Trying to help a buddies widow, identify this primer. I am not a reloader but just guessing that this primer is for an old/vintage center-fire cartrigde, possible even blackpowder. She found ten unopened tins of 100ea. I feel that some of you reloaders, just might just have some data that would be helpful. ....
Any and all info, would be appreciated. ....
Yep. It's a Berdan primer, so it has no anvil so you have to decap Berdan-primed brass for it. The name 217 comes from the fact 5.5mm is 0.217 inches. That makes it wider than a Boxer large primer, which is nominally 0.210 inches.