Wal-Mart Ammunition

[dbarnhart]

The other day I was in a hurry to test some new magazines for my Colt Combat Commander, so I stopped in at a Wal-Mart on my way to the range and bought a box of 45ACP.

The ammunition fired fine, I had no problems with it at all. Naturally, I collected the brass for later reload.

When I got home I noticed that these 45 ACP cases took Small Pistol Primers. I'd heard of these but everything I'd read said that the headstamp included 'NC' for non-corrosive. The only thing on the headstamp on this batch was "FEDERAL 45 AUTO".

Just for grins, I compared the case wall thickness to some Winchester brass I had handy and found that the Wal-Mart ammunition's case wall thickness to be 1-2 thousands less than the Winchester brass.

 

[Smaug]

Wow. We have to watch out for this. We generally assume that brass is safe. But I bet this is why maximum loads in the loading manuals are going down every year. Because they're reducing the thickness of the cases we're using.

Anyway, thanks for the heads-up. I guess we can't take brass for granted any more.

 

[m33p0n3]

This has been posted about recently; rumor is ALL of the cheaper Federal .45 is going to the small pistol primer as a cost saving measure.

 

[animator]

The blazer .45acp rounds I have on the bench next to me are all stamped Blazer 45 Auto, and take small primers. No different headstamp than those with the large primer.

 

[glockky]

is it me or does that blazer brass really look like junk. The base like from looking at the primer seeems to be concave.

 

[Guns and more]

Somebody must like it, because it's usually sold out.

 

[capreppy]

Blazer seems to be ok other than SPP. I've got a bunch in original OFB condition and when I get enough to add to the rotation, they'll get cleaned and then added to my .45ACP Rotation. ALL of my rotation is R-P or WIN currently. I prefer (just me) to keep my rotation in 500 case lots as that is what I'll do in a reloading session.

 

[ranger335v]

The strength of a case doesn't depend on the thickness of the mouth.

 

[blarby]

@ guns : Everyone likes the price

 

[mdi]

I have two buckets of 45 ACP brass; one for large primers and one for small primers (although the large primer bucket has 6 times as much brass in it!) I load them both the same with 230 gr. LRN and W231. From articles I've read and personal experience, not enough difference to think about...

 

[LightningMan]

It doesn't hurt to have some .45 ACP brass with small primer pockets. If there is a future shortage of large pistol primers and you can get your hands on some small pistol primers, you can still shoot your ol-fortyfive.