[texjack]

Can you guys help me find a soft primer for a light spring .38 revolver, Ive been getting conflicting reports asking my reloading buddies. Some say CCI is the softest, some say CCI is the hardest. Where does WW fall into this? Of course I'm looking for small pistol size. What is your opinion?

[JCT]

I've tried CCI, Winchester, Rem and Federal. I stopped trying new brands when I bought the Federals. CCI are the hardest, followed by Win.
Rem worked great for me, but I found a local source for the Federal ones, which are even softer ( or better designed? ).
I had the same issue when I put a wolf spring in my SAA.

[mainebear]

I think that the reason for the confusion over CCI has something to do with their ownership changing. Since then they seem to be a little softer than before.

This was just a response to customer complaints about FTF's.

Now I wouldn't go to war with anyone over this, but the last batch I got do seem a little softer than an old left over batch I had from say 10 yrs ago.


anyone else have the same experience or have I just sniffed to much dear urine this season?

[Black_Talon]

Federal is the standard primer to use if you have a light DA-pull revolver. WW's are a bit harder to light, and CCI's are the hardest of the three.

[JCT]

Well, aside from hardness, there's another important point I've noticed by trying many brands.
I load 45lc primarily with BP and sometimes Unique. When I was using Winchester LP primers, I got more fouling in general with both powders. When I switched to Rem, much less fouling. Now, with Federal even less!
The primer comp is definitely different in all brands. Federal is most likely a hotter and faster composition, which is getting all the powder in the case ignited faster, so there's a more efficient burn and pressurization going on.
I'll stick with Federal so long as they're available.

[Linear Thinker]

Federal primers have the softest cups and are the easiest to set off.
Buy them if you can, ATK has committed all of their primer production to Uncle Sam for the next 18 months, my industry sources tell me. No component sales, that is. My wholesaler, Jerry's, has not had a single Federal primer in stock for the last 6 months.
LT

[asknight]

Linear Thinker, I don't think the Govt is using soft Federal primers. They aren't NATO classified as they are too soft and have a chance of a ND when chambering a round in a service weapon with floating firing pins.

OTOH, ATK is managing Lake City, which is committed indefinitely to Uncle Sam production.

ATK also owns CCI, which makes a NATO classified primer (likely used by Lake City).

See if your industry sources can give you some more specific information for us to chew on. :D

[JCT]

Federal is commissioned by the Gov. It doesn't mean they're making primers identical to the consumer grade ones we're used too.
The owner of my local shop was told by his Federal rep that due to a recent gov contract, federal primers won't be available to consumers for awhile.

[Clark]

I am told that all primers have the same hardness, just different thickness, that can be measured with the dial calipers.

[45ACPUSER]

Federal primers have the softest cups and are the easiest to set off.
Buy them if you can, ATK has committed all of their primer production to Uncle Sam for the next 18 months, my industry sources tell me. No component sales, that is. My wholesaler, Jerry's, has not had a single Federal primer in stock for the last 6 months.
LT Federal primers hit supply chain hit and miss, but my vendor has store room full of Federal primers...he just got in a stack about 6 foot high!

[redneck2]

I have a Contender that has light hits. CCI's would misfire maybe 40%. Federals work fine. Make sure you seat them well. They need to be "set" when seated.

[rbernie]

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