Primer Comparison and Selection

[acer99]

Does anyone know of a web site or reference that compares primers from different manufacturers? Looking mainly for both small and large pistol primers. The two most important issues I am looking for is primer hardness and ratings for cold to hot ignition. I am loading for match competition and have found out the hard way taht some primers are hard versus soft and there appears to be a velocity correlation with different loads. To date - everyone tells me (as a new reloader) that all priomers are the same but I have now proven this is not true and would like to find a source that does a good comparison of the important issues

Thx

 

[USSR]

Softest primers are Federal, and hottest nonmagnum primers are usually Winchester.

Don

 

[acer99]

Primer Comparison Site

I appreciate the response BUT please - Does anyone know of a source site for information on primers??? Some primers suck (I realize it is because I am modifying firing pin springs for lighter trigger pull) -- CCI and Winchester have caused me a lot of grief -- FTF due to lighter strikes while Federal has been great BUT -- assuming without analysis causes meltdowns and no matter how much I search - I am not finding a source that really compares primers.

Thx

 

[greyling22]

run a search in the handloading thread for wolf primers. When I was trying to get some information on them I came a across a couple of posts where people had listed sizes and thicknesses and velocities when they compared primers.

 

[Walkalong]

Just because light springs won't set off a primer doesn't mean they suck, it just means you need the softer/more sensitive primers.

Federal first. IIRC, Mag Tech was next, but I could be mistaken. No, I don't know a reference.

Reloader Fred knows though. Maybe he'll come along and tell us again.

 

[Seedtick]

I can't take credit for these links. I've just bookmarked what others have posted.

Hopefully, these will help...

Primers and Pressure by James Calhoon

Primer Cross Reference Chart from Handloadsdotcom

Primer Testing Reference from castingstuffdotcom

Reloading Stuph - a compiled empirical reference from njhighpowerdotcom

Seedtick

 

[ArchAngelCD]

To date - everyone tells me (as a new reloader) that all priomers are the same but I have now proven this is not true and would like to find a source that does a good comparison of the important issues

While the people who tell you "primers are for the most par the same" are correct when talking about handgun primers rifle primers on the other hand are "more different" than handgun primers.

The links above will provide good information. I'm sure you can Google even more without too much trouble.