Hi All,
I've got a question, regarding when Remington, changed the 7 1/2 primers, from a 2 legged primer, to a 3 legged one.

I bought two bricks of what looked like current production 7 1/2 primers (got a good price, of course) at a gun show, a few months ago.

My wife and I were out of primers so, I grabed a brick and took 4 boxes out of it, two for each of us. To use at the match, last Saturday. I filled my capper and and had been capping the cases for a while, during the match and I finally noticed that they didn't look right so, I took a close look and saw that they only had 2 legs on the anvil. I had always thought that they had 3 legs but, since I was out, I couldn't compare with the last ones I had shot.

With the exception of one, out of 35 shots, during the match, they all would have stayed in the 24 ring but, they were almost all spread out, with hardly any touching each other. That's not normal for my rifle. It for sure, doesn't seem like they shoot as well as the newer 7 1/2 primers, that I've used for the last 5+ years.

Note the the boxes are idenitical. There is a slight difference in the shade of orange but, you can't tell it unless they are side by side. There is not a lot code, that I can find but, there is a bar code that has the exact same number on both old and new boxes.

Does anyone have any info on the change in the Remington primers?

In the pictures, the new primer box has Scotch type tap on the lid.

Frank

Frank to answer your question, I just looked at two different lots. One is probably 3-4 years old and it is 3 legged and the 100 count boxes are embossed 802 on the sides. The other lot is substantially older and is a 2 legged version and it is embossed 454. I have not noted any accuracy issues but I do have a issue with my wifes 25 miller not setting off the newer ones consistently. It works great with Federals and did work great with Remington 7 1/2's before this newer lot.

Bob,
Thank you, very much for that info. The embossing isn't easy to see, unless your looking for it.

My new primers have 1168 embossed on them. The old primers have the number 319 on them but, it's in black ink. I wonder when they changed from ink to embossing?

Barry,
Thank you, I've only used the 7 1/2's since I built my 33 ELCO on the Max case. I used Rem 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 many more than 20 years ago with BP and 4759 but, I didn't pay attention to the primer construction. I think my main worry is that they are old and whether because of storage or age, they have lost some of there strength. 

John, I have checked out all those things.

Dave,
You may have hit on it. I've always had trouble with women understanding me

Frank

I have some of the two leg 71/2's and the only marking is E14 on the underside of one of the end flaps if that might help.

JLouis

Just checked my remaining 4 boxes of rem 7-1/2 primers, all 3 legged variety. Bought them close to 20 years ago. Will look at rem primers on my next trip to local supplier.

wesg wrote on Aug 4^th, 2017 at 10:23pm:


7 1/2's work, at least in small capacity cases.

As you can see, from the the pictures, from the outside of the box, there is nothing that will tell you that they are not current production. When I bought them, I thought they were current production.

When I went to the match, I grabbed from a box, nothing stood out untill after I was shooting.

Had I know that they were 2 leg primers, I would have tested, before using them in a match.

Frank

Bob didn't see you and your wife's scores for Raton? 
Primers are odd in that they always seem to change as time goes by. What works now eventualy might not and who knows when it might be time to change or maybe not. One just does not want to leave that door for change closed it could bite one in the Arss sooner or later and only the target is able to honestly let one know.

JLouis

Had my Great Grand Son all day today non stop and enjoyable as well! Be three towards then end of this month.

JLouis