Win vs. CCI pistol primers?

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sbwaters

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Just because I started reloading with them I have always used CCI 500 Small Pistol Primers. Running low, I picked up some WSP Winchester Small Pistol Primers. Reloading 9MM, anyone know of any difference?

How about CCI 300 vs. Win Large Pistol primers for .45 ACP?

(I appreciate the differences with shotgun primers and am careful there.)
 
the WLP's are good for both regular and magnum powders and is all I use in large primers; the CCI LP's are for regular powders only (unless you get the magnum version)

I load 45's and 44's with the WLP's.
 
I use mostly CCI primers because they have never failed me. When I can't get them I usually buy Winchester. I see no difference between any of the CCI and Win handgun primers including the Win LPP even though they are rated for both standard and magnum use.

If there were a difference or problem with the Win LPP there would probably be a note about them in load data but there is not.

I hope this helps you...
 
I always try and buy the best when it comes to making ammo just for the safety factor and the reason i reload is better ammo so i buy cci. For 9mm plinking stuff i just use S&B primers from cabelas as they are a couple $ cheaper than anything else. If I'm loading 9mm for when I'm walking in the woods i use the cci just for the better product mental state.

I'm not saying Winchester is junk but i just like cci a bit more. For large pistol I only load 44mag hunting rounds and certain powders I will use cci LPP magnum just to get a better burn of the powder but follow what your manual says to be safe.
 
in 45acp, wlp primers have a bit less extreme spread than cci primers with w231 powder and a 230 gn round nose lead bullet. not enough difference to worry about. i don't remember comparing this in 9mm, but never noticed a difference between the two primers in 9mm load development.

luck,

murf
 
I use CCI because I like the silver color of the primer vs. the brass color of the Winchesters. Anal retentive? Probably, but whatever. I do have other primers that I experiment with (I use Fed in LRP).
 
I've ran both CCI and Winchester primers over a chronograph. Winchester primers are just a bit hotter then CCI in that a noticeable 20 to 25 fps on average increase in velocity.

I use both. Great for "fine tuning" a round.

I've also been accused of being "anal retentive.
 
The Bushmaster said:
I've ran both CCI and Winchester primers over a chronograph. Winchester primers are just a bit hotter then CCI in that a noticeable 20 to 25 fps on average increase in velocity.

I use both. Great for "fine tuning" a round.

I've also been accused of being "anal retentive.
Click to expand...

it must be a reloading thing!
 
I do love the nice shiny silver color of the CCI primers but I absolutely hate using cci primers. I stopped using them because I had so many problems with them being extremely hard to press in the pockets on small rifle and small pistol. Never have that problem with others. Its been awhile since I used them up so mabey they are better now.
 
I prefer CCI SPP but use Win SPP quite a bit. I consider them to be pretty much interchangeable in my load buildups for pistol. The only thing I dont like about the Win primers? They sometimes have issues feeding in my LnL and VibraPrime whereas the CCI's always feed perfectly.

The only place I consider the Win's to really have an advantage is LPP's where I can use them for magnum loads without buying a separate primer like I would with a CCI. Makes me wonder what the real difference between the 2 is?
 
I use Winchester WLP for my magnum, not sure why, I don't load magnum loads. I have a bunch of CCI 500's because that's what I bought for my small caliber. Ended up buying Win WSP because my charter arms undercover 38spl was having too many mis-fires. I reduced the number in half by using WSP vs CCI 500. I have it down to zero by running all the ones that don't feel right in my hand primer through my Lee Press primer (flattens them out more). Probably should see if that work's with the CCI 500 primers. In all my other small caliber I use CCI 500. Probably will get Win WSP next time just to keep it to one primer time.
 
Like frogfurr, I've used both with the same load and have not seen any difference.

These loads are not near maximum though.

I do not load much any top magnum rounds anymore, but if I did, I'd work up the loads again if i did change primers.

I buy lots of CCI primers because I like the APS priming system. If I cannot get the pre-loaded APS strips, I'll buy Winchester or CCI primers based on price or availability.
 
Where the Winchesters shine above CCI is when you have a gun that has a light firing pin spring. I had a Contender pistol in 7mm TCU that was very picky. CCI's would not work. I had to use the softer Winchester and Federal primers to get consistent bangs.
 
I used to use CCI because they were what was available locally. Nowadays, Winchester is available locally and I would have to drive an additional half-hour to get something different, so I use Winchester.

The only gun I have that "cares" what primer I use is my 25 ACP and it will only ignite Remington 1&1/2 SPPs.
 
someguy2800 said:
I do love the nice shiny silver color of the CCI primers but I absolutely hate using cci primers. I stopped using them because I had so many problems with them being extremely hard to press in the pockets on small rifle and small pistol. Never have that problem with others. Its been awhile since I used them up so mabey they are better now.
Click to expand...
I have never had a problem seating CCI primers of any flavor that were the primers fault. Not pistol, rifle, magnum, Benchrest or NATO primers.

I'm not doubting your report, I'm just adding mine.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
I have never had a problem seating CCI primers of any flavor that were the primers fault. Not pistol, rifle, magnum, Benchrest or NATO primers.

I'm not doubting your report, I'm just adding mine.
Click to expand...
I have noticed on LC 5.56 cases that some catch or are a little harder to seat. My guess is the crimp isn't fully swaged out and its catching but a little extra push on the press lever seats them fine.
 
I use mostly CCI
I have some Federal and some Winchester I got during the shortage
The only problem I had was when I was learning and as mentioned it was due to the cases needing to be staged.
After that I've had no problems
 
I bought a couple thousand cci small rifle a few years ago to load my accuracy prepped Lake City 5.56 brass and probably 10% of them were very very hard to seat. I have about 600 rounds that are all the same headstamp and all weight sorted to similar weight, trimmed, anealed, flash holes debured and crimps reamed out. The cutter I use to remove the crimps still leaves them pretty tight and I broke two hand priming tools trying to get cci's in them. After I went through those 2 bricks I switched to other brands and have never had an issue. So it is the brass's fault but the primers weren't helping. I also noticed loading 9mm and 38 special that cci's are noticably more difficult to seat so I just don't buy them anymore.
 
Dill said:
I use CCI because I like the silver color of the primer vs. the brass color of the Winchesters. Anal retentive? Probably, but whatever. I do have other primers that I experiment with (I use Fed in LRP).
Click to expand...

Another anal retentive here. I started using CCI because they were made in Idaho (3rd generation here....temporarily displaced). I also use Win primers and S & B as well. They all go bang. Wins seem to be a tiny bit hotter.
 
CCI have the thickest/ hardest cups and are therefore harder to ignite and seat.

Winchester are easier to seat flush and easier to ignite. If you have a tricked out pistol with reduced hammer spring, lightened hammer, or light weight firing pin, then you'll prefer the Winchester brand primers.
 
And Federals are even easier to ignite.

I have seated a ton of various brand primers in SP, LP, SR, and LR, and have never had problems seating any. Maybe it's because I use a hand primer. Dunno. I also don't have problems seating primers in S&B brass, yet we have reports here they are hard to seat primers in. Dunno.
 
I mainly use Federal, because I'm also loading them in .38Spl and shooting them through a tuned revolver.

When loading exclusively 9mm for my M&P9, G34, H&K P7 or Kahr CW9, I usually use CCI primers. I've found them to be reliable and easy to seat on my Hornady LNL.

I've had more reliability issues with setting off Winchester SPP in my 9mm and they are non-starters in my revolver. I've also found them a bit larger in diameter which causes feeding issues in my primer tube loader
 
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