Difference in Primers

[Jenrick]

Is there really a major difference between the different brands of primers? For instance Powder Valley sells CCI, Federal, Remington, Cheddite, Wofl, and Winchester brand primers. Is the price difference between say Wolf and CCI worth it? I know certain brands are reputed to be harder or softer, but I've seen differing opinions on which ones are.

I guess the overall question, if I'm looking for good primers for practice/training ammo which of the above should I go with? I don't need match grade accuracy, but I do need consistent ignition with good accuracy.

-Jenrick

 

[matrem]

Have used: CCI,Fed,Rem, & Win.All have proven extremely reliable.
Even the Wolf (loaded in rounds) I've fired,have been 100%.

 

[Walkalong]

For general practice/plinking there are no big differences. Some are more sensitive than others (Federal) and some lightly sprung revolvers need that, but stock guns will set off any properly seated primer. There will be a small difference in FPS from brand to brand, but again, for practice/plinking, just buy what you can find these days.

I don't need match grade accuracy, but I do need consistent ignition with good accuracy.

Then you are good to go.

 

[243winxb]

WLP work well in progressive presses because i feel they have a taper to the edge of the primer cup. WLP covers large pistol for both mag & standard requirement. Standard rifle i like CCI Br2 with IMR powdes. I avoid CCI small pistol primers because they can run on the large dia. size and be hard to seat, this varies from lot to lot. It all comes down to personal choice. All should work well if working a load up from starting load to max.

 

[Walkalong]

I seat all my primers with an RCBS hand primer. I have had no problems with any primer brand. Progressives are a bit more finicky (one reason why I prime with the RCBS), and 243winxb may have a point there. Only way to know is try it.

 

[Slamfire]

Buy by price. Use a chronograph to develop your loads, and cut your loads when you pierce primers. Except for the admonition not to use Federals in M1a’s and Garands, that should cover most of it.

I have used all brands at one time or another. They all shoot good. Some shoot better with some powder and bullet combinations, but the difference is only worth arguing about if you are a target shooter.

 

[RustyFN]

I have used CCI, Win, Mactech and Wolf. They all shoot and load fine for me. I have been buying Wolf because of the price.
Rusty

 

[Walkalong]

They all shoot good. Some shoot better with some powder and bullet combinations, but the difference is only worth arguing about if you are a target shooter.

I agree 100% with my fellow Alabamian.

 

[rfwobbly]

I agree 100% with my fellow Alabamian.

I agree with ALL Alabamans.... except when they're playing against Ga Tech.

 

[RustyFN]

All you Alabama people stick together.
Rusty

 

[The Bushmaster]

I have found that Winchester primers are hotter then CCI and Remington primers are not as hot as CCI. Instrument used to form this statement...Pact Model 1 chronograph...

But all will set off a powder charge...

 

[1SOW]

Federal small pistol primers use an older recipe that will fire with a lighter strike.

Pistols with trigger jobs that lighten the hammer spring(up to a point) will still reliably fire with Federal primers.

 

[Jenrick]

Thanks for all the info, wolf it is then

-Jenrick

 

[bluewater]

Did a test last year and here are the results:

40 S&W Primer Test

Manufacturer / Product ID / Application / Velocity

Winchester / WSR / Small Rifle / 957 FPS
CCI /500 / Small Pistol / 970 FPS
Federal / 205M / Small Rifle Match / 983 FPS
Federal / 100 / Small Pistol / 997 FPS
Winchester / WSP / Small Pistol / 999 FPS
Federal / 100M / Small Pistol Match / 1003 FPS
Federal / 200 / Small Pistol Magnum / 1006 FPS
Winchester / WSPM / Small Pistol Magnum / 1040 FPS

Shot out of my Glock 35 - Same loads (brass, powder charge, and bullet type and weight)

 

[Slamfire]

All you Alabama people stick together.

We are!!

Winchester / WSR / Small Rifle / 957 FPS
CCI /500 / Small Pistol / 970 FPS
Federal / 205M / Small Rifle Match / 983 FPS
Federal / 100 / Small Pistol / 997 FPS
Winchester / WSP / Small Pistol / 999 FPS
Federal / 100M / Small Pistol Match / 1003 FPS
Federal / 200 / Small Pistol Magnum / 1006 FPS
Winchester / WSPM / Small Pistol Magnum / 1040 FPS

Very interesting.

And I would guess, a measure of the coil strength of your ignition system.

The lowest velocities are your small rifle primers. I will bet that those had harder/thicker cups, and given that you are using a pistol mechanism, the priming compound was not wacked as much as the compound in the pistol primers.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

has anyone used Mag-Tech (available from Graf & S's?)
so far I have used Win and CCI with Win seating the easiest/most consistent from my Lee hand primer.
primer seating in-consistentcy is why I choose not use a progressive press and powder drop failures.

 

[srini_durand]

A few years ago, I had quite a bit of trouble will small pistol CCI primers, duds. I had the problems with 2 different Rugers and a Smith. I tried everything, cleaned every primer hole, ensure the press and seat; no help. Maybe 1 in every 300-400 loads was a dud, good strike mark, but no go.

I switched to Federal and Winchester, never had a dud since.

Maybe, I had a bad batch or maybe it was me. But, I have never had a problem since I switched.

 

[rockhound758]

I know that Winchester makes a LP primer for both standard and magnum loads, but does that mean the WLPs are a bit hotter than standard and less hot than magnum? I'm thinking I could still use them with slower burning powders (I think the Hornady manual specifies them for .44 mag). If someone knows the answer to that question I'd appreciate it (did a quick search but didn't find an answer).

Thanks and I hope everyone's having a good weekend!

P.S. Another gun show here in Columbus this weekend, and the ammo prices are still crazy...