Small Primer .45 Auto?

[Boomer454]

I Just spoke to the shooting edge about the once fired brass off their range.
I was looking for .45 auto, and they asked if I wanted small or large primers.
I don't want any of the small stuff as I would mean even more sorting, and working up a new load when the one I have works just fine. But It got me to thinking.
The .45 auto has been using a Large Pistol Primer for almost 100 years.
Why would Winchester change it for their Non Toxic rounds?
How does hand loading performance stack up to the old tried and true Large Pistol primer loadings? Is there an efficiency gain either way?

 

[cansoldier45]

Perhaps Winchester only manufactures non-lead primers in the small size.

Just speculation here on my part.

Like you, I reload only the large primer 45 cases.

CS45

 

[beltfed]

It makes sense from a manufacturing stand point. If they have a small lead free primer that can ignite the powder in a 45 cas just fine, why not?
I'm saving up all the sm. primered 45 cases I can. If it means I don't have to change out primers, I'll be very happy.

 

[762nato]

Some of the NT stuff had crimped primers, other than that the primer size does not make a difference in load performance.

Andy

 

[Cocked&Locked]

.45 acp has such a small powder charge that small primers work fine. I suspect they only ever had large primers for reliability back in 1906 or so when the round was created.

 

[Smitty]

The interest has come up especially in the USA since so many can only form indoor ranges. So at something like a 25 yd range the use of the Large Pistol Primer is not needed & besides it is safer health-wise to said indoor shoother.

If I came across such brass I would simply seperate them for I do the same with Federal, Wincheste & such brass of 38Sp.

Have reloaded 10, borrowed empty brass with small pistol primers & as accurate as my rounds with Large Pistol Primers.