45 ACP large or small primers

Workin Man said:
Not to derail this thread, but is there any advantage to large primer vs small primer in this cartridge other than what is available or what you have on hand? IE I load for 40 S&W so if I was to start loading 45ACP I would likely be looking at small primer brass so I could use the same primer in both. I also have a few thousand small rifle primers on hand. None of my .223 rifles made the OIC though, so ... I still have a use for them.

Jim
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that was really what I wanted to know too :)
 
BigRobb said:
No noticeable difference. It’s all relative though. Some primers will burn hotter or colder whether they’re large or small.
On a side note, revolvers will generally light most small rifle primers. Some striker fired pistols won’t reliably detonate some small rifle primers. Federals are soft and ignite easy. S&B not so much.
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If you are trying to set off something like a CCI 450 with a .025" thick cup you may have issues. I get about 5% light strikes with a batch I screwed up using them. Most small rifle will go bang in any gun that hasn't been modified with light springs. Striker fired vs. hammer doesn't seem to matter at least in my rather thorough experience with them.
 
I found out today there is a pressure difference between CCI small pistol and CCI large pistol primers. All things being equal the small pistol primers would not reliably cycle my pistol with a light target load. The large pistol primers cycled 100%.
 
I guess it depends on whether you stock large or small pistol primer, or which one is available out there.

I used to shoot NRA Bullseye matches, tried both small and large primers with brass prepped for max. accuracy I could get; got very similar results.

It is PIA if you have a mixed batch though when loading with a progressive press.
 
woodchopper said:
OK why the 2 different sizes.

I'm just sorting and preping 45 ACP brass and have a bunch of both small and large primers, and for simplicity I would think that just having one size would make reloading easier.

But which one should I keep?
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I would use the LP myself but there's not a big practical difference. Looking at the shortage situation I would hang onto both, and put the small primer cases away where they won't accidentally get mixed into the large primer cases.
 
Very important to sort and separate that .45 ACP brass by primer hole size before it gets on the press, even if you thought you only had one size!

More power to you if you can reload batches of each, although swapping with a buddy who prefers the other size works too.
 
I ran about 1000 brass 45ACP cases trough my Dillon last night. All were with my favourite load.

I also range small pail of aluminum cases I had. These use a small primer. I loaded them, too. Good for occasions when I can't or don't want to retrieve my brass. (e,g, in heavy snow.)

I like to mark the velocity of ammo on the package, and was curious about the velocity of this aluminum ammo, so I tested it. 875fps seemed a bit slow the the 200 gr bullet. I was suspicious that my new chronograph was reading slow, so I dug out my old Chrony and shot both units with some match 22 ammo. Almost identical readings, so the new chronograph is ok.

I tested some of the brass cases with a large pistol primer. 915 fps was more like what I expected.

So - 875 vs. 915 But I don't know if the difference is the different primers or the difference in neck tension between aluminum and brass cases - or both.
 
Ganderite said:
I have fond they can be reloaded once. Aluminum work hardens quickly.

I load them with moderate loads for non-important shooting.
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I've been curious about once reloading AI cases but I find so few of them at the two ranges I shoot at. Brass is much easier to find. So much so that I have yet to purchase new or once fired cases.
 
A few years back I switched from 45acp to 9mm cause its cheaper. Part of that is all the free 9mm brass I find. 45 brass if few and far between but over years I have never had to buy 9mm brass. I have a bucket full and wont ever run out.
 
Functionally, I don't think it makes a difference between small & large primer. i.e. you're building a custom load.

When I got a .45ACP as few years ago I only wanted small pistol primer as I was already loading for 9mm and .40S&W. Practically, I now use both. It's a bit of a bother trying to source only brass with the one pocket primer size, and invariably you're going to pick up range brass with the other primer size.

I'll try to sort the brass as best I can after tumbling it. The, I will setup my press to load the small pistol first. This way, if there is a large pistol primer brass in the mix, you can "feel" it at the primer seating station. Pull that piece out and throw it into the bucket of large pistol primer.
 
BattleRife said:
Large is the old standard, small will be the new standard. We are in a period of transition.

Obviously it is much simpler to only use one size, yourself. Whether you choose to adopt the new standard, which is still in the minority but will become more common with time, or stick with the old so that you have lots now but will be facing a steadily shrinking supply in the future, is up to you.
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No transition. Large is the standard and current specs. Small primer case were introduced for lead free primer by a few manufacturer to gather to people who like new and think it’s better.

The small primer version never took off really... I prefer the large and toss the small if I find some..
 
The economy brands are all using SP so I am inclined to agree with the "transition" phase. Nothing wrong with SP but as some are still finding out some loads may need adjustment.
 
Some believe the person who invented SP 45 acp brass should be kicked between the legs till there nose bleeds.
Must be users of DILLION progressive reloading machines!
 
Ganderite said:
I sort and store until I get enough to make a loading run of them.

My pick-up tends to be 80% large.
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This has been my experience as well; large is more common than small. PITA to change over primer systems in a Lee Pro1000, so I bought a second press. (may buy a third eventually).

Is one better than the other? Nope; they both shoot well.
 
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