New or Used brass

[horseman2]

While segregating some brass that was given to me, there are some differences. I assume those with brass coloured primers are factory (once fired) and the silver primers are reloads.

What is the significance of the colour of the lacquer - red and green - a different assembly line?

 

[Glock4ever]

brass coloured vs silver doesn't indicate a reload or not - Winchester Primers are Brass in colour and silver could be Federal. Anyway, lacquer on the cases is difficult to tell - where is the lacquer located? Is the whole case lacquered in which case it could a steel case (don't reload those) covered with lacquer.

 

[horseman2]

The lacquer is around the edge of the primer cup and visible when looking at the headstamp on the base.

 

[Silverback]

Usually if the lacquer is still there they would be once fired, though there are still a very few paranoid reloaders that lacquer their primers in case they fall in a lake or something while hunting.

 

[(((Echo)))]

The lacquer around the primer could also be military brass. What caliber and headstamp?

(E)

 

[Gary D]

Federal lacquers their primers and different colours indicate roughly what series (vital-shok, power-shok, V-shok, etc.)