Who makes the hardest primers

[TEX]

I am adjusting the spring tension on a S&W revolver and want to make sure it is still strong enought to set off hard primers. Who makes the hardest primers in factory ammo? I figure if it sets off these, then anything else will not be a problem.

Thanks - TEX

 

[jr81452]

i am pretty sure its CCI/Speer

 

[nitesite]

Yep, I concur with jr81452.

 

[pinkymingeo]

With the factory mainspring, anything you put in the gun will go bang. As soon as you lighten tension on the spring, or install an aftermarket spring, all bets are off. With a Wolff reduced power spring, Federal primers will always ignite. Others might or might not, with least reliability in the 25/625. With the strain screw adjusted, who knows? If your gun MUST work when you pull the trigger, leave it alone or go Wolff/Federal.

 

[alucard0822]

CCI primers are about as hard as they come, although a little hard to light they seem to hold up the best with max loads of h110/win 296 so I still use the SPMs in these loads, winchester in everything else. I installed the reduced power wolff springs and got a few FTF out of every box, so I installed this http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/productview?saleitemid=926136&t=11082005 no more misfires at all even with CCI's, my dad went the other way and put a standard power wolff power-rib set in with the obligatory stoning and polishing and has a much improved pull, it may not be that much lighter, but it feels a lot lighter than factory and doesn't stack up near the point of release like the flat springs do. I have a 686-6, my dad has a 29-3

 

[jmorris]

As above, CCI pistol are hard. You could always go with small rifle primers (even harder). You didn’t say what caliber your revolver is, but if it uses small primers you will be able to back it off a bit. If it uses large primers you won’t be able to go as far without switching to a softer primer.

 

[ReloaderFred]

The hardest is CCI, with Winchester being next in line. Remington follows as the third hardest and Federal is the softest. We've been loading some MagTech small pistol primers and they appear to be about the same as the Federal small pistol primers in metal hardness.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[TEX]

Hey folks, thanks a bunch! Exactly what I was looking for. The gun is a 38/357 S&W. I will test it with some CCI Blaser and Speer Gold Dots. If it gets throught a box each of those with no FTFs, I will then tighten the screw another quarter turn and I should be good to go. I also appreciate the information on the aftermarket firing pin, even if I will probably not use that option.

TEX

 

[JoeHatley]

I will then tighten the screw another quarter turn

The strain screw should be kept tight. "Adjustment" is in it's length and the strength of the mainspring.

Joe

 

[jmorris]

+ 1 Joe
Order an extra from brownells and shorten it to the measured distance.

 

[trueblue1776]

What about the Federal NATO primers? Those must be pretty hard.

 

[jeepmor]

CCI vote here also.

I had some milsurp or Euroblock 9mm that CCI gave me a couple of double strikes until they fired in my Taurus PT auto. However, all the very same CCI primers fired first pull on all other brand of brass.

I've used Winchester and find them a bit softer in the regards that the same problematic brass with CCI was not an issue with Winchester primers.

YMMV, shoot safe.

jeepmor