Which primers and powder?

Small pistol primers were introduced into the 45acp cartridge because attempts to produce lead free Large Pistol Primers just didn't work out. There was a demand for lead free cartridges in 45acp so the manufacturers went to small pistol primers. As others have said pick one size and live with it. Mixing the two is just a train wreck in the making. HP38 and Win 231 is the same powder sold under different names.

Take Care

Bob
 
I’m keeping whatever Small Primer 45 brass finds their way into my range pickups. Set them aside for a rainy day, they will come handy for sure. Hardly anyone shoots 45acp and .40S&W at our range anymore so I am not picky.

Tons of 9mm and 22LR, though.
 
Like every one else I avoided the SP versions but had finally picked up enough FC sp versions I thought I'd load them up and try them . Using the same load as with LP casings took them to the range yesterday not expecting any noticeable difference . Same load with sp wouldn't cycle my Kimber . Was using a light load but why it works with LP and not with SP , I don't know .
 
kewp said:
Like every one else I avoided the SP versions but had finally picked up enough FC sp versions I thought I'd load them up and try them . Using the same load as with LP casings took them to the range yesterday not expecting any noticeable difference . Same load with sp wouldn't cycle my Kimber . Was using a light load but why it works with LP and not with SP , I don't know .
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Burn rate I'm guessing, not enough of a pressure spike to create the required force to cycle? Maybe check the casing for any evidence of unburned powder to verify that. My amateur analysis. :)
 
I have also just started to reload 45 acp and mistakenly bought a bunch of Federal 230 Grn FMJ, not realizing they were small primer cases. So, bought some CCI small pistol primers, dumped in 5 grains of green dot and hit the bulls eye at 20 yards with the first shot! Mostly luck, but, seems to be a nice load and cycles well in my Ruger 1911 CMD.
 
Small pistol primers in 45acp factory cases proves that even some ammo companies hire morons. How about large pistol primers for 38/357? Maybe small pistol primers for 44 mag next?

Reloaders love economy so if one can save up enough of these case aberations, one can sell or trade for the LPP cases. But they still suck and immediately find their way into the scrap bin. All reloaders are cheap too, so many like me save our junk brass for the scrap merchant!
 
hatman1793 said:
Small pistol primers in 45acp factory cases proves that even some ammo companies hire morons. How about large pistol primers for 38/357? Maybe small pistol primers for 44 mag next?

Reloaders love economy so if one can save up enough of these case aberations, one can sell or trade for the LPP cases. But they still suck and immediately find their way into the scrap bin. All reloaders are cheap too, so many like me save our junk brass for the scrap merchant!
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You didn't read my post above. There was a market for lead free ammo for indoor ranges. The ammo companies could not make large pistol primers work lead free so they had to go to small pistol primers. All they did was to adapt to changing market conditions. Nothing moronic about their decision. There is no difference in performance between SPP and LPP.

Take Care

Bob
 
hatman1793 said:
Small pistol primers in 45acp factory cases proves that even some ammo companies hire morons. How about large pistol primers for 38/357? Maybe small pistol primers for 44 mag next?

Reloaders love economy so if one can save up enough of these case aberations, one can sell or trade for the LPP cases. But they still suck and immediately find their way into the scrap bin. All reloaders are cheap too, so many like me save our junk brass for the scrap merchant!
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Some ammo companies would probably make unreloadable ammos if they could. Sell them 1% cheaper and everyone who doesn't reload would flock to them.
 
VinnyQC said:
Some ammo companies would probably make unreloadable ammos if they could. Sell them 1% cheaper and everyone who doesn't reload would flock to them.
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They do. Aluminum and steel cases abound and shooters do. I have heard of guys trying to reload aluminum. Not sure why but some do.

Take care

Bob
 
McHoss said:
I’ve read that steel CAN be reloaded but most of the people I talk to say it can’t. What’s the real story?
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They can be reloaded but they're not worth the effort in pistol calibres where brass is available.

Aluminium can usually be reloaded once. The second time they crack and fail at such a rate it's useless to try. Also too much work if brass is available.
 
Canuck44 said:
They do. Aluminum and steel cases abound and shooters do. I have heard of guys trying to reload aluminum. Not sure why but some do.

