Primers- WW or CCI?

[Gearhead Jim]

I've been reloading (Dillon 650) with Winchester small pistol primers for many years, partly because I was usually issued Winchester ammunition (9mm/380/38Spl) for duty.

Now that I'm retired and carrying Speer ammo in my .380, and do most of my reloading in that caliber, I'm thinking of switching to CCI primers that are (maybe?) identical to what's in my carry ammo. Probably not a big deal, but I'll need to buy some brand of primers soon.

Generally, any advantages of one over the other?

 

[egd]

As I've read here many times, they are basically interchangeable. Also ,and there's a thread a page or two back, you should check out the Sellier&Bellot primers. I have used a couple of thousand of them and just ordered 5000 more. I got them at Powder Valley for $22 and Cabellas has them for $24.99. I can't tell a bit of difference.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Buy whichever is the cheapest.
You won't be able to tell a difference.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

For anything that might put food on the table or be used to defend my family or myself, I use CCI. Ive never had a CCI primer or rimfire round fail to go bang. I can't say that about any other brand. For target ammo, I use whatever I can get my hands on for a price that I can live with.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

I have found that CCI primers tend to be just a little larger than Winchester primers. I've had brass that I was going to toss due to the primers being too loose when using Winchester primers but found they were nice and snug using CCI primers. This was mostly noticeable while priming various types of rifle brass.

 

[Hangingrock]

Either or. My preference is usually Winchester. More out of habit then a particular reason. But I also use CCI.

 

[stoky]

I've used both and don't really have a preference. Once upon a time a "smith", as part of an action job, put too light springs (that he made) in a Smith. When it had a lot of light primer strikes, he blamed it on CCI primers. I tried a bunch of different ammo. Everything exhibited light strikes. I put Wolff springs in it and all of a sudden it liked CCI primers and everything else.
Recently I contacted a progressive press company, for some new primer system parts. The guy on the phone said they were having out of round primer troubles on all American made primers, Federal, CCI, Winchester. I asked him what primers he recommended and he said Wolf or Tula (now apparently called TulAmmo).
The new priming parts are supposedly in route.

 

[dh1633pm]

I have used all brands including Wolf. They all work well with my favorite loads. They all go bang when needed.

 

[Slamfire]

Federal makes the most sensitive primers on the market, which is great for pistols, not so good for semi automatic rifles. In those mechanisms Federal is the most slamfiring primer out there. More and more pistols are reaching the market with marginal, weak, ignition systems, so I would recommend Federal primers. CCI primers are good primers but the cup tends to be thicker, so if you have a weak mainspring, you might experience a misfire. Winchester made their primers more sensitive in 1999 when they went to the "brass" finish. I liked Winchester primers when they were $68.00 for five thousand, now I simply buy the cheapest primers I can.

 

[SC Shooter]

I have always had great success with CCI. Then again, I have also had great success with Winchester, and Federal. Maybe I am not enough of a connoisseur but I cannot tell any difference.

 

[PJSprog]

I've always used CCI, but, like many others, that's simply because I just do. I've used a few other brands here and there, and not found them to be any less effective at going bang. If your shooting is not sensitive to minor changes, then I doubt you'll notice much difference between the two choices.

 

[oldpapps]

My simplistic view.

They all will work... or the manufacture would have gone out of business.

As I have played with super accurate loading/weapons in the past and consistency is a prime factor in this, to make logistics simpler for me, I try to only buy CCI brand. As I say that, I look over at a new carton of 25K of WW LP primers.

So, my answer is to buy what you want, price and availability comes into play with this. Don't switch components without testing first, this is much more important with cutting edge loads. And enjoy what you are doing, don't make it work.

 

[BYJO4]

I use both along with Magtech and have never had a problem with any of them. My loads remain the same regardless of which of the above primers I use.

 

[Mad Chemist]

I use:
Win
Rem
CCI
S&B-these are a little bit tougher to seat on my loadmaster, at least for me they have been. I occasionally get a high primer. It may be due to their flat non-beveled edge. Not a big deal and easy to fix with my handprime tool.

