the primers were not plated, just brass, so they looked like reloads.
Judging reloads from the color of the primer is something that varies with the maker, and the TIME the ammo was made. Today I have no idea who uses what but everything I've seen in years has been silver (nickel). However, I also haven't used Rem primers in decades, either...
Back in the 70s, pre-internet, and well before there was such a thing as USGI 9mm Luger ammo. Back in those days, Win, Rem, CCI, and Federal primers pistol primers were all "silver" and so were the rifles primers, except for Remington. Remington rifle primers were brass colored. And that's what the factory used. Remington brass with silver colored primers was a clear reload.
But that was then, and this is now, and the only sure thing these days is that reloaders, (people reloading for themselves, not for govt contracts,) don't "recrimp" primers into the reloaded brass.
GI (ball) ammo is made with crimped primers and sealant to meet GI requirements. This ammo, made this way for govt use may be sold to anyone, eventually, including depts of the Fed that do not have crimped and sealed requirements. They get the same stuff the GI contracts get, changing the mfg process to omit crimping and sealing would almost certainly cost more.
Seems like leaving off the "extra" steps would be cheaper, but that isn't always the case. I worked for a govt subcontractor at a govt facility, and we had "fleet" vehicles. Mostly pickups, but a few cars, all painted govt gray, no A/C, and AM only radios (if any). They had been ordering them that way since the 50s. In the 90s, "civilian" trucks (and some jeeps) began showing up. Painted in ordinary colors, red, blue, black, white, etc) with A/C and AM/FM radios and some had AM/FM radio cassette players.
Seems like some bright fellow actually did some research, and discovered that the "govt gray" rigs, without AC or radios. or only AM radios actually cost the govt several thousand dollars MORE, per unit than just buying and using commercial rigs.
You'd think they would have been cheaper, without the extras, (AC & radio) but they weren't, they were actually MORE expensive!!!
Because, the manufacturers didn't "screw up" the assy lines to make vehicles meeting the govt contract specs. They took finished vehicles and altered them, by removing the A/C and changing out the radios, and then repainted them to govt gray, and, of course, charged for the "extra" work needed!!
SO, as a "cost saving measure", the govt dropped their "cheap" contract and just bought straight civilian rigs. (then had out sign painters stencil on the required govt labels and numbers).
So, finding 9mm ammo made to meet USGI specs (crimped primers and all)
is possible about anywhere...