Take care

Bob
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I’ve reloaded aluminum 45 ACP cases with low power light target 200 gr SWC loads. I’ll typically only reload them once then use those rounds for competitions where I know I’m going to loose the cases.

McHoss said:
I’ve read that steel CAN be reloaded but most of the people I talk to say it can’t. What’s the real story?
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I’ve also reloaded Steel cases. The story with them is most are Bredan primed which uses the case design as part of the primer. Practically speaking this system uses two off center flash holes as opposed to one in the center. Regular decapping cannot remove Bredan primers so it’s difficult to reload them. Also, replacement Bredan primers are hard to find here in Canada so most people will not bother.

Steel Bredan cases can be modified to use Boxer primers though. It’s a lot of work and if I can just buy actual Boxer primed brass it’s not worth it in my opinion.

I do convert Brass GP11 cases from Bredan to Boxer using a tool because GP11 brass is top quality like Nosler or Lapua.

ht tps://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader.myshopify.com/products/berdan-military-case-loader-foreign-domestic
 
MuthaFunk said:
I’ve reloaded aluminum 45 ACP cases with low power light target 200 gr SWC loads. I’ll typically only reload them once then use those rounds for competitions where I know I’m going to loose the cases.



I’ve also reloaded Steel cases. The story with them is most are Bredan primed which uses the case design as part of the primer. Practically speaking this system uses two off center flash holes as opposed to one in the center. Regular decapping cannot remove Bredan primers so it’s difficult to reload them. Also, replacement Bredan primers are hard to find here in Canada so most people will not bother.

Steel Bredan cases can be modified to use Boxer primers though. It’s a lot of work and if I can just buy actual Boxer primed brass it’s not worth it in my opinion.

I do convert Brass GP11 cases from Bredan to Boxer using a tool because GP11 brass is top quality like Nosler or Lapua.

ht tps://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader.myshopify.com/products/berdan-military-case-loader-foreign-domestic
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The bulk steel 9mm rounds I have have boxer primers. Should I keep them and try reloading? Or is that a bad idea for a newbie reloaded? Don’t need stuck cases or other more serious problems.

This stuff.......

View attachment 162085

View attachment 162086
 
Bad idea. I can't imagine anyone attempting to reload steel or aluminum cases. You will end up with stuck cases and likely damaged dies. The question earlier was could you reload them. The real question is should you reload them. There maybe someone who might suggest you should or can. Forget it. Buy brass jacketed cartridges, shoot them and then reload them. I have 45ACP brass that you can hardly read the head stamp anymore. I once tracked reloaded .45acp brass and quit counting at 16X. You will pick up more large pistol primed cases so I would suggest you stay with large pistol primed cases. If you do pick up some SPP cases save them and trade them with someone who wants them over the LPP cases.

Take Care
Bob
 
Canuck44 said:
Bad idea. I can't imagine anyone attempting to reload steel or aluminum cases. You will end up with stuck cases and likely damaged dies. The question earlier was could you reload them. The real question is should you reload them. There maybe someone who might suggest you should or can. Forget it. Buy brass jacketed cartridges, shoot them and then reload them. I have 45ACP brass that you can hardly read the head stamp anymore. I once tracked reloaded .45acp brass and quit counting at 16X. You will pick up more large pistol primed cases so I would suggest you stay with large pistol primed cases. If you do pick up some SPP cases save them and trade them with someone who wants them over the LPP cases.

Take Care
Bob
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Thanks for the advice. Will do just that.
 
McHoss said:
The bulk steel 9mm rounds I have have boxer primers. Should I keep them and try reloading? Or is that a bad idea for a newbie reloaded? Don’t need stuck cases or other more serious problems.

This stuff.......

View attachment 162085

View attachment 162086
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I’d have to agree with Canuck44. If brass is hard to find then it may make sense to reload steel cases. There’s lots of 9mm around soo I’d use that instead. Steel cases are a little harder to work with. They’ll dull your trimming cutters quicker. They are harder on your Dies too. I’ve never had any issues resizing them though. Just harder to push in, out feels the same as brass more or less.
 
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