Small pistol primer versus large pistol primer

dearslayer

dearslayer

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If I'm loading a specific charge for 45 ACP large primer would the charge need to be reduced or increased if I was loading for small pistol primer. Reason I ask is because I have a lot of brass with both small and large primer pockets.
 
Not necessarily, especially if you aren't at maximum pressure. The 45 ACP has lots of case capacity so any fluctuation between the primer sizes may not even be noticeable.

There's probably two schools of thought, depending on what you are trying to achieve. If you are loading for maximum accuracy and precision, I would work up a load with both primers to see what is best with them. There may be no difference.

If you are loading more "plinking" or practice ammo it probably doesn't matter.

In either case you are going to have to separate brass by primer and load them in lots so maybe working up a load for each isn't really a big deal. I will separate and load all the brass then only take large primer ammo to the range until it's all used up. Then it gets processed while I am shooting small primer ammo. Eventually you get to the point where you don't have to spend too much time sitting in front of buckets playing Big Primer Little Primer. :)
 
Gatehouse said:
Not necessarily, especially if you aren't at maximum pressure. The 45 ACP has lots of case capacity so any fluctuation between the primer sizes may not even be noticeable.

There's probably two schools of thought, depending on what you are trying to achieve. If you are loading for maximum accuracy and precision, I would work up a load with both primers to see what is best with them. There may be no difference.

If you are loading more "plinking" or practice ammo it probably doesn't matter.

In either case you are going to have to separate brass by primer and load them in lots so maybe working up a load for each isn't really a big deal. I will separate and load all the brass then only take large primer ammo to the range until it's all used up. Then it gets processed while I am shooting small primer ammo. Eventually you get to the point where you don't have to spend too much time sitting in front of buckets playing Big Primer Little Primer. :)
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Awesome. Good to know. I'm not at the point where speed and precision is of utmost importance at this point. I'm basically just loading for plinking and having fun and trying to learn along the way hoping to get to the point where eventually speed and precision will be a factor. Right now I'm just trying to have fun.
 
I tried both when loading for a carbine and never saw a difference. I stuck with small primer cause I`d rather find a large primer brass in my Dillon and get a small bit of powder spilt powder then try to ram a large into a small pocket

Clint
 
There's no case volume difference between small and large primer 45acp. You may find very minor differences between large and small primer depending on your load, but I have found more significant differences between brands of primers. Have tested 357 and 9mm loads using a variety of brands of primers and did find that Federal was hottest, then CCI, then Winchester, then Gynex being the weakest. Average velocity between hottest to weakest decreased by ~60fps on a midrange load.

When ever I'm switching a core component like a primer, I always restart my load workups. If you are running a mild-mid load and not too OCD (like me lol), using the same load between small and large primer 45acp should be fine.
 
dearslayer said:
Reason I ask is because I have a lot of brass with both small and large primer pockets.
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To be honest I would just separate the large primer brass from the small primer brass, decide which size I was going to use and stick with it. Put the other cases in a can and store them away. If you don't, invariably you're going to end up mixing them and one day will try to jam a large primer into a small primer pocket. Depending on your priming tool that could have very bad results.

I only use large primer 45 ACP cases because that's what I have the most of. However, I have stashed away about 800 small primer 45 cases. The reason is that if there is ever a primer shortage (like now, for example) and I run out of large primers I can switch over to small primer cases and continue to use my 45's. However, I never mix them and religiously check over any brass I find at the range to make sure no SPP cases end up with my my LPP cases.

The other thing you can do is swap cases with someone who is using the primer size you aren't. Should be able to trade 1 for 1 and eliminate the problem.

I'm not sure why after over 100 years of successfully using large primers in 45 ACP someone decidedd that swtiching to small primers was a good idea. It's another solution to a problem that didn't exist.
 
Small primers are for indoor use in a non lead situation.
Small primers worked better for accuracy and consistent load for me.
Small primers work well for getting your brass back at matches and tic off brass rats.
 
If you're using a progressive reloading machine, switching out priming systems (from small to large) for example can be a pain. I reload 9mm & 38/357 mostly. I know it only takes a few minutes to change out, but I'd rather not do it.
 
one other consideration if you are reloading for a highly tuned semi-auto, or a tuned revolver, small primer is apparently more sensitive to light hammer strikes. I settled on Federal SPP for reloading my tuned S&W 625, but then used Federal LPP reloading for my S&W 610. I don't run my 610 in qualifiers though, so it's not as highly tuned as the 625. I have that one down to a 4 1/2lb DA trigger pull.
 