Haven't tried Magtech yet but I may if I find a good deal.

Tula SPP are the only brand I don't trust. I don't like their factory ammo either.

 

[lezmark]

I dont see a difference either, but since I have both i usually use CCI on my nickle and WW on my brass brass. its all about looks right?

 

[Lj1941]

CCI

I have used Winchester for many thousands of loads and CCI for 2 or 3 K. I am switching to 100% CCI because money is tight and they are a buck per K cheaper. I have never seen any difference in performance. This is for small pistol. I will continue with Winchester for my only LP caliber because they are OK when a magnum primer is called for. I only have my 45Acp that takes LP but my son has my Super Blackhawk and I occasionally load for him.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I've used thousands of both. Lately it's been CCI because they are cheaper. A few years ago the Winchesters were cheaper, so I bought those. I also use Remington and Federal primers. Everything is dependant on availability and price.

I cant say that I notice a measurablw difference in any of them.

One time I did have one Renington that didnt ignite on the first try. This was in my first thousand or two reloads so it couls easily have been user error. It has been smooth sailing since. And I dont consider one mishap enough evidence to banish the brand from my reloading bench.

I do, however, make a point to use Federal primers when making ammunition that might see use in a defensive role. While I have no personal scientific data, the general concensus is that they are a tiny bit more reliable. Or at least more tolerant of light strikes or other adverse conditions.

 

[Reefinmike]

I have both of them in my stockpile, win for lpp and spp, cci for srp. Winchesters are brass and cci nickel plated- this way i can easily visually verify that i have a srp and not a spp in my 357 mag and 300blk loads.

They all work, i will be purchasing wolf primers once wideners has em in stock for $16.

 

[gamestalker]

You know Jim, I've not tried a lot of different primers, and for the most part I've used CCI for most of my 30+ yrs. of reloading, so I'm kind of partial I guess.

For handgun I think I've only ever tried Winchester and CCI. But I would venture to guess that I've used CCI for 90+% of everything I've ever loaded. I've never had a problem with Winchester primers, I just prefer the way CCI's feel when they seat.

GS

 

[ku4hx]

Over the years I've had only one [short term] recurring problem with any batch of primers. My Gen2 Glock 20 didn't like one lot of Winchester Large Pistol primers. One or two in every magazine failed to ignite.

That particular batch of 10mm ammunition was shot only in my S&W 1006 without problem and 45ACP loads with those primers were never a problem. My guess was the batch of primers were just a tad hard for the old Glock's striker. No problems with CCIs.

Since then I've used thousands of Winchester, CCI, MagTech and Tula without incident.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Thanks to all for your comments!

 

[fguffey]

Gearhead Jim, I use a lot of Federal primers, the big primer tray does not lock me up. Then there is that story about the Federal Express driver that blew his tail gate off, again, that does not drive me to the curb. I have watched our local delivery drivers walk half way up the walk and throw the package the rest of the way. Then they claim they rang the door bell. And I thought he was trying to hit the house.

One day I did make every attempt to bust a primer, I started with a Lee auto hand primer with the round flip tray. Nothing after 2 hours, then I went to the RCBS auto hand primer. Finally I set one off, the primer was wadded up and mangled before it made that sound.

F. Guffey

 

[PJSprog]

I've never had a problem with Winchester primers, I just prefer the way CCI's feel when they seat.

And, you know, I think that might have been it for me as well. Nothing wrong with any of the other brands I've tried, but I guess the CCIs just felt right to me in my hand primer. Thanks for jarring that memory, GS.

 

[Kaldor]

I use Winchester for 9mm and 45, mostly because they are plentiful and almost always in stock locally. I use CCIs for 223, 300 BO and 308, because thats what Ive had the best luck with. CCI primers are hard to get locally without going to Gander Mtn or something.

 

[gunfighter48]

I've always used CCI primers and never had a bad one. Can't say the same for other brands. But I have only had less than a dozen bad ones so it's not a big problem. Just the same I'll stick with CCI.