Large vs. Small primers for .45 ACP

ranbur

ranbur

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Hi all, I'm just getting back into reloading after a 20 year hiatus.

I am loading .45 and obviously there is a choice to load the large or small primer brass. I also load 9mm so I'm set up most of the time for small primers ... convenience wise it would be easy to just load all small primer in both 9mm and 45 and skip the large primers altogether ... however I am wondering if there is a difference in performance ...

My question ... as far as ballistics, does it make any difference?

Thanks
 
large primer 45acp casings are more commonly available so thats what i load. i keep all the SPP casings just in case i ever run out of the LPP casings.

but in regards to differences in performance im sure someone else with more knowledge than me can chime in.
 
So here's a fun fact.

If you try and jam a large pistol primer into a .45 case that has a small pistol primer hole (Dillon 650 press), it will :

1) detonate the primer
2) chain detonate the primers in the disc that transports the primers from the primer tube to the place where they are inserted into the case (this would be the disc that's there to prevent that from happening)
3) then chain detonate the primers in the primer tube (much more impressive having just refilled the tube)
4) drive the weighted rod that sits in the primer tube into the drywall of the ceiling,
5) perforate the inner primer tube with a dozen holes,
6) destroy the entire primer feed disc and assembly and .....
7) result in partial hearing loss and ear pain for several weeks (oh sure, NOW I wear ear pro when loading)

Dillon's no BS warranty replaced the parts for the 650. Apparently they cover "stupid". No warranty on the ears.

Learnings : If you have small primer cases (I threw mine out), keep them carefully sorted and well separated.

Z
 
I thought it might be nice to only need to keep small primers on hand. No trouble in my loadmasters yet. My small primer feed is really reliable. I haven't noticed a difference in performance otherwise. More sorting. That's about it. I'm on the fence. Im sitting at about 15% small primers.
 
No difference. My chrono results are the same for LP and SP brass.

I load the same and use the SP brass at lost brass matches.

Revolver shooters tend to migrate to SP brass, so trading with them is an option.
 
Zed said:
So here's a fun fact.

If you try and jam a large pistol primer into a .45 case that has a small pistol primer hole (Dillon 650 press), it will :

1) detonate the primer
2) chain detonate the primers in the disc that transports the primers from the primer tube to the place where they are inserted into the case (this would be the disc that's there to prevent that from happening)
3) then chain detonate the primers in the primer tube (much more impressive having just refilled the tube)
4) drive the weighted rod that sits in the primer tube into the drywall of the ceiling,
5) perforate the inner primer tube with a dozen holes,
6) destroy the entire primer feed disc and assembly and .....
7) result in partial hearing loss and ear pain for several weeks (oh sure, NOW I wear ear pro when loading)

Dillon's no BS warranty replaced the parts for the 650. Apparently they cover "stupid". No warranty on the ears.

Learnings : If you have small primer cases (I threw mine out), keep them carefully sorted and well separated.

Z
Click to expand...


I had a small primer piece make its way into my run of large primer brass when running the dillon 650. Nothing detonated, no damage at all just a squished and messed up primer. Perhaps I got away lucky, or just have good luck........ The wife uses all the brass that I don't want to reload for making her jewelry, everything from necklaces, cuff links, earrings, pendants and other stuff. If you want to see check out https://www.facebook.com/SmashUpDesign/
Plus all proceeds keep us in the hobby of shooting.
 
I reload enough different types of cartridges that switching back and forth between LP and SP is going to happen anyway, I really don't care what I use. Luckily I have a buddy that prefers small pistol 45's, so I load the large ones and we swap the "wrong" ones. Having said that, even if it has already been sorted, I still double check as often as possible before loading.

As for your question about performance, I have never seen a difference between the two.
 
KellyP said:
I had a small primer piece make its way into my run of large primer brass when running the dillon 650. Nothing detonated, no damage at all just a squished and messed up primer. Perhaps I got away lucky, or just have good luck........ The wife uses all the brass that I don't want to reload for making her jewelry, everything from necklaces, cuff links, earrings, pendants and other stuff. If you want to see check out https://www.facebook.com/SmashUpDesign/
Plus all proceeds keep us in the hobby of shooting.
Click to expand...


Operative word : " jam "
 
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