I’m about to make a mass bulk buy on primers, but I’m not sure what brand, or what what alternative brand to go for. My main choice is CCI, but the online retailer I want to buy from has them out of stock. My alternatives are:
Federal–comes in the same price range.
Winchester–little higher in price, but for that large pistol primers they can be used for standard and magnum loads.
My question stems from, what are the differences. Also what type of primer should I get for small and large pistol, stemming for the way CCI marks their primers by number?
I would also like to add the question on mil-spec/NATO small rifle primers and the regular small rifle primers. So far I have liked the #41 primers from CCI, but am considering a cheaper route. What are the advantages of the #41 compared to regular small rifle primers?
Winchester has only small and large pistol, they keep it simple. Federal is the same except they offer a “match” primer, also.
I use CCI mainly, but have found nothing wrong with any of them. Winchester seems to seat easier. I don’t know if that is a sizing or hardness/softness issue?
ETA: I only have experience with pistol reloading, can’t help with rifle but I’m interested also.
Lots of good info on the web about primers.
From what I can remember there are two types of compound used in primers. Normal and Basic. I believe Federal uses basic and all the rest use normal. But I may have that backwards. Bottom line Federal primers are supposed to be more sensitive than the others. Been using Federal for 40 years and never had a problem.
Some will say that CCI’s are the hottest and Rem’s are the mildest. I think it all depends on what your firearm likes. Everyone is different.
Many folks are using Wolf or Tula primers as vendors such as Powder Valley have them for $20 a thou. Many say they are excellent primers, with the only flaw is that they are a little bigger in diameter than the U.S. primers.
Have only used Wolf large pistol mag primers in my 454 Casull rifle and yes they were a little bigger. But if you uniform your primer pockets, they will fit and work fine.
Bruno’s Shooters supply, in Arizona, has a special on Federal primers right now. Buy 10,000 and get the Haz Mat paid by them, but you still have to pay shipping.
Had good luck with them and Powder Valley in the past. I’m sure other will chime in with more info.
Again look on line and I hope some of this info is a help to you. Just one man’s opinion. enjoy!
As I understand it, CCI #41 and #34 primers have aren’t as sensitive as a regular primer, to prevent accidental ignition by a firing pin. Seeing as how the firing pin in the AR (and other auto-loading rifles) is not retained by a spring, this is a pretty important quality.
How the sensitivity is reduced, I don’t know. I have heard that the primer cup itself is thicker, or than the primer compound itself is different. But my only source of information is the errornet, so take that for what it is worth.
I’d recommend you go with the type of primer specified in the reloading data, i.e., either a standard or magnum, pistol or rifle as appropriate, as called out. Then select the make that’s compatible with your priming system. For example, Lee has some warnings about some primers because of the type of priming compound they use. in the evnt of a cocked primer/explosion, you run the risk of a chain reaction for the other primers. Definitely a potentially dangerous situation.
Having said that, as for ARs, if you go with Wolf’s, do not use their Small Rifle in AR loads. That primer is suited for .22 Hornet, old .218/.219 loads etc. Either use their Small Rifle Magnum or .223 primers, regardless of what the reloading data says (e.g., if relaoding data recommends a small rifle primer, do not substitute Wolf’s SRP, use either their magnum or .223 primer). They have three that will fit in the pocket, but avoid the basic SRP unless you are willing to keep loads throttled way back.
For ARs, if you aren’t looking at Wolf’s, I’ve always found Remington 7 1/2s pretty good. They havehard cups which takes the pressure. By the same token, avoid remington 6 1/2’s for the same reasons as the Wolf SRPs.
I prefer Federal primers for pistol ammo since they tend to display the most positive impact.
However, since the firing pin in AR’s makes contact with a round when it’s chambered :eek: I use the slightly harder (IMO) Winchester small rifle primers for my .223 handloads; plus, Accurate Arms powder data for .223 references the Winchester primer.
In my modified competition pistols I am a big fan of Federal’s small pistol primers. As they take a lighter strike.
For my Ar I just ordered 10K of wolf for $15.50 a K. I do not have to worry about light strikes with my Ar. Federal, CCI and wolfs all work fine in my Ar so I decided to save the $12.00 a K. That $120 bought me 8 pounds of powder for my Ar and payed for the for the hazmat.