothes type show up in the store and tailgate me shouldn't be unexpected, but it was annoying. Not as annoying as the $10/100 price tag on the primers, though. Wound up getting a couples sleeves each of LP & SR to test against existing loads.

They look well made, the shoulders on the WRE primers are considerably more squared off than the Winchesters I normally use. Will post results when I get around to it.
 

Attachments

  • WRE1.jpg
    WRE1.jpg
    67.4 KB · Views: 64
  • WRE2.jpg
    WRE2.jpg
    97.2 KB · Views: 64
  • WRE3.jpg
    WRE3.jpg
    166.8 KB · Views: 64
Do these look like Ginex or Zurom in new packaging:)?

How many did they have? Did you talk to the proprietor about supply and prospects for the future or anything else? Has he (or did you) go to the mfr’s site and take pictures?

So far, there have been primer sightings with Republic Ammunition in Ohio (someone here bought some I thought?), this hardware store place, and hard to believe (I mean really really hard to believe) some in New Zealand. Interesting rollout.
 
CQB45ACP said:
Do these look like Ginex or Zurom in new packaging:)?

How many did they have? Did you talk to the proprietor about supply and prospects for the future or anything else? Has he (or did you) go to the mfr’s site and take pictures?

So far, there have been primer sightings with Republic Ammunition in Ohio (someone here bought some I thought?), this hardware store place, and hard to believe (I mean really really hard to believe) some in New Zealand. Interesting rollout.
Click to expand...
We seem to have a good supply here in New Zealand of the WRE in both rifle sizes, pistol looks like one size only at most suppliers. As performance wise, looks like Whinchester heat and Fedral consistency - hardness and sensitivity levels good with a hot Palma IMR4166 load in cooler weekend competition matching the CCI load performance being ignited consistently.
Price wise $250/1000 range but then again only getting the odd Federal or CCI small shipments and they were getting upto $400.00 a box. Used to be around $60.00 to $80.00 per 1000 until a few years ago in New Zealand dollars including shipping out of the USA, gone are the days of cheap components.
Also seeing the European supplies coming in like Genix but RWS which we used to get is still missing.
 
NZ308 said:
We seem to have a good supply here in New Zealand of the WRE in both rifle sizes, pistol looks like one size only at most suppliers. As performance wise, looks like Whinchester heat and Fedral consistency - hardness and sensitivity levels good with a hot Palma IMR4166 load in cooler weekend competition matching the CCI load performance being ignited consistently.
Price wise $250/1000 range but then again only getting the odd Federal or CCI small shipments and they were getting upto $400.00 a box. Used to be around $60.00 to $80.00 per 1000 until a few years ago in New Zealand dollars including shipping out of the USA, gone are the days of cheap components.
Also seeing the European supplies coming in like Genix but RWS which we used to get is still missing.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum!

Is reloading a big thing in NZ?
 
CQB45ACP said:
Do these look like Ginex or Zurom in new packaging:)?

How many did they have? Did you talk to the proprietor about supply and prospects for the future or anything else? Has he (or did you) go to the mfr’s site and take pictures?

So far, there have been primer sightings with Republic Ammunition in Ohio (someone here bought some I thought?), this hardware store place, and hard to believe (I mean really really hard to believe) some in New Zealand. Interesting rollout.
Click to expand...
Have never looked at Ginex or Zurom, so can't answer. The clerk at the store talked about the manufacturing plant being 4 miles up the road, and I rode by - it appears to exist.

Store shelves behind the counter looked to have 10K or so of the 4 common primers. When I show up in my beat up truck next time they'll probably be chattier. I'll do so on a week day and see about a plant tour.

Unless their pricing comes way down, I don't plan on buying more. I'm set for a long time.
 
CQB45ACP said:
Do these look like Ginex or Zurom in new packaging:)?

How many did they have? Did you talk to the proprietor about supply and prospects for the future or anything else? Has he (or did you) go to the mfr’s site and take pictures?

So far, there have been primer sightings with Republic Ammunition in Ohio (someone here bought some I thought?), this hardware store place, and hard to believe (I mean really really hard to believe) some in New Zealand. Interesting rollout.
Click to expand...
Where in Ohio is this?
 
CQB45ACP said:
This guy is experienced at testing new primers and did a number of them on YouTube.

youtu.be

Expansion Primers NO 🐂💩 TESTING #4 .45 ACP W/ Nighthawk Custom 5" 1911 😃Success?😃

In this video we continue testing expansion primers. Expansion Industries is a new primer company that is about to launch onto the market.Nighthawk Custom 19...
youtu.be youtu.be
Click to expand...

Seven months ago.
Smalls did not work in striker fired guns.
www.youtube.com

Expansion Primers NO 🐂💩 TESTING #5 9mm W/ Glock 17 Gen 5 and M&P Shield 1.0

In this video we continue testing expansion primers. Expansion Industries is a new primer company that is about to launch onto the market.Today we try the Gl...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

Four months ago. No progress.
www.youtube.com

Expansion Industries Primers Update July 2023 🫤 Not Looking Good At All.....Darn It.

Subscribe for many more videos!This is a July 2023 update video about Expansion Industries Primers.Expansion Playlist:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1qs...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

Comment said: Expansion filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in September 2023
 
Jim Watson said:
Seven months ago.
Smalls did not work in striker fired guns.
www.youtube.com

Expansion Primers NO 🐂💩 TESTING #5 9mm W/ Glock 17 Gen 5 and M&P Shield 1.0

In this video we continue testing expansion primers. Expansion Industries is a new primer company that is about to launch onto the market.Today we try the Gl...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

Four months ago. No progress.
www.youtube.com

Expansion Industries Primers Update July 2023 🫤 Not Looking Good At All.....Darn It.

Subscribe for many more videos!This is a July 2023 update video about Expansion Industries Primers.Expansion Playlist:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1qs...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

Comment said: Expansion filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in September 2023
Click to expand...
Yep. It was a scam from the start. But there were primers to test, an apparently legitimate outfit (Southern Defense) in the blocks waiting to sell from their website with pictures and everything (still showing on their website, BTW), a job fair, you name it. But never any primers to actually sell. Maybe none actually produced.
 
I loaded some 9mm P with White River SP primers yesterday and shot them today.
Mixed brass made evaluation difficult, but I got the idea they were a little harder than WW to seat in cases with tight primer pockets.
91 rounds in three guns; Colt 1991A1, SA Ultra Compact, and S&W Plastic M&P.
All fired. Indents were deep.

I will load some more and take the UC to a BUG match next weekend.

I gave some to a friend, 9mm to shoot in a Glock, primers to load in .38 Special to try in his tuned "Federal Only" Python.
 
Larry in wyoming said:
I hope they get wound up soon.. It will be nice to have another manufacturer to choose from.
Click to expand...
Don’t hold your breath:)

As @Jim Watson will surely tell you, on the BENOS forum there is ongoing conversation about these primers including purported direct conversations with White River. Check it out.

Part of that conversation includes this statement from an email “2024 is sold out for primers other than current OEM customers and new factory customers.“ And it goes on, “We do not directly sell our primers. However, we maintain a limited supply through our distributor in South Carolina.” Again, check that forum for the full discussion. It’s interesting.

I don’t pretend to understand White River’s rollout strategy such as private conversations with some folks including on THR and recruitment of individual influencers while at the same time not intending to sell directly to the public.

I personally would very much prefer a White River representative making official public comment for all to see here on THR and other forums. I know they’re reading us:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top