.45 ACP Primer Size

Status
Not open for further replies.

Doublehelix

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
1,059
Before anyone flames me, I have read about 5 million threads about the differences between .45 SPP and LPP cases, and about 2 million of them were here on THR.

I am just getting into reloading .45 ACP after loading only 9mm and rifle rounds for a long time. I just got a brand new 1911, and have decided that I might actually start shooting enough .45 ACP to warrant reloading for it.

I have been collecting .45 brass for a while, but not really pursuing it actively, and I have may 500-100 cases collected that are most likely a mix of SPP and LPP.

To break in my new gun, I bought 1,000 rounds of factory ammo, 500 with SPP (CCI Blazer Brass) and 500 with LPP (S&B). After these 1,000 are gone, I will be reloading from then on (at least, that is my plan).

My original plan was to stick to LPP, but I am now starting to rethink that plan. I load an absolute boatload of 9mm each month (Dillon XL650), and I have a large amount of SPP on hand to draw from.

However, I do prime offline (I know, go ahead... flame me) on an RCBS APS bench priming system. I think it is much more reliable and safer than the Dillon tube system, and I can honestly whip through the cases pretty quickly, it is worth the extra effort... FOR ME. (YMMV)

Someday however, I might finally give in and just start priming on the press, and then it would be advantageous to just stick with SPP for both 9mm and .45 ACP.


To my question... (finally!)...

If you were just starting out to reload .45, would you load SPP, LPP, or segregate and load both?

It probably makes sense to make the ultimate decision now before I get into it too deeply.

A lot of the threads I have read say that the manufacturing trend is moving towards SPP, so maybe it makes sense in the long run to just standardize on SPP myself.

Maybe I will just start out with SPP, and continue to save the LPP cases in case I change my mind, or use it for trade fodder to swap the LPP for more SPP cases.

I did read somewhere here on THR that the LPP rounds seem to generate a few more FPS than SPP rounds (15-25 fps I think I remember reading). This is probably not a big deal to me, I am not sure how much competitive shooting I will be doing with the 1911 vs. all my 9mm guns, but it may rear its ugly head sometime in the future.

I just ordered some RMR 230 gr. FMJ RN and some SNS 200 Gr. SWC bullets. I have a lot of W231/HP-38 that I no longer use in my 9mm rounds, so I will probably start there, but I also have a bit of Power Pistol and a TON of TiteGroup that I might try. I also will probably pick up a lb. each of Bullseye and AA#2 just to try out.

Thanks for any input...
 
I sounds like you have the right components. I went thru the same decision process, I decided to stay with the LPP (Simply my preference). I did notice the slight increase in velocity versus the SPP for the same load. I keep the SPP Brass, in case someone wants me to load a few for them, then that is what I use. I may get it back to reload, ad I may not... That way - No Biggie..

From what you have stated, SPP may very well be your best bet, as you usage with the 9mm would keep you in the same priming setup

Good Luck

Dan
 
Helix, I also prime on a RCBS benchprimer instead of my LNL. Mainly due to the family, I get some time at night to knock out some priming or case prep after I help get the kids to bed. I save the reloading for a few hour block when I have a day off and relaxed.
As far as the LPP and SPP, I have never noticed a difference in either. Although I will also do some chrono testing hopefully in the next few weeks, with both.
In your scenerio I guess SPP would be the way to go if you are going to do everything. I decided to stay with LPP just because that's what I have the most of for brass.
 
Most of my 45 brass is LP.
It would be much easier if it was SP.
45 ACP is the only large primed cartridge I load on my progressive and the only one I need standard LP primers for.
 
IMO you are over thinking this. Why do you need to decide which brass to use? Load what you have and don't worry about it.

Note, there is no difference in velocity or accuracy between the brass that uses small or large primers due to the primers alone.

Also IMO, W231/HP-38 is one of the best powder available for loading the 45 ACP. It's my go to powder for the 45 ACP and .38 Special.
 
While most of the 45 ACP brass out there is still large pistol primed, your logic is sound; use small pistol primers because you already stock lots of them. I haven't purchased any factory ammo (other than one box of 45 ACP when I got my 1911 6 years ago) so my brass is purchased new, purchased as "once fired",or range pickups. My inventory is 99.99% large pistol primed and I don't see many small pistol primed brass...
 
