Keith is right on all counts.
I've picked up several thousand of them over the last year or two, at gun shows. The #57 paper hulls can be opened out for 209s. IIRC, Remington used 57 (and later 97) into the late 70s or early 80s in their hulls - paper and plastic - changing over to 209s only in the 80s. The last batch of #57 I bought (better part of a brick) were in the green and orange Remington packaging of that vintage.
I bought them primarily b/c I have a set of 20 ga Alcan all-brass hulls made in the 60s and designed for the #57 size primers. (I'm still looking for some in 16ga....) For those, because the heads are solid brass and won't move like the head of a paper shell, I will need a special reamer/drill to open up the pocket once the #57 are gone. But, that is likely to be a long time from now, if ever.
Last edited by Dave in Maine; 10/02/16 03:27 PM.
