Win vs. CCI pistol primers?

[rg1]

Also in my chronograph tests, Win LP versus CCI 300 the Winchester Large Pistol gives 25-40 fps more velocity with the 3 powders tested. CCI is just slightly milder than RP or Win primers in large pistol primers in my limited testing. I use all CCI small pistol primers and both RP and CCI large pistol primers mainly because of local availability in the past.

 

[BillBloggins]

A little off topic, just saying that of all the brands I have used for Large pistol, the brand that felt best to seat in my Hornady hand priming tool was Tula. Just a real sweet fit.

 

[Toolsteel]

I buy the CCI large pistol primers and the Winchester large rifle primers.I have two Lee hand primes and I use one for pistol and one for rifle. That way I can tell at a glance which one for rifle or which one for pistol because the CCI are chrome color and the Winchester are brass color.

 

[Jack B.]

I use both CCI & Winchester in small pistol, prefer Winchester small magnum over CCI No. 550 but have and will use both I have found them to be about the same. I Prefer Winchester In large pistol as they are also good for magnum. Only like to have one brand to develop all my loads. Federal only for rifle. Don't like jumping around with my primers when developing loads using different powders.

 

[Dill]

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.

interesting, maybe that's why I was having light primer strike issues with my XDS with the PRP kit.

 

[Kaldor]

interesting, maybe that's why I was having light primer strike issues with my XDS with the PRP kit.

Very likely. CCI's are noted for being a bit harder to light in some cases. Goes without saying, make sure your seating below flush as well as that will cause lights strikes.

 

[Kaldor]

Also in my chronograph tests, Win LP versus CCI 300 the Winchester Large Pistol gives 25-40 fps more velocity with the 3 powders tested. CCI is just slightly milder than RP or Win primers in large pistol primers in my limited testing. I use all CCI small pistol primers and both RP and CCI large pistol primers mainly because of local availability in the past.

Doesnt surprise me to be honest as Win rates the LPP's for magnum loads as well so they would need to be a little hotter and thicker cupped.

 

[Reloadron]

I always found these Primer Flash Test Photos to be sort of interesting as well as test done for testing primers by power (brisance). Ever wonder about primer thickness? How uniform do manufacturers keep their manufacture of primers? Would an article written in Guns & Ammo twenty-five years ago be accurate today? I have on a few occasions spoken to the people at CCI as well as a few email exchanges with questions about primers. When you talk to the guys making primers you can learn quite a bit and know you are getting factual information. Primer ignition depends on a few things and not just the thickness of the cup. There is also the hardness of the alloy, the angle of the anvil used and for a good part the actual lead styphnate composition. Quite a few things contribute to the sensitivity and brisance of a lowly little primer.

I generally run with CCI but also have a few other flavors including some Seller & Bellot I hope to try this summer season. I like to try and stay with a single flavor all in the interest of keeping my loads uniform and even then primers can vary lot to lot and likely primer to primer within a lot. While I really do not have a pet favorite I do use more CCI than the others.

Ron

 

[bbqreloader]

I have tried Winchester for small pistol and small rifle. Had a bear of a time getting Win primers to fit Win cases for 9mm, go figure. 40 cal seemed ok. Run fine in my 223 loads. CCI seems to go work on everything across the board. Load 9, 40, 45 and 223. Love SB primers for my 9's and they work well in my 223's. I have not notice a difference and realistically they all work (if I have a problem, so far it's been between the Wins and CCI). But it's whatever I can get on sale, have transitioned away from Win and mostly stick with CCI and SB.

 

[ray15]

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?

I don't find much difference in velocity produced from otherwise identical loads. I do find my Lee primer feeder greatly prefers the shape of the CCI.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

My favorite pistol primers are the cheapest ones that go BANG.

 

[HexHead]

My Dillon primer feed seemed to like CCI better, so that's what I use.

 

[Dill]

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 guess I'll have to give Federal a try if I can find some locally. During my range session today, I had another CCI 500 fail to go off the first time, this time in a gun with a factory trigger (XD Tactical) It went boom the 2nd time around.

 

[Walkalong]

It went boom the 2nd time around.

That's a sign of not being seated fully, not light springs.

 

[Dill]

That's a sign of not being seated fully, not light springs.

I suppose anything is possible. I should start keeping track of the case they're in when it happens in case there is a pattern.

 

[kerreckt]

I use all spp interchangeably. This includes all the imports. Whatever is on sale. I will buy 5K-20K. The only primer I have not used are Federal. They always cost more. After 35 years of reloading,I have noticed no difference. They all ignite. I do keep CCI magnum primers separate but with Winchester it doesn't matter.

 

[Sundancer2004]

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.)

I can offer this: When Dillon first made the Square Deal I purchased it. In fact I still use it. Primary loading at that time was .38 and .45. I started experiencing primer jams in the primer tube. (Not something you want to try to free by poking a rod through After the second tube did the same I called Dillon. The tech asked what brand primer I was using. CCI. He suggested I not use CCI and use Winchester or Remington , that the CCI primers were not always concentric. Now I don't know if thats true or not, but I switched to Winchester and never had another problem...perhaps it was generic only to Dillon press's.

 

[billybob44]

I can offer this: When Dillon first made the Square Deal I purchased it. In fact I still use it. Primary loading at that time was .38 and .45. I started experiencing primer jams in the primer tube. (Not something you want to try to free by poking a rod through After the second tube did the same I called Dillon. The tech asked what brand primer I was using. CCI. He suggested I not use CCI and use Winchester or Remington , that the CCI primers were not always concentric. Now I don't know if thats true or not, but I switched to Winchester and never had another problem...perhaps it was generic only to Dillon press's.

Each to his own here..
I have an old enough Dillon RL550 that it does NOT have the Fail-Safe rod-Just spring return powder measure. I still use the original primer tubes that came with this 25+year old press..I mainly use CCI primers and have NEVER had a stuck primer problem..Don't know-you could have just got a bad batch of primers??..Bill.

 

[Sundancer2004]

Each to his own here..
I have an old enough Dillon RL550 that it does NOT have the Fail-Safe rod-Just spring return powder measure. I still use the original primer tubes that came with this 25+year old press..I mainly use CCI primers and have NEVER had a stuck primer problem..Don't know-you could have just got a bad batch of primers??..Bill.

Bill, I never used them again and never had a problem. I would assume, by the techs response that it had occurred on more than one occasion. Like you said could have been a bad batch sir a complete lot. Anyway, now I have so many rems n Wins t happy as a clam at high tide. Your right, to each his own. Happiness is a house full of Goldens..... btw. Dillon still will stand behind your 25 year old press, they just overhauled mine...no charge.....

 

[Drachenstein]

I've had issues with failure to fire with CCIs, All looked to be good strikes with deep indents. Same guns had no issue with Win primers. It should be noted that all pistols were pre 1950, though they all had new springs. Had the same issue with large rifle primers fired from an AR platform. I'm beginning to wonder if they just didn't age well, as I'm trying to cycle through supplies purchased during the scarcity.