If you were going to stock up on primers ,LPP, which ones would you choose and why?

I have been using CCI, Federal and Winchester and just recently a few Remington Large Pistol primers. I've not noticed a significant difference per say in my short, so far, reloading experience.

As such I would like to buy some in bulk as the LGS is hit and miss on supply. Right now I am leaning toward both Winchester and Federal just because I have used those the most. I use the Winchester primers in my 44 mag loads behind 2400 and the Federals behind most everything else.

Right now, I'm stocking up on Winchester primers.

I won't get caught in the next primer shortage.

I remember calling from store to store, only to be told they didn't have any
and didn't know when (or if) they'd have them again.

A little STOCKPILING of important things never hurt anyone.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Started with CCI, and have not had any primer issues, will continue purchasing them.

I believe either Winchester, CCI or Federal would serve you well. A nearby LGS sells out of SP primers, all brands, quickly but I noticed LP don't seem to sell out and are usually available.

I honestly don't think it matters much so long as you've had good experience with them.

I would stay away from any stating that they are "toxic metal free" as I have been told they are the only ones that have about a five to ten year shelf life- not intentional mind you, but that's what I've been told. I accidentally bought some and they worked fine, but velocity was noticeable lower and they smelled a bit strange compared to regular loads. They were some Russian "TMF" primers by Murom. I kept 200 of them to try in a few years to see if what I was told is correct. I've shot a lot of the regular primers by Murom, which are either packaged under their name in white and red boxes, or rebadged under the Wolf or Tula branding.

I like the Fiocchi primers pretty good- they come in 1500 count bricks, and they seem almost as soft as Federal Gold Metal primers but a good bit cheaper!

If I could just get a deal on more percussion caps....

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Lost it all in a boat accident

I use Federal in all my revolver loads (my revolvers have lightened DA trigger pulls) and Winchester in all my semi auto pistol loads.

It may boil down to buying what you can find. I have had difficulty ordering small pistol primers of any brand for my shop for the past two months. The distributors either show them out of stock or a message on their websites stating "Call Rep for Availability".

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OGCA / OVMS / NAPCA / TMCA

I just bought 6K LPP, 2K small and 1 lg Rifle of Federals from Powder Valley. Great price, quick shipment. Now up to 12K LPP 4K sm P and 3K Large rifle.

Should be ok for awhile

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Slim, U.S. Army, Ret.

Local caster has tons on the shelf, not going to stockpile anything and maybe supply and demand will get the price back down to were it was before the last self induced panic. I keep only a few thousand and buy as needed, buying more will only shorten supply and drive the price up.

Since I reload just about everything, I keep all sizes of primers on hand. I won't have a shortage of any kind myself. I mainly keep Winchester and Wolf. I've pretty much ran through all of my CCI's. If you have a light hammer/striker...then you'll want to keep Federals on hand, as the three I use are medium to hard.

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USPSA TY-59035
GSSF

Wolf/Tula cause they are cheap and work as well as any of the others. Been using them for a long time now.

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Still Running Against the Wind

As Tsquared implied-Federal is a little easier to light than others, so they would be preferred in cases requiring that ability. I use only Winchester Large Pistol primers, as they are the only ones that are made for both Magnum and regular loads-in small rounds, I use CCI or Feds if I can get them at a good price.

I use Federal, CCI, and Winchester.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

In most instances with pistol primers, you'll find more difference in how the primers "feel" when seating them than you will in the performance.

Another vote for Wolf/Tula. Because they work.

Winchester first choice.

CCI second simply because they don't seat as easily on my press as Winchesters. I have to really lean on the lever to get them to seat fully. I've fired thousands without a problem not caused by not fully seating them.

I would avoid Federals simply because of the lame megabulky packaging.

For versatility in LP, I prefer Winchester since they state they are for standard or magnum loads. Rem and CCI are compact in packaging, work well, but you may need two kinds. I've had good luck with Rem. I used a lot of CCI at one time, but I observe they seem a little overdimensioned and can enlarge the pockets after several uses, not to mention I have found some of them backing out from ammo loaded many years ago. Feds are very good primers, often specified for when you have lightened hammer springs, but could they *BE* any bulkier?? Any you may need standard and mag.

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" I said, good DAY! "

I stocked up on some Fiocchi large pistol primers that were on sale last month, picked up 4 bricks of 1500 each. I have only burned through about 500 so far but they are working well and I'm thinking I may need another 4 or 5 bricks.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Anyone ever have issues w/ 500 s & w mag, starline brass & Winchester large rifle primers? By issues, I mean light primer strike / miss fires.

I like CCI primers best but since Winchester LPP are rated for both standard and magnum loads those are easier to keep for stock. You don't have to figure out how many of standard and magnum you need.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

WLP is what I stock, and I have a lot of them. I'm also always looking for more. I don't believe planning ahead is hoarding, and that my little stock pile is going to drive availability down, and prices up. During the last famine, I kept going as if nothing happened. I could have scalped primers, and made a small fortune, but that's not what they're there for.

I also had plenty of primers during the last "shortage" but I didn't sell any of them because I had no idea how long the "shortage would last. I did lend a few thousand out and only wanted them replaced with the same when they became available again.

