How to tell diff between CCI 200 and 250 primers?

[jimbo88mm]

So...

I was out of state visiting relatives over the holidays. We went to a bass pro shop because they wanted to look at bows and stuff. I check out the reloading section. They had stacks of primers... Great! I thought. I need mostly small rifle but wanted to grab a couple hundred large too.

They had the individual trays stacked up.. but not taped. Naturally I pick up a tray, it slides out and the primers go every where. There was a worker near by and he started picking them up. I helped him pick them up. He mentioned to me not to worry because this happens all the time

Anyway.. he walks off with the pile of primers.. I check out some other stuff.. then head back and pick out the primers. I chose trays that looked like they hadn't been dropped. When I checked out I had the cashier tape up the sides for me.

Fast forward to a couple of days ago.. I open one of the boxes and discover that the primers of one tray are on the wrong side of the tray.. and there's over 140 in the box. I figure this box was dropped and someone just crammed the primers on the wrong side.. so at first I'm like Cool, I can always use extra primers.. but now I'm thinking.. how do I know they are all CCI 200s?

I weighed a few of them against known CCI 200s and they weighed the same. I sent a message to CCI so I am waiting to hear back but I am wondering if any of you know. I've never used magnum primers before so I don't know if there is something obvious about them vs regular primers. The only other difference is that all the trays I've had before are white and this questionable tray is black. Not sure if that's significant.

 

[finnaddict]

Measure the cup diameter. The main difference is the thickness of the cup. The mags generally have a thicker cup and therefore can take hotter loads--more pressure. It may or may not help in determining which is which. If not pitch them out or reduce your loads slightly.

 

[expiper]

I use Federal Primers exclusevly ,,,,they use a different color "mud" for their various strengths ,,,,does CCI???....if so check the color,,,hope this helps,,,Roger

PS...I can t believer that a gun shop would have the individual boxes out on the shelves where kids and fat fingered customers can open em up ,,just to take a look at em,,!!!!,,,,good luk

 

[savageshooter86]

if you only bought 100 I would throw them away and you are just out $4.99(well that is what our BP are charging for pack of 100 primers)

Because if they shoot well in a load you work up you won't know what kind to look for next time that did well

 

[smoooth]

Just looked, no color difference between 200, 250, or BR (BR is stamped, though).

Have seen similar incidents at Cabela's, Gander Mtn, and Fleet Farm many times with primers of all types and have talked to sales staff at each store about this. Typical reaction is "not my job, why can't the factory do it"; the employees are there to collect a check - how dare they should have to work for it.

At Fleet Farm (a very PRO-GUN local business) they now put powder (probably primers, too) in a HAZ MAT BAG and seal it up! WTF is the world coming to? The EXTREMELY flammable starting fluid (ether), coleman stove gas, kerosene, solvents, oils, pesticides, insecticides, battery acids, etc., etc., are apparently not of any concern for some reason.

 

[jimbo88mm]

Thanks for the replies and checking. CCI replied and said there was no way to tell them apart. They also mentioned that the trey color didnt matter.

Not too worried about the $5 if I toss them.. just that primers until recently were hard to find. Powder is still in short supply and I don't think it will take much to cause another shortage. I have plenty of primers for now so I'll leave these in "reserve". I may use them in a Mosin or Mauser since I just blink with them using light loads.