I haven't been reloading long. Currently I do 9mm and 223/556. I picked up a XDs 45 for Christmas and will be loading my practice ammo for it when I use up the ammo I bought.

So I'm in the same place as you on this. Right now I just need to buy the dies and some bullets and I can start.

In my case I kept the brass I used, and I've picked up some at the range. I've cleaned them and sorted by headstamp. I've put them in the RTR and Berrys boxes that I use So all I have to do is pick a box and start the process.

Like you I prime by hand too. So I don't see it as a big deal. In fact unlike most I see the mixed sizes as useful in the event of another shortage. If we go there again then I'll be able to use what's available if my stock ever gets that low. That said I'm still building to my supply inventory and hope that we never have the panic like we did again. But if we do, I hope I've built up enough inventory in time.
 
If you were just starting out to reload .45, would you load SPP, LPP, or segregate and load both?
If I were just starting out I would use both, if that is what I already had on-hand ... but keep them separate.

O'course, I also sort by headstamp, so ... :)

FWIW, every one of the thousands of .45 cases that I have sport large primer pockets.

If you have reason to believe that new MFR is trending towards the small (or if the factory ammo that you buy only come with SPP), and you plan on doing a lot of .45acp reloading, it might be wise to settle on the small.
 
I'm a strict adherent to the LPP .45ACP sect. I'd like to track down the cheap miscreant who first thought small primers for .45ACP would be a good idea, so that I could toss him into a volcano. My progressive has been brought to a screeching halt several times by those misguided, evil, incorrect cases that have inserted themselves into my brass collection while I was asleep.

That said, it probably doesn't matter much which you use. If they were easier to segregate, I'd be less troubled by them. Maybe we could pass a law that all SPP .45ACP cases have to be bright blue. I'll write my congressman about it.

You might like the Titegroup for .45-- that's about all I use. 4.6 grains makes a nice load with a lead or coated 230 grain projectile.
 
IF I were shooting only my brass and my method and arena for shooting could guarantee that I would get only my brass back it wouldn't matter. I shoot mixed brass and pick up range brass 99% of my brass and pickup is LP but I get s few SP. I save them up and load them in batches and shoot them in matches in the snow or where I will otherwise probably lose my brass. I would have preferred that SP .45 ACP were never created.
 
As someone who has been reloading .45ACP since way before there was any SP .45ACP ammo I thought abominations like .45GAP were bad enough until I started running across SP .45ACP brass mixed in with my pick-ups. I say a pox on the companies pushing it!


As far as I can tell, so far these are only loaded into the so-called "clean" lead-free rounds. I doubt these will ever dominate unless the anti's succeed in their efforts to ban lead from all ammunition -- under the guise of "safety" to increase the cost of ammo so as to inhibit recreational shooting.
 
Like ArchAngelCD says, you're over thinking the whole thing. Start by not picking up after range idlers who think their mommy follows 'em around cleaning up their mess(you have no idea what or how often anything has been done to range brass) and then pick one or the other type. Which makes no difference at all.
The whole thing was started by Winchester and their NT ammo. Who, at the time, said the brass wasn't reloadable. Arguments ensued.
 
I have only large primer 45 ACP brass but in thinking about it I really would not want to deal with keeping the two primer size cases sorted. I have enough issues getting 380 ACP cases mixed in with my 9x19 cases.

Pick a size and stick with it although during these days and times, I think large primer 45 ACP cases are more common.

Keep the other size for use for loads that you don't care if you recover the cases or trade/sell them off.
 
Load both. Most of my stock is LP. I sort out all the SP. If your loading on a Auto Progressive the SP mixed in a LP batch is a nightmare to deal with. It just stops the flow till it's cleared.

My testing does show that the SP will be 15-25fps slower than the LP. For general shooting it makes no difference. I see no difference on paper.
 
I have both, but focus on LPP. Now that I have mainly new or once reloaded Starline, I really focus on the LPP. I keep a bunch of SPP around, just in case there is ever another shortage and I only had SPP on hand. I do load 9mm, so lots of those primers around.

