LARGE RIFLE MAGNUM PRIMERS Reviews & Ratings

Non-corrosive, all weather primers deliver fast, dependable ignition under any shooting condition. Winchester works to make sure all primers are reliable, instant and precise. In Winchester testing labs, primers are constantly and rigorously tested for consistency and sensitivity at temperatures and conditions far beyond the range of normal usage. Winchester guarantees better sensitivity for more positive firing in all guns, carefully-controlled weights of primer mixtures, consistency in size and quality, precise measurements and tolerances for anvil heights, and stability in extremes of temperatures and humidity.

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5 Stars

73%

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Stars

20%

Reviews Summary

Overall, the Winchester large rifle magnum primers have received mixed feedback. While some users praise their reliability and performance, others report issues such as failures to fire and quality inconsistencies. Factors like availability during shortages and price have drawn customers to Brownells, but negative experiences raise concerns about the brand's quality control.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Product Reliability

55%

Reliability has been a major topic among users, with many praising the primers for their consistent performance over the years. However, a significant number of reviews express concerns about failures to fire (FTF), especially with specific lots, raising questions about quality control.

Customer Experience with Retailer

65%

Reviews reveal a strong preference for shopping at Brownells, particularly for their fair practices during the pandemic. Customers value transparency and the integrity shown by the retailer, which builds long-term loyalty among buyers.

Availability and Shortages

70%

The ongoing issue of ingredient shortages significantly influences buying decisions, with customers mentioning the difficulty in finding primers. The availability of Winchester primers from retailers like Brownells is noted as a crucial factor for reloaders.

Quality Control Issues

40%

A concerning number of users report quality control problems, including FTFs and blown primer cups. These experiences suggest a potential need for improved oversight in manufacturing to prevent negative experiences from affecting customer satisfaction.

User Experience and Feedback

60%

Many reviews reflect on personal experiences with the primers in various reloading scenarios, emphasizing the importance of matching primers with specific loads and rifles. However, differing opinions reveal that not every user had the same success, leading to varied reliability feedback.

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THEY FIT WELL AND ALWAYS GO BANG

The only complaint is the color - they look like the have been buried in someone's back yard.

Work great in my 30-30

Bought the most beat Winchester lever you ever seen from a large outdoor retailor. It was on the used rack for $199. cleaned it up and started loading 30-30. I have run some pretty hot loads using 3031 and Leverevolution. No issues so far. Surprised to see a negative review for this primer. Perhaps there was a bad batch. I got these because my CCI's were on backorder for over a year. Happy I switched. Plan to run them in my Garand loads next.

Junk

I purchased two bricks of WLR primers in July 2023. I always go thru the primers when I receive them. 9 out of two thousand have rounded cups so I contacted Winchester and they did not reply. I made some test loads with them 9 out of 25 were FTF. And yes there is nothing wrong with the gun, I shot 50 Remington primers with no problem. I going to try and contact Winchester on Monday and see what happens.

Multiple problems with this primer!

I purchased two boxes of Winchester primers on August 21, 2019 from Brownells. A box (1000) of large pistol and a box (1000) of large rifle primers. Beginning in the fall of 2019 I began using the large rifle primers with once-fired .308 brass loading 150 grain BTSP Hornady using IMR 4064 powder and began having intermittent primer failure to fire (FTF) using this .308 in the AR10 platform. Over the course of the fall I loaded and fired about 100 rounds with this combination and would estimate ~3 FTFs for every 10 rounds fired. Due to the holidays and my schedule I put down the .308 until after the holidays. Getting back on the range this winter and switching to a new 50-primer pack from this same box of primers (lot #LML3450) and now loading 150 gr. SP .308 bullets for the .30-30 using IMR 3031 powder I would estimate that I am now seeing a FTF rate of upwards of 4 to 5 rounds for every 10 rounds fired. Consistently. This is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. These primers have been stored in a clean, dry location since the day they arrived from Brownells and have been loaded in accordance with provided instructions, training, and experience. I have got to believe these primers were delivered in a deficient state and I do see with additional internet research that Winchester has had primer recalls as recently as 2013. I will stay away from Winchester large rifle primers until at the very least, I get an explanation as to what has happened here and I would like a refund. I will be contacting Brownells and probably Winchester/Olin to discuss this issue.

Don't Go There

Just had a Winchester WLR primer blow through the cup in an irreplacable pre-64 model 70 and permanently damage the bolt face. I try to avoid using the word "never" but I will never, ever put another Winchester Primer in one of my cases.