Unfortunately, if it's .45 ACP brass then sorting small-primer from large-primer is not an optional reloading step even if you thought it was all one kind.

They both work, so it comes down to what sort of primers you have or what sort your press is set up to feed.

I've heard of .45 buddies, guys who each load only one kind and swap the other kind to their friend.
 
snooker said:
If you're using a progressive reloading machine, switching out priming systems (from small to large) for example can be a pain. I reload 9mm & 38/357 mostly. I know it only takes a few minutes to change out, but I'd rather not do it.
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I load 45 ACP on a Dillon 750. Takes a couple of minutes to swap out primer systems. It's 2 allen head bolts and a primer tube change. I only load small primers on my 1100 but it's the same thing.

That said, I'll do all my small primer brass in one lot then switch to large primer for the next lot.

Ultimately I wish the person that decided on small primers in 45 ACP nothing good as it's a real f@ckshow sitting in front of buckets of brass and sorting. Which is why I try to keep them separated. I wish I had 80% of one size and 20% of the other as I would just get rid of the 80%. Unfortunately over the years I've ended up with pretty much 50/50. Blarg.
 
I don't really have too big of an issue sorting the LPP from SPP. I sit at my bench with a drink in hand and listen to some tunes and relax. The pain is the couple times the the odd one slipped through while in the loading process. Changing the two out is pretty simple on my Lee Classic Turret press. Speaking of presses.... I would really love to get a Dillon at some point down the road if the Turd on the hill doesn't take the pistols away but for now the Lee turret will have to do. I do envy the reloaders with the Dillon presses though.
 
I switched to all small primer brass for my 45 just far easier to have one size for all my pistol caliber reloading 9mm 40sw 357sig and 45 than to have to have large Primers for only my 45. With modern primer and powder there is no reason to need large Primers for the 45
 
Ravage said:
I switched to all small primer brass for my 45 just far easier to have one size for all my pistol caliber reloading 9mm 40sw 357sig and 45 than to have to have large Primers for only my 45. With modern primer and powder there is no reason to need large Primers for the 45
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That makes sense if you only shoot calibres that can use small primers. With my 41 mag, 44 mag and 45 Colt I don't have any choice but to stock both sizes. The other thing I have found (and may not be an issue with all progressive presses) is that on my Loadmasters the one set up for small primers generates more incorrectly seated primers than the one set up for large primers. Badly seated primers on my large primer machine are virtually non-existent. I suspect that the larger primer pocket is more forgiving when a primer is inserted slightly off centre or canted.
 
There is a difference.

The small primer doesn't always cycle in a semi-auto.
Just my observation. It usually happens during the winter. It happens less with magnum. Federal is worse then the other brands.
 
I don't shoot a whole bunch of 45 Auto, and the majority of my brass is LP, so that is what I stick to.

IIRC I saw it posted somewhere that the small primered 45 Auto came about because of the lead free primers. IMO the 45 Auto case is what I'd classify as small capacity. If I look at a loading manual, most loads are about 7.5 grains for max. I load just under 4 grains in mine. about the same as what I load in 38s and 357s, for target work. Lead free or green primers had a bit too much brisance for the light 45 Auto loads.

Depending on the powder you use and the load level, PF 150 for Wild Bunch or over the top for bear, there may be some advantage of one primer size over the other.

I decided to change primers on my Dillon, after loading about 10 rounds. Changing over with 90 primers still in the tube, not easy and not fun. A short time later I bought a second 550, now I have one for small primers and one for large.

Nitro
 
dearslayer said:
If I'm loading a specific charge for 45 ACP large primer would the charge need to be reduced or increased if I was loading for small pistol primer. Reason I ask is because I have a lot of brass with both small and large primer pockets.
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For your intended purposes, the difference will be pepper and fly sh!t. You should have no issues whatsoever. I run both through my Glocks with the same powder charge and point of impact has been the same. As for keeping one or the other, you'll only have to separate them once if you keep organized. It's good to have options in these apocalyptic times of primer shortages:cool:
 
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