Old Shotshell Primers

[OrdellRobbie]

I was recently given an older MEC Sizemaster and reloading components. Been reloading rifle and pistol brass intermitently for a good while. I believe the press, powder and primers(cci 157 &109) are 15-20 years old, stored inside and no rust inside or outside the cans. One pound of wincher 540 has a price tag of $6.97.

The Lyman 2nd edition Shotshell Handbook(1976) calls for

12ga 2 3/4 Remington or Peters SP Plastic
1 1/4 oz shot
32gr HS-6 powder
CCI 157 primer
win WAAA12R wad
1335 fps
9820 pressure rated as(L.U.P)?

Using once fired rem cheap hull, heavy dove or sure shot, the CCI 157s just fall out. The 109s fit well(not that im loading it that way). I read here that the 157s are obselete only good for old rem hulls. Also read the load data for a rem hull is for all rem hulls.

Obviously i need a new book but can the 109s work. i know changing any component is a no no, just wondering if this data is close to what the young bucks are using nowadays.

Have HS-6 and WIn 540 powder. Also have couple trashbags of hulls that were stored in a Texas attic which is hot. oh the wads are:WAA12R, rem SP12, rem R 12H. The charge bar say 1 1/4 yet some of the wads say 1 1/8.

Im pretty sure the powder is fine and the primers are just outdated unless the hulls are okay still.

I know im asking alot of questions and may not know what i have, but any advice will be appreciated. This is just alittle different than rifle reloading.

 

[rcmodel]

#157 primers are smaller then modern #209 primers, and were meant to be used in older Rem hulls that used smaller primers.

They should not be used in anything else including modern Rem hulls.

CCI #109 are nickle plated #209 and should be fine.

rc

 

[drsfmd]

The 157 fits the old "blue magic" hull. If you have a large enough supply of them, I'm sure someone would be willing to buy them...

 

[TonyT]

At one time Remington and Winchester used two different sized primers Win 209 & Rem 57. The CCI 157 is the Rem 57 sized prmer which fits some old Remington hulls. I still use it in 16 ga loads with some old R-P cases. Winchester finally "won" the size wars and Remington adopted the Winchester size so all modern cases use the Win 209 primer size.

 

[Uniquedot]

Obviously i need a new book but can the 109s work. i know changing any component is a no no, just wondering if this data is close to what the young bucks are using nowadays.

They are the same as cci 209 and are interchangeable with any data calling for cci 209. The 157's were indeed cci's version of Remington 57's don't toss the primers as all of Remington's older cases used them and you will likely run across some hulls for them at some point or will run into someone that needs them. I use them in some mohawk branded hulls and several Remington hulls in both 12 and 20 gauge a few times a year. It's impossible to use them in any other hull as you already know they wont stay put.

 

[gamestalker]

I have 55 gal bags full of once fired Blue Magics, and those 157's work well with them. But on that note too, I have not had issues with 209's working with the Blue Magic. They do seem to fit a bit tighter than a 157 does in those old BM's. But I wouldn't use them with other hulls if they feel loose fitting, or as you stated, fall out.

GS

 

[TonyT]

gamestalker,
I have never seen Peters Blue Magic hulls with the Rem 57 sized primer. All of mine use the Win 209 sized primer. Those must be real old hulls.

 

[MW3840]

I'm with TonyT on this one.