Winchester and CCI Primers comparison

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JimGun

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I have always used CCI #300 Large Pistol Primers for my .45 ACP loads. However, since the shortage, I have managed to lay my hands on some Winchester Large Pistol Primers. I know everybody has a preference, but are there any considerations I should know about in using Winchester Primers with my usual .45 ACP loads?
 
Preformance wise there is no difference. The cup on the CCI primers is a little harder, thus making them harder to ignite (Federal are the softest). So if you are not having any problems with that, the Winchewster should do you just fine.
 
If you're at max load you shoudl reduce the charge a bit when changing components. I don't know the Winchester LP are hotter, but they are designated for use with regular or magnum loads. If they reliably light off W296 (and they do for me) they must be hot.
 
Winchester primers tend to be a bit hotter then CCI. Not really a problem unless you are loading at the maximum powder charge. I would recommend lowering your charge weight by .2 grains and work up.
 
Like said above, the Winchester LP primers are for both standard and Magnum use. They no longer make a Magnum primer for LP applications. If you are bumping up against the Max charge reduce it by .2gr just to be safe. (depending on which powder you are using)
 
A prudent reloader would rework up his load when changing parameters. The operative issue is that you gotta go with what you can lay hands on.

Functionally, primers in handgun cartridges are not as much of an issue as it is with rifle rounds.
 
The Real Mags: Hornady told me that Winchester primers are softer than CCI, so they deform easily to fit the primer pocket.
 
Thanks for the info IMtheNRA. I always prefer winchester over CCI due to the ease of use, but for defensive loads I use Federal due to the reason stated in post #2.
 
I could offer my opinion here, if you want it. I normally use only winchester primers. Not because they perform way better ( but they are great primers) its just what I was introduced to when I started reloading, and I dont mess with a good thing. I was forced to use some CCI primers a while back. The CCIs were really a good amount harder to seat than the winchesters. They all went bang, no problems there. I load some real soft 45s with 700x. Its a messy load, but crazy accurate. The CCI primers dont seem to ignite it as well.
 
I always prefer Winchester over CCI due to the ease of use, but for defensive loads I use Federal due to the reason stated in post #2.
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I have to disagree. You won't have any problems igniting any primer on the market with a stock revolver. If your revolver has been modified with very light springs for compensation that might be a problem for some primers. Considering no handgun used for self defense should have very light springs (IMO) there really isn't a problem using any name brand primer. I use mostly Winchester primers just because. In the past I've used mostly CCI primers. Both worked well and I've never has a round fail to go bang because a primer didn't ignite.
 
HUH??
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Translation:

It's probably safe to use the same powder charge and just change primers. Rifles are more finicky with primer changes. However a safe and responsible handloader will always drop powder charge down to starting charge and work up when changing any component.
 
You won't have any problems igniting any primer on the market with a stock revolver
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ArchAngelCD I do not own or reload for revolvers. (not that I dislike revolvers just don't have any)

Story time: Me and my buddy were at the range sending down some lead he was shooting an M&P 45 and I was shootin a Springfield Loaded model 1911. He bought two boxes of range ammo and I was using reloads I had made with CCI primers and HP38 powder. He quickly ran out of bullets and I gave him a bag of 50 reloads. He had one out of 50 that did not fire after the firing pin made contact with the primer. I chambered the round in my 1911 and the round fired as it should. So in my experience I would not trust my life to what appeared to be a hard primer so I now use Federal primers for my defensive loads from that day on.
 
ArchAngelCD I do not own or reload for revolvers.
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Yeah, I realized that after I made that long winded post but I left it anyway because I decided to take my medicine instead of trying to cover up the mistake. I'm reading so many posts I lost track and that was after already posting in this thread. I got a brain freeze but I wasn't eating ice cream! :eek:
 
He had one out of 50 that did not fire after the firing pin made contact with the primer. I chambered the round in my 1911 and the round fired as it should. So in my experience I would not trust my life to what appeared to be a hard primer
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Not necessarily a hard primer. It could have been set a little high. His firing pin seated it, your's set it off. I've found that to be the normal culprit when a primer goes off on the second strike.
 
Freakshow10mm...Read his (45ACPUSER) second paragraph. That's what I was aluding to. Primers of different manufactures for handguns definately DO effect the outcome. CCI are the coolest, then Remington, then Winchester and the hottest is Federal [also being the softest cup]...I've seen as much as 50 fps difference between CCI and Winchester alone.

That's what the "HUH??" was for...
 
Aah...Here it is...From my shooting log:

140 grain SJHP over 16 grains of 2400 and a CCI 550 primer. AV fps 1318.3...

140 grain SJHP over 16 grains of 2400 and a WSPM primer. AV fps 1385.3...

Difference: 67.0 fps

Firearm: Ruger Blackhawk 6 1/2" barrel...

Chronograph: Pact model 1 set at 8 feet from muzzle.
 
Actually, with any change in components whether it's primers or different powder lot numbers, the reloader should begin again with starting loads and work up to maximum. That's basic reloading safety 101.
 
In my limited comparison between CCI and Winchester LP primers in .45ACP Win LP primers consistently gives between 30 and 50 fps more velocity so in the .45 it's the hotter primer and also would show more pressure. However, the CCI LP primer in the .45 with some powders and loads showed the most consistent velocity.
 
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