Small primer, large primer

[nowarningshot]

I have reloaded for decades. Until i came here, almost exclusively for rifle, large primer. Mostly 308 family, through the largest magnums.

Now, i am awaiting my Rpal....i know, good luck with that. Will almost certainly buy a 9mm, perhaps a nr modern rifle. I have a pistol carbine with multiple calibers 9mm, 45acp, 10mm. Have a 6.8 spc. Seems a few calibers are available in both small primer and large; notably 45 acp, 6.8 spc, 6.5 creedmore.

What do you predominantly use in all your reloading, small or large primer? In calibers that give a choice, what do you use?

 

[6MT]

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[VinnyQC]

The only calibre I reload that uses different primer size is 45acp, and I use large. Some people say that primer size makes a difference in accuracy for some rifle calibre, but in pistols, it doesn't make a lick of a difference. So the criteria are:
-Brass availability. Most 45acp brass is large primer, so it was easier for me to get that;
-Primer price: for pistols, small primers are slightly less expensive or the same price;
-Availability: Some type of primers are only available in small pistol. The eco-friendly no-lead primers are an example. I think that's why 45acp exists in small primer format, because some company wanted to sell "green" products in 45acp.

 

[Chilly807]

I use large rifle in my .243, and small rifle in my 6.5 Creedmoor. Primarily because the Lapua brass I use for the 6.5 is SRP only. Does it make an appreciable difference? Maybe.. I'm not an engineer and leave those considerations to those that are.

 

[colinjw]

I reload 9mm, 45 ACP & 38 special/357 magnum.
For the .45 ACP I switched over to the small primer brass. This way I only have to buy one size of primer
and when I switch calibres I do not have to change the primer feed.

 

[Astute Observer]

the Lapua brass I use for the 6.5 is SRP only.

I've had some problems with that brass. I have a Lee decapping die, and it's supposed to be "one size fits all". Well, turns out it's not that "universal". The punch gets stuck in the flash hole on that small primer Lapua brass, and actually dislodges from the die during the return stroke of nearly every press

 

[6MT]

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[OldDude]

The only calibre I reload that uses different primer size is 45acp, and I use large. Some people say that primer size makes a difference in accuracy for some rifle calibre, but in pistols, it doesn't make a lick of a difference. So the criteria are:
-Brass availability. Most 45acp brass is large primer, so it was easier for me to get that;
-Primer price: for pistols, small primers are slightly less expensive or the same price;
-Availability: Some type of primers are only available in small pistol. The eco-friendly no-lead primers are an example. I think that's why 45acp exists in small primer format, because some company wanted to sell "green" products in 45acp.

Speaking of no-lead primers, has anyone managed to use them for reloads?

 

[VinnyQC]

Speaking of no-lead primers, has anyone managed to use them for reloads?

I think Western metal sold them for a while, but they were expensive. Like 56$/1000 while the same brand were 40$/1000. Given how I use large primers and magnum primers that don't exist in non-lead version, it didn't make sense to me to switch just for the small pistol.

Typical reloaders are often cheap and will often save 1.5¢/round. Unless every primers get switched to non-lead I don't think it's gonna catch-up very much.

 

[Meroh]

I have thousands of large primer .45 brass and am using a Lee pro 1000 press, and they are not simple to switch over; so I bought a second press. No change-over for .45s now, and change over from 9 to .4 is easy, a bit more involved for .38 special as shell plate and shell feeder needs to be changed.

 

[ted_dent]

All my 45 brass is LP so it made no sense to switch to SP 45 brass. That being said I managed to pick up about 800 SP 45 cases dirt cheap that I'll be able to use in a pinch in the event of a primer shortage. I may never use them but I like to be prepared just in case.

 

[old303]

I reload 9mm, 45 ACP & 38 special/357 magnum.
For the .45 ACP I switched over to the small primer brass. This way I only have to buy one size of primer
and when I switch calibres I do not have to change the primer feed.

That makes sense, if you're completely avoiding other calibres that only exist in large primer. But then you still have to deal with any large-primer-pocket .45 ACP brass that falls into your hands. Maybe a friend who loads that will take it. Certainly all of us who deal with the switch-hitter calibres have to sort the small-primer brass from the large-primer!

I load both primer sizes, and will deal with 45-small and 45-large brass on different sessions trying to dovetail with the other calibres and minimizing primer-size switches.

 

[nowarningshot]

Much like i thought, seems its the inconvenience of switching primer size as the issue. Presently i have small primers set to prime on the T7, and large primers in my rcbs bench mounted primer. Much prefer the bench mounted primer, so i leave it large primer, which is the bulk of my loading. Probably should just take the small primer set up off the press.

In 6.8, people say you get more loadings before pockets get loose from small primer brass. Think i loose the brass long before thats a issue.