.45 Auto Small Pistol Primers?

metcalfe

metcalfe

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Guys, I'm reloading only 9mm right now using a Dillon Square Deal B.

During my brass farming for 9mm, I decided to start collecting .45 as well since I plan on buying a 45 one day...And sorting through all of my 45 cases I realized that I have 50/50 small/large primers.


Once I buy a 45 pistol, I'll get a set of dies for 45, and a second powder feed to keep the swap as quick as possible.


My question is, does the Dillon Square deal work for both small and large primer 45?
Is it worth the hassle of swapping the primer feed for 1 calibre?

It looks like it'll be a while before I actually start reloading 45, but I don't want to end up with a couple thousand small primer 45 cases just to find out that it's a pain to reload them with my press.

TIA.
 
I don't have the answer for the SD B. Both primers work in the .45 ACP, and in my case I decided to stick with the large pistol primers. All of the small pistol brass gets put aside for other things. I don't have any urge to mix the brass that I am using. Loading the small primers is no different, but if you have two sizes, you are into sorting, changing primer seaters, and always run the risk of trying to seat a large primer into a small hole. It won't go bang, but it will mess up the progressive action until you clear it.
 
It would be easier to stick with small primers. I cull out the smalls. If you lived near me we could meet once in awhile and trade. I bet most of your friends who shoot 45ACP would be pleased to give you their small primer 45s and trade for your large ones.
 
metcalfe said:
My question is, does the Dillon Square deal work for both small and large primer 45?
Is it worth the hassle of swapping the primer feed for 1 calibre?
TIA.
Click to expand...
The Square Deal B certainly should work with large or small primers, but in your situation it's a no-brainer: collect the small primered .45s for yourself, and trade away the large ones for more small ones. No point converting the primer system if you have the choice and are starting from scratch.
 
Yes the Square Deal B uses both large and small primers. You have to remove 3 bolts and change the primer feed tube and the primer cup assembly. Takes a few minutes.
 
Yeah, my press came with both primer feeds, but I don't know if a .45 shell plate will work with small primers or not.
I might have to contact dillon to find out.

I'm tight on space so trying to decide on which to keep, but if it turns out that both will work, I'll just keep on collecting both.
 
The case dimensions between the two are the same. Since the shell plate only holds the case by the rim (assuming it works the same as my 550), it will work for both small and large primer 45. Just have to switch out your primer feed tube and primer slide assembly. Like others have said, stick to reloading one size if you can and trade off the other, or hang on to the other, for back up. It's up to you.
 
As I recall, SP .45 cases were used by one of the manufacturers, Remington I think, for a special type of ammo(marketing thing). I'd pitch 'em.
"...both small and large primer 45..." It should but you don't want SP primers for a .45. The standard is LP. You certainly don't want 'em mixed together.
"...hassle of swapping the primer feed for 1 calibre..." Wouldn't be in my house.
 
sunray said:
As I recall, SP .45 cases were used by one of the manufacturers, Remington I think, for a special type of ammo(marketing thing).
Click to expand...

Most of the major ammo manufactures have a non toxic round. The idea was to reduce airborne lead exposure by using a fully jacketed or plated bullet to reduce the small ammount of lead vapour from the heel of lead bullets and to replace lead styphnate primers with Diazodinitrophenol which is more powerful than lead azide hence the switch to the small primer form factor. I believe PMC sells Diazodinitrophenol based primers for reloaders.

Theoretically the larger primer holes in the small pistol primer 45 cases should allow more of the flash from lead azide based primers to ignite the propellant. Certainly when I have reloaded some of the WinNT 45 cases I had no problems, YMMV.
 
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sunray said:
As I recall, SP .45 cases were used by one of the manufacturers, Remington I think...
for a special type of ammo(marketing thing)...
It should but you don't want SP primers for a .45... The standard is LP.
Click to expand...

Small primered .45s have been made by several makers, possibly even all the major American suppliers.
It was for technical reasons related to lead-free primers, not just marketing
There is no reason to want large primered cases over small, and it is my bet that large pocket .45s will disappear from the market in 5-10 years.
 
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