I notice no accuracy or velocity differences in any case. I understand that the only reason .45 ACP is LP, is because Mr Browning first fashioned it by cutting down 30-06 brass, and the LPP stuck. Dont know if that's true, but thats what I have always heard.

After the last "famine" I swore I would never be without, so I keep both around just in case!

Russellc
 
From what I have found by searching the internet, all ATK brands use SPP:

CCI, Blazer, Federal Champion, some of the Speer Lawman (clean fire), etc....as well as Win NT.
 
I also hand prime before loading, so it isn't a big deal for me. I also load other calibers that tale LP primers, so I have to keep both on hand anyway.

Some newer reloaders who prime everything on the press and where .45 ACP is the only caliber they load that uses LP primers, like to use the SP .45 ACP brass and that way they only keep one type pistol primer, and they don't have to swap out the priming parts on the press to go back and forth.

I have a handful of SP .45 ACP brass and buckets of LP. I'm going to stick with LP.
 
I also save the lesser amount of SPP brass for "just in case" and reload the LPP. As a first step I inspect the brass for defects and then size/decap before wet tumbling. Part of that inspecting is to segregate the SPP brass I get at the range. I find it no big deal to do it either. YMMV
 
Walkalong said:
I also hand prime before loading, so it isn't a big deal for me. I also load other calibers that tale LP primers, so I have to keep both on hand anyway.

I have large primer strips for my RCBS APS Priming Tool as well, so not a big deal there for me either.


I also save the lesser amount of SPP brass for "just in case" and reload the LPP. As a first step I inspect the brass for defects and then size/decap before wet tumbling. Part of that inspecting is to segregate the SPP brass I get at the range. I find it no big deal to do it either. YMMV

I also deprime before wet tumbling, so it would be easy to inspect. Do you do this by eye? I know when I look closely, I can usually tell a .380 from a 9mm just from experience, but I miss a few here and there. I can tell a .40 a mile away when picking up range brass just from loading so many 9mm rounds. I am guessing that I will be able to easily tell a SPP pocket from a LPP pocket by eye, but it would easy to miss a few here and there.

I know there are go/no go gauges for primer pockets (I have one, actually) that I could use but that is pretty time consuming.

As others have stated already, whoever decided to introduce SPP into .45 ACP needs to be taken out and whipped! It should be one or the other...

I like the comments around here about picking one to load, and just save the other size for "just in case" we get shortages again. I hadn't looked at it from that angle before, but I like it. I can't imagine that we are going to have a 2A-friendly government in control forever.
 
Doublehelix wrote:
I do prime offline...

I do the same. No flame here.

I have both SPP and LPP 45 ACP brass; roughly equal numbers fo both. I segregate them and load them in separate batches.

I have developed loads for the LPP and SPP cases separately. Past experience has taught me that my Blue Dot loads prefer an LPP while my Bullseye loads don't care, so I tend to reserve the Bullseye for the SPP cases.

The gun (my grandfather's ex-military 1911 made by Ithaca) doesn't seem to care.
 
If you were just starting out to reload .45, would you load SPP, LPP, or segregate and load both?
I would load six SPP and then a half dozen LPP. :)

Seriously I don't see where it matters as both perform the same from what I can see. Me? I don't pick up range brass and only load my own. This way I know what I have. I do segregate large and small primer pockets but really only because I have the time. Retired is nice as I have a surplus of time. :) I likely have more primers than I will need during this lifetime so its not a matter of having to buy for specific loading. Does it really matter? I doubt it. Load whatever you are comfortable with. I also have not seated a primer on a press in likely maybe 35 of the 40+ years I have been rolling my own. I am just comfortable hand priming as it works for me and I like the feel so while I doubt it matters it's just a me thing. My read and experience with .45 ACP is pretty much in line with others in that I have not seen a difference in performance between large and small pistol primers. Since I hand prime it is just easier to do a pile of one or the other.

Ron
 
I am kind of surprised by the number of folks around here that prime "offline". I think that is awesome!

I am not so worried about performance, or "which is better", that part I have under control.

I wish we could all see into the crystal ball and predict the future of ammo manufacturing and government control...
 
I usually load LP .45ACP and just segregate the SP brass for later use. When I have a good amount of small primer brass I load it and use it at a lost brass match.

Lafitte
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top