WRA Co Primer and Bullet Help


Here is some Basic Primer and Bullet info relating to the WRA Co headstamps. Hopefully this can help you narrow down the age search of your early Winchester Cartridges.

PRIMERS

NOTE: A "W" or  "underlined W" etc on a primer denotes the primer is for smokeless powder.

Primer Color
Primer Size
Primer
Diameter
(inches)
Year
Introduced and
Years Used
Primary Gun 
Types
Brass
No 1
.175
1875-1885
.38, .44, Marlin and
Bullard rifles
Brass
No 1 1/2
.175
1878-1885
Small & Medium
Handguns
Brass
No 2
.210
1875-1885
Lg Handguns & 
Shotshells
Brass
No 2 1/2
.210
1879-1885
Medium to Large
Rifle Calibers
Copper 
No 1
.175
1885-1894
.38, .44, Marlin and
Bullard rifles
Copper
No 1 1/2
.175
1885-1894
Small & Medium
Handguns
Copper
No 2
.210
1885-1920
Lg Handguns & 
Shotshells
Copper
No 2 1/2
.210
1885-1894
Medium to Large
Rifle Calibers
Brass with W
on primer
No 2 1/2W
.210
1894-1920
Medium to 
Large Rifles
Brass with W
on primer
No 3W
.210
1894-1923
Handguns & 
Shotshells
Copper with 
W on Primer
No 1 W
.175
1894-1923
.38, .44, Marlin and
Bullard rifles
Copper with 
W on Primer
No 1 1/2 W
.175
1894-1923
Small & Medium
Handguns
Protected Primer
(primer with a 
Brass ring
around primer)
No 5 W
.210
1895-1932
No 1 1/2W primer
inside ring
Protected Primer
(primer with a 
Brass ring
around primer)
No 5 1/2 W
.237
1904-1932
No 2 1/2W
primer inside ring
Copper
No 4W
.177
1895
Shotshells
Copper
No 4
.177
1896
Shotshells
Copper
No 4 1/2
.227
1903-9132
Shotshells
Copper
New No 4
.227
1904-1932
Shotshells
Copper
No 6
.175
1896-1932
Shotshells
Copper
No 209
.240
1933-
Shotshells
New Brass
(Non Fulminate
Primers)
with W
No 1NF
.175
1908-1923
-
New Brass
(Non Fulminate
Primers)
No 1NF
.175
1923-
Replaces No 1W
New Brass
(Non Fulminate
Primers)
No 17NF
.210
1923-
Replaces No 3W
New Brass
(Non Fulminate
Primers)
No 24NF
.210
1920-
Replaces No 2 1/2W
New Brass
(Non Fulminate
Primers)
No 35NF
.210
1923-
Replaces No 2 1/2W
on Military and Metric
cartridges
Nickle 
(Staynless)
Primers 
All sizes
various
1932 onwards
-

Bullets

While there were thousands of types and weights of bullets made, along with numerous experimental types, This chart will focus on the more common bullet types used in regular commercial loadings by the WRA Co, in hopes of helping you date your cartridges.
 

Bullet Type
Characteristics
Years used
Paper Patched Lead
Self explanatory
Early to 1900's
Express Bullet
Lead Hollow-point with a copper tuber inserted into the cavity. The end of the tube will have a raised X on it.
1879-1920
Tubed Bullet
Same as above, only tube is smaller and has no X on it. May be a rounded appearance to the tubed insert
1878-1920
Soft Point
Lead round nose covered with a cupro-nickel alloy. (Appears nickel to tinnish in color). Types of metal changed over the years. After 1930 only nickel or copper coatings were used.  Between 1902 and 1928 Pistol cartridge bullets had a "W" marked on the side of them, 1902-1930 a "W" was impressed on Rifle Bullets (on the side as well).
1896+
Lead Hollow point
Lead bullet with hole cut into it to aid with expansion
1893-1930
Metal Cased Hollowpoint
Same as above,. only the outside of the bullet is cased with either copper, nickel or an alloy.
1905+ for pistols
1925+ Rifles
Protective Point
Sabre tip (Pointed Bullet) with a distinct tip that appear to  be added on to it. Used in rifles such as the 280 Ross, 303 British, 30-06.
1913+
Silver Tip
Soft Point that is copper cased and has a nickel tipped end.
1940+
Metal Capped or Lead Bearing
Soft point bullet that has a metal capped top or a lead bearing inserted to make the bullet have the appearance of a rounded tip.
1932+
Full Patch (Full Metal Jacket)
Solid bullet made of either steel, cupro-nickel or nickel.
Does not expand very well at all. From 1902 to 1932 these bullets also had a "W: stamped in to the side of the bullet
1892-1932
(Some made for WW2 under Gov't contract)
Shot Loads
WRA Co used paper shot containers and almost exclusively Blue in color. the 32WCF did come with a Salmon colored shot container. Most WRA Co's if no capsule had a blue wad to denote shot cartridge. When this blue fades it takes on a grey appearance. After 1930 the .44 WCF was loaded with a green wad for shot loads. The WRA Co never used wood sabots to hold shot loads as UMC held the patent on this item.
1893-1946

 

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