Pistol primers compared

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joneb

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I've seen some comparisons for rifle primers but not so much for pistol primers.
Any input would be welcome.
Thanks
 
I agree with ArchAngel.

I can tell you that Winchester primers are just a bit hotter then CCI. I use both to fine tune a round. Winchester pistol primers will give you 25 fps +/- a few more then CCI.
 
I agree with ArchAngel.

I can tell you that Winchester primers are just a bit hotter then CCI. I use both to fine tune a round. Winchester pistol primers will give you 25 fps +/- a few more then CCI.
This is what I'm curious about, given the same load how does lets say CCI 500, Fed 100 and WSP change things. I have found this regarding some rifle primers but not pistol primers.
thanks for your patients.
 
When I'm working on a load for handgun cartridges I have a tray of primed brass all with the same primer, then I work up loads with various powder charges and monitor accuracy, velocity and pressure signs.
I have not tried the same charge in the tray with different primers to record the difference.
 
I have not thought much about handgun primer differences. When I started out I would work up a load with each brand and see if there was an accuracy difference. Back then I had no Crony so I just watched for the pressure signs, recoil, etc. I found no accuracy difference at handgun distances so then interchanged them without concern. Now using them in a rifle or PCC barrel there probably will be a difference but my longest barrel is a Ruger Blackhawk with a 10 inch barrel and I use WIN LP primers for it exclusively.
 
If you want a hot primer that will ignite any powders, try the Win WSPM. Fed F100 and WSP are great for light flake powders.
 
If you have a weak ignition system, buy Federal pistol primers. They are the most sensitive primer on the market. You are better off buying a new mainspring because a weak ignition system will degrade over time, but, still, I like Federal pistol primers for their sensitivity.

I have shot every brand of American primer over my chronographs and I am going to say, what I see varies. Primer composition is a mix of chemicals, the energy in the mix varies, the next batch of primer cake will be different. Then the primer manufacturers are free to change anything, so there is no guaranteed consistency in anything. Buy by price. Unless you want Federals. Then you will pay what the market wants.
 
This is what I'm curious about, given the same load how does lets say CCI 500, Fed 100 and WSP change things. I have found this regarding some rifle primers but not pistol primers.
thanks for your patients.

You you have a revolver that has had the trigger pull/main spring reduced the Federal primers will be your best bet for having 100% ignition.

Running “major” 9 loads I’ll use CCI 400’s or WSR

It’s one thing to see a difference between primers in rifles off the bench it’s tiny but if everything is repeatable enough you can.

It’s much more difficult for one to see a difference in handgun loads becuse there are other factors that make the difference between primers indistinguishable on targets.

How about this for an example, let’s say we have developed a rifle load that for whatever reason shoots 1/4 MOA different at 100 yards with one primer vs another, that’s going to be pretty close to a quarter inch (.25”) difference in group size. If everything is repeatable enough that’s pretty easy to measure.

Now let’s take a pistol load at 25 yards and say there is a difference between primers of the same 1/4 MOA the difference in group size would be 1/16 of an inch or .0625”. If you cannot shoot groups that are not at least that consistent in diameter, you couldn’t tell any difference, even if there was one.
 
Buy by price. Unless you want Federals. Then you will pay what the market wants.

You you have a revolver that has had the trigger pull/main spring reduced the Federal primers will be your best bet for having 100% ignition.

I agree with the above statements.

I think it's interesting that the price and availability of primers clouds the thinking of some. Even on the dedicated S&W chit-chat forums, well respected and accomplished competitors who state that if you have a tuned or light action you will need to handload your ammo and use only Federal primers. I have seen them get savaged by some who claim that it is either the guns fault, the individual that tuned the actions fault, somehow the shooters fault or the poster is a primer snob because they cannot use (for example) CCI primers. No amount of explanation or practical experience or even reputation will change some minds. I love shooting my revolvers and in person revolver shooters as a group are fantastic people, helpful as all get out, but on a wide range of topics they can be at times stubborn or trapped living in the 1950s. Well some might say that about me I suppose.

For me it comes down to this, for my revolvers I use Federal primers. I pay more and have to sometimes search for supplies. I have roughly 40,000 CCI and S&B primers that I can use for my production guns no problem. There was a point in time last summer where I was down to about 2000 Federal primers and was starting to get worried, couldn't find any. Then I was able to get some, about 22,000 in three separate purchases. It seems that the supply is currently good so if I see some, I buy some, 1 or 2 thousand at a time.
 
One other thing is small vs large, if you have a 45 ACP that won’t run on even Federal LPP, try running SPP brass instead.
 
Want work for 1 gun that I know of. The FP hits too close to the edge on the Small Primers and cause ignition problems. Just a poorly fit barrel. I think the owner finally got rid of it.
 
I see many posts where folks prefer Fed 100 primers. But, if you can't find Fed 100, what brand primer compares closest to Fed 100s? That is what is your next choice?
 
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