Strange Headstamp on .45 ACP

[Sam Adams]

I was sizing/depriming, belling and then priming some .45 ACP brass that I picked up this past weekend at the range, and I found 5 cases of "WIN NT" brass. I'm sure that it is Winchester, but I have no idea what "NT" means. Also, I couldn't prime these cases because the pockets were too small (yeah, I know, I've got to ream them out).

Does anyone know what "WIN NT" means? Thanks.

 

[trickyasafox]

win nt is small primer pocket 45 acp brass. it was introduced in a new line of winchester ammo. if you use small primers on it, it works fine, i think it came out with the win clean line maybe? i forget but its good brass.

 

[HighVelocity]

NT means non-toxic. That ammo comes in a green and gold box.

 

[Sam Adams]

Thanks much, tricky. I was all set to swage the primer pockets tonight, but I'll do the simpler and easier task of using small primers.

Question: Does the use of the smaller primers change the amount of powder that I should use? If so, I'm junking the brass - for 5 cases it doesn't pay to experiment (especially since I've got over 2,000 cases that are sized, belled and primed, all ready to be loaded with powder and bullets).

 

[stoky]

The flash hole in the NT head stamped brass is quite a bit larger. Could this be an issue with quick small grained powders like Bullseye? Do you reload these trickyasafox?

 

[Khornet]

I wouldn't bother

with NT brass. I pitch every one I find, after cursing it. Last thing I want to have while loading is different components on the bench at one time.

That said, the larger flash hole is not a problem. There is another brand of NT ammo, or maybe it was the earlier Win Clean, that had a large flash hole but normal large primer (in .45) which was declared by the maker to require no change in loading practices.

Best loading practice for NT is to load into the trash after flattening.

 

[Sam Adams]

Best loading practice for NT is to load into the trash after flattening.

For 5 cases, this is what I'm going to do.

 

[~z]

Sam wait... I have been curious to do some "testing" in that stuff. If you come across any more, I'll gladly buy/trade with you. I have been keeping an eye out for some since I first heard of it, as of lately, I have not seen any spent cases at the range and have yet to look into actually buying "pre-loaded ammunition". PM me if you might be interested.
~z

 

[rchernandez]

The "Win-Clean" box of ammo says the primers are lead-free (?) The box also notes that the cases are "non-reloadable". Those cases will cause problems for progressive reloaders with case collators/feeders. I bought a box to try. The ammo feels just any other FMJ round. My brass catcher caught them all and I promptly forgot all about them until they cycled around into my bucket of clean brass...fortunately I was loading on a single stage. Brass looks real good, I might just try reloading them...except I only use Alliant's Bullseye.

 

[Jim Watson]

I did some testing when the first batch of small primer NT showed up here.
Loads in NT brass with small pistol primer gave an average of 40 fps lower velocity than the same powder charge and bullet in ACP brass with large pistol primer. Use of a small pistol magnum primer or a small rifle primer gained back part or all of that velocity drop, or even showed a small gain, depending on the powder used. Or, if velocity - power factor mattered a lot, you could just increase the load a few tenths of a grain of powder till the chronograph read what you needed. With all usual care as to maximum published loads and "pressure signs."

So it can be used if you have enough of it to bother with setting up for small primers under a .45 shellholder.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Funny...I have no problem loading them and they make very good range brass as who cares if they get lost... Federal also loads NT...

 

[trickyasafox]

i have a very limited number of them (30 or so) i use for wax rounds. seems easiest to keep seperated from the rest of my 45 brass because of the primer difference. since its in a semi auto, i did not bother to bore out the flash hole as i dont care if the primer sets back any. i'll check to see if the flash hole is larger, i didnt really pay it any mind. worked fine for the application i had intended them for