Experience with Lead Free Primers, Clean!

[wbbh]

My experience with Fiocchi Zero Pollution lead fess small pistol primers. I found them on Selway Armory and included them in a powder and primer order. I tried them in various 9mm loads using TiteGroup powder and both jacketed, (Delta, RMBC and Montana Gold) as well as coated cast bullets, 122 grain Acme conical bullets. I found no decreeable difference as opposed to using CCI and WW primers with one big exception, fired cases were much cleaner than the same loads with conventional primers. The difference was to distinct I made up some loads using Unique power. not known as a super clean boring powder. Spent Unique rounds looked a little cruder than those loaded with TiteGroup but very much better than conventional primers.

It looks like the primer composition has an effect on how clean burning a particular powder performs.

Case fired with LF primers and Unique powder:

Two cases using TiteGroup and one using Unique:



Closeup of a round loaded with TiteGroup and a LF primer:

 

[Zendude]

Interesting... I was thinking of ordering some from Selway.

 

[hdwhit]

Thank you. I had been cautious moving from something I was familiar with and which I knew worked and into something that was unproven. Your post has helped me be more confident that it might be a good idea to make the change.

 

[Blue68f100]

Thanks for posting.

Have a couple of questions.....

How was the cost compared to std primers?

Did you use brass that was originally loaded with the NT Primers?

It was my understanding during the development of these primers that they ended up enlarging the primer pockets. At one time they even crimped the primers to keep them from backing out. I think the reason for the larger flash hole. It was also rummered that they had an expiration date. If that's the case it will definitely kill my interest. I'm still working on primers over 30 yrs old..

 

[wbbh]

How was the cost compared to std primers?

Did you use brass that was originally loaded with the NT Primers?

It was my understanding during the development of these primers that they ended up enlarging the primer pockets. At one time they even crimped the primers to keep them from backing out. I think the reason for the larger flash hole. It was also rummered that they had an expiration date. If that's the case it will definitely kill my interest. I'm still working on primers over 30 yrs old..

Not specifically, those in the photos are head stamped FC (Federal Cartridge) and were purchased as once fired. I have used these primers for three reload cycles in other range brass from various manufactures, some possibly NT. No problems with primer pockets or the amount of force need to seat, just like other primers except they have a black exterior coating. I made no changes to flash holes other than cleaning.

They do cost a little more, $54.99/1,500 or about .04 cents each compared to CCI at $29.99/1,000 or about .03 each at Selway Armory.

I cannot say anything about longevity, I found nothing on the packaging that mentions an expiration date. I'm not too worried about keeping ammo or primers that long, I'll prolly be dead in 30 years anyway.

 

[wally]

33% more cost for "cleaner" brass that I still need to clean before reloading is a non-starter for me. YMMV
If they were 33% cheaper I'd be on-line ordering them instead of posting

 

[PO2Hammer]

Larger flash holes, not primer pockets

 

[wbbh]

Yes, about $.01 more per round.

All flash holes were unmodified standard diameter.

 

[1KPerDay]

Got any pics of the same loads same brass fired with standard primers?

 

[Kaldor]

Interesting, but Im with 1KPerDay, Id lilke to see a case fired with a standard CCI primer in comparison.

The cost is also too high. Im buying Win small primers at $22-24 and CCI's at about $26 per 1000 locally. If I go to Cabela's during a sale, I can pick up S&B's for under $20.

 

[wbbh]

Got any pics of the same loads same brass fired with standard primers?

No, that would have been a great idea, but this idea started out as an informal test to satisfy my curiosity, I'll need to return to the range and empty some. From memory, Titgroup and a standard primer look about like the empty fired with Unique and a lead free primer.

I made this post because I was surprised at just how clean fired brass was when I used TiteGroup, known as a clean burning powder with the lead free instead of standard primers. To further test, I decided to load some with Unique a not so clean burning powder. I'll try loading and shooting some more Unique rounds with standard primers, I have a 'few' loaded rounds of 9mm, but they are all loaded with TiteGroup powder.

I also did not post the cleanest cases as in the picture below, five empties all used lead free primers, the two in the top row fired jacketed bullets, the two lower left, polymer coated lead bullets, all using TiteGroup, the last fired a jacketed bullet using Unique.


Just in case anyone thinks that first round is unfired, note the stain around the outside of the case like the other rounds. All rounds were fired in an H&K VP9.

 

[1KPerDay]

I'll be looking forward to that. I shoot a lot indoors and lead free primers would be welcome. I used to shoot rem/UMC "leadless" exclusively when it could be had for a decent price.

 

[Blue68f100]

Would be nice to have some crony number to go with the different primers too. If your able to do it at your range.