Primer colors

D

dbooksta

New member
I've been searching for a database of primer colors and surprised I can't find one. I know that manufacturers can change colors, so one shouldn't rely on this to ID a primer of unknown provenance. But still could be useful for reverse-engineering loads and historical reference.

Here's my contribution based on my current supplies, none more than 5 years old (Reference image here):

  • Federal GM205MAR: Silver cup stamped "AR", gold anvil with green paint
  • Federal GM205M: Silver cup, gold anvil with purple paint
  • Federal GM210M: Silver cup, gold anvil with red paint
  • Federal GM215M: Silver cup, gold anvil with purple paint
  • CCI 250, 450, 550: Silver cup, gold anvil, undyed yellow compound
  • WSP: Gold cup, gold anvil with red paint
  • WLP: Gold cup, gold anvil with purple paint
  • WLR: Gold cup, gold navil with green paint
  • Remington 7.5 (SR BR): Gold cup, gold anvil, orange compound
 
Interesting idea. What you are calling compound is actually what primer makers call the "foil" because in cap and ball days an actual metal foil was used as a protective cover. Today it is some kind of paper. If you deprime a live primer after seating and setting the bridge, you will see it is partly displaced.

The "gold" is yellow brass. There is a picture of a Berdan primer with priming compound and "foil" here. No anvil, of course.
 
I didn't really realize what you were doing until I saw your picture.

I'm not quite sure what I will do with it but it's a neat reference and I'm going to download it and keep it. If you'll take a compliment I'll say nice work-clear and to the point.
 
I sometimes have a stray primer and its nice to tell the differed by color either of the exterior or the inside.
 
Pretty sure I have seen Winchester LPP (and possibly other brands/types) in both "naked" brass color and nickel-plated "silver" color, depending on date of manufacture....so I'm not sure that where you are trying to go is actually going anywhere.
 
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