Okay to use Remington primers?

[Jech]

Where I live it's near impossible to pick and choose your primers/brands. So far I've been unable to find any large pistol primers (loading for 45 auto) with the exception of Remington. All of my reloading manuals say to use CCI #300 or Winchester WSP and don't even mention Remington as a viable option. Is it okay to make this substitution? The intended purpose would be an ~800fps target round using Unique and 230gr LRN MBC bullets loaded into some of my once-fired Winchester/Remington UMC brass.

I was also thinking about using small pistol primers after seeing an article about large vs. small in a recent issue of Shooting Times but I'm not lucky enough to have any of the Speer brass with small pistol primer pockets.

Any advice or suggestion is most appreciated...

~ Jech

 

[Walkalong]

They will work just fine with that combination. No worries.

 

[calaverasslim]

Major brand of primers(Remington, CCI, Federal, Winchester) are all the same as far quality goes. I am currently using the Wolf brand and have great success. If using other than recommended, back off a little until your sure your ok. I bounce from brand to brand without a problem. I buy whats available.

If all your primer pockets are small rather than large, go with small primers. Just don't mix them up when your reloading. Causes a small problem when your trying to insert the primer.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

In my experience, though it is limited, I've not found the primer to make any noticeable difference. We've used Remington, CCI, and Winchester, all with great results.

 

[Runningman]

All of my reloading manuals say to use CCI #300 or Winchester WSP and don't even mention Remington as a viable option. Is it okay to make this substitution?

Used a lot of Remington primers over the years. They will work fine for you.

 

[rg1]

I've used both RP 2 1/2's and CCI 300's and tested Win LP primers. Using AA#5 and Unique powders the RP 2 1/2 showed a few feet per second faster than the CCI. RP and Win large pistol primers compared nearly equal in velocity. However with my limited tests the CCI's had slightly more consistent results for velocity spread. My tests are so limited that your results may differ. Unless you are loading a very maximum load you can switch brands without issues but still better to drop back on the powder charge and work up. I shoot mostly Remington primers and they have been excellent primers without a single failure in thousands of rounds. Knock on Wood!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Jech,
Welcome to the forum...

While component brands are very important when loading shotshell ammo it's much less important when loading rifle ammo and almost not worth mentioning with handgun ammo. Like above I've used 5 different brand primers when loading handgun ammo and see not noticeable different in the ammo. Remington primers will work just fine in your ammo and as long as you're not bumping right up against the MAX charge recommended for that load you won't even have to change your recipe.

Good luck finding the components you need to keep shooting!

 

[Ranger Green]

Your reloading manuals were probably suggesting the brand of primers owned by their conglomerate (Speer/RCBS/CCI/Outers is owned by a parent company). The load data they give is very well tested and can be relied upon. When changing a compoment, especially a primer, use the method the experts say and work up from a safe minimum load. Also realize this- CCI is the "coolest" burning primer and Winchester the "hottest" burning primer. The Winchester primers are hotter in order to ensure the ignition of the ball powders in cold weather. Remington primers fall in the middle of this ignition temperature range and have an excellent reputation. So just work up a load that satifies safety and performance and enjoy.

 

[ranger335v]

"All of my reloading manuals say to use CCI #300 or Winchester WSP and don't even mention Remington as a viable option. Is it okay to make this substitution?"

Goodness, NO! It won't make any difference to your ammo but it might make your trigger guard rust!

 

[right winger]

It will make no difference at all in my experience. I use them all and have noticed no difference but the REM are a little softer in my opinion than the Win and CCI primers. Good Luck

 

[Jech]

It'll be fired from my SA XD45 Tactical...don't know much about their striking pins but I've never had any issues with other factory reloads. My Ruger 2.25" SP101 .357mag has fire a number of Speed Gold Dots without problems so I assume CCI #550's (which I've been lucky to find) will be fine there too.

Thanks for the good info, picked up as many as I could from a local store today

 

[Ky Larry]

Unless you're trying for extreme accuracy,primers are pretty much the same, brand to brand. They all go Bang.If you're loading at or near max powder charge, back of 10% on your powder charge and work back up if you change components.

 

[Rokman]

Thank goodness for Rem. primers because they are the ones that appear to be the most available the last two years. I use Rem., Win., and CCI primers in rifle loads and are almost interchangeable to me in my loads.

 

[ljnowell]

The only primers I have ever had problems with is Wolf. I have a recent batch of SPP that have about a 10% failure rate. It sucks, but they arent being used for self defense loadings, so its no big deal. Surely not worth the hassle of dealing with a return of something that I cannot ship.

My personal favorites are Winchester. I have never had a bad primer from them, period. I also prefer winchester products in general, most of the time. I have several relatives that work for Olin.

 

[zxcvbob]

What color are those Wolf primers? I have no problems at all with Wolf brass- or copper-colored primers. I've heard they are making them nickel (silver) now.

 

[Rokman]

Personally I prefer Rem. 7 1/2 for AR loads and Winchester for rifle loads. I do not handload handgun ammo yet, so my post is probably is of no value to you Jech.

 

[ljnowell]

What color are those Wolf primers? I have no problems at all with Wolf brass- or copper-colored primers. I've heard they are making them nickel (silver) now.

Silver/Nickle. It really worries me too, I am sitting on 7K Wolf LPP too. If they are all that way, then I am going to be mad, as I use LPP in my more serious rounds also. I guess i will just relagate them to nothing but plain target loads if they prove unreliable.

 

[zxcvbob]

I think my old Wolf LPP's are nickel and they've been 100% reliable. Lemme go check...

Nope, they are brass.