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7.62, 308win brass SR or LR primer

UndFrm

Private
Minuteman
Dec 13, 2022
39
4
CA
New to reloading
How do I figure out what primer, SR or LR does the brass use?

I have the following brass from the factory ammo
7.62 PMC XTAC 147gr
308win S&P 180gr SP
308win Fed Gold Medal Match 185gr Berger


Thank you
 
It seems like it's 0.21in but I am no expert, pics of PMC and Vmax

1000007216.jpg
 

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You would be well served by reading and studying from one or more of the following books. To gain the most from any of the manuals listed, read and study the many pages before those that are dedicated to each individual cartridge.


 
New to reloading
How do I figure out what primer, SR or LR does the brass use?

I have the following brass from the factory ammo
7.62 PMC XTAC 147gr
308win S&P 180gr SP
308win Fed Gold Medal Match 185gr Berger


Thank you
Not all ammo advertising is designed by folks with a user's background, especially internet mail order places. It makes shopping for some things like 308 W and 45 ACP brass tricky.

That said, some listings are better than others and if you follow the specific part numbers of SKU of ammo or brass, some of the better outfits will tell you the specific primer configuration used on that part number.

Once you find a good web supplier who tells you what size the primer is on a particular 308W case, you then have the part number identity for everywhere else that may not list the difference. Sometimes the word "Palma" brass can imply small primers. In the 45 ACP, it happened that "lead free" indoor practice ammo was noticed by bullseye competitors and they adopted it and added some small amount of the demand for it.

The small primer 308 brass exists for several reasons, most of those reasons were the popularity of the case design and adoption for match shooting. 308 is the parent case for many other designs which also share the demand for a SRP version, for example all the 6 BR variants. The use of the 308 cartridge as a "military" design qualified it for F-T/R and International Palma competition, so there was enough reason to have US and European firms create a small primer version for competitive use.

As time passed and the 300 Meter competitors adopted certain cartridges, many of those were also offered in both small and large primer configurations, so always do your homework and inspect your cases when dealing with brass that has a history of match use with more than one primer size.
 
Not all ammo advertising is designed by folks with a user's background, especially internet mail order places. It makes shopping for some things like 308 W and 45 ACP brass tricky.

That said, some listings are better than others and if you follow the specific part numbers of SKU of ammo or brass, some of the better outfits will tell you the specific primer configuration used on that part number.

Once you find a good web supplier who tells you what size the primer is on a particular 308W case, you then have the part number identity for everywhere else that may not list the difference. Sometimes the word "Palma" brass can imply small primers. In the 45 ACP, it happened that "lead free" indoor practice ammo was noticed by bullseye competitors and they adopted it and added some small amount of the demand for it.

The small primer 308 brass exists for several reasons, most of those reasons were the popularity of the case design and adoption for match shooting. 308 is the parent case for many other designs which also share the demand for a SRP version, for example all the 6 BR variants. The use of the 308 cartridge as a "military" design qualified it for F-T/R and International Palma competition, so there was enough reason to have US and European firms create a small primer version for competitive use.

As time passed and the 300 Meter competitors adopted certain cartridges, many of those were also offered in both small and large primer configurations, so always do your homework and inspect your cases when dealing with brass that has a history of match use with more than one primer size.
Yes, I noticed that if I'm specifically looking for new brass, brands like Lapua will mention SR or LR primer. As you mentioned, factory ammo which will be once fired and the brass reloaded isn't the easiest to find the primer size.
Thank you