I didn't hoard anything and I can't say I saw the shortage coming. I was being cheap and it paid off. When the prices started going up when I saw a sale instead of buying 1K or 2K I bought 4K or 5K instead to save money. I ended up saving my ability to reload all I wanted during that 2 year shortage...

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I have used CCI Primers for many years so they would be My 1st choice but I would use Federal-Winchester-Remingtons if they were available @ a good price.

One thing about a GOOD PRICE, generally you can think of all our components RISING in cost over time. Make sure you can endure a fairly long dry spell in the supply chain and GOOD SHOOTING.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

I load both 44 Mag and 44 Special ---- As already stated, WW LPPs are made for people like me.

I used up all my Winchester primers, never had any issues and then CCI and also no issues. I use few large pistol primers these days but I have quite a few but I go through alot of small pistol primers and they are all CCI.

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Vaya con Dios

CCI are always my first choice.

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Sheriff Russell Cottle. ret

If you are using a hand tool to seat your primers then Federals will make it easier on you over long runs with many cases. If you are using a progressive press you may want to look at a harder primer such as CCI's. You will see less deformation with a harder primer in a progressive press.

The most important thing however is to ensure that whichever primer you select will give you reliable ignition in your guns BEFORE you make a mega purchase.

Drew

I don't think having a supply of things you use is hoarding. I ran out of primers during the 90's shortage and will never do that again. During the last I got down to a few thousand but never ran out.

That said, I have used Winchesters of all sizes and Wolf SP. With the Wolf I would get a few that wouldn't go off. I think that was due to the cup being loosened while loading into some tight primer pocket 9mm brass. I would sometimes catch it and check and the anvil would be out of the primer. I have never had that issue with the Winchesters so my vote is to buy them, even if they are a bit more in price.

I like Federal 150s. A chronograph will quickly tell you whether they are best for you. For me, it has always been indisputable with the cartridges I load for and the powders that I use.

I agree that their packaging is beyond the pale. It is just silly and it does make storing the product a hassle. If everyone else gets along with smaller packaging, I wonder why Federal can't? Also agree with what Drew said about slightly distorting them in progressive presses. I have noticed that, but I can live with it.

Second choice would be Remingtons or CCIs.

In the long run, I can get along fine with any of them - CCI, Winchester, Remington, or Federal. They are all good, but I find the Federals have consistently been my best bet in all the cartridges I load, from small/low-pressure (.45 Auto) to larger/higher-pressure (.44 Magnum).

I also use alot of wolf/tula.

I have very good luck with Winchester and Federals. I stocked up real well. In the past Ive had issues with CCI, they tend to be harder IMO. Always good to have thousands on hand.

Federal,Winchester and CCI in that order.

PVI was out of Tual SPP when I placed an order a couple weeks ago. So I ordered 10k Federal SPP. Hope I like them. I know I don't like the big azz boxes they store them in. lol

I like CCI. I had about 12k of both large and small primers on hand before the shortage. Good deals on 5k cases at the gun shows. I usually have a case of each in reserve, historically to allow for shopping for the best prices. Found an 8 pound jug of Red Dot just as the powder disappeared.

I'm not sure there will be the same level of shortage in the near future. I can't believe the folks who filled their garages last time have used what they bought. They also paid about twice the price of the going rate, so they probably haven't sold off their inventory.

I'm not a hoarder. I have replenished my supply with good prices from PV.

Can you all rank large pistol primers in terms of hardness? CCI, Federal and Winchester at least?

I'm asking because I'm trying to track down a light primer strike problem and one variable which changed was going from CCI to Winchester primers.

As others have said, it doesn't really matter too much. During the last primer shortage we learned to deal with whatever we could get and it wasn't any big deal. Even started using small rifle in 9mm because that was all we had, worked fine. Everyone has there favorite, buy and use whatever you can get.

Have had two "ppppppfts!" (producing a squib) from the same lot of Win LG Pistol Primers.


Going back to CCI after this batch.

Lots of great responses filled with insight and experiences. It looks like I am using the most popular primers in the thread so I will continue with those as availability allows.

Thanks alot everyone.

Federal,Winchester,CCI.Softest to hardest.

I buy the primers that are available in case lots. My Dillon doesn't like CCI small rifle for 223. Wolf / Tula worked flawlessly in the last 5,000 round .45 ACP reload batch.

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S&WHF 366

They are packed that way because of the reason lots of folks like them. They detonate very easily. Soft and go bang without a lot of force.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I've had good results with both Winchester and Remington, never used
Federal. Remington LP seems better than SP in my experience. Don't
plan to buy any more CCIs in the future as they seem to be oversize
and very difficult to seat.

Widener's has Wolf LP for $16/1,000 or $15.50/1,000 (if you buy 5,000+)

I have to disagree their packaging is necessary to protect the primers from going off. While Winchester and CCI primers are flat in the packaging Federal packages their primers sideways for safety. The problem with that is, So does Remington and their packaging is the smallest of all of them.

Federal's primer boxes are SO LARGE I refuse to buy them because I have limited storage space. I can fit 4000 or more of the others primers in the same space required for 1000 Federal primers. Unacceptable IMO. None of my revolvers are modified to the point I need an excessively soft primer to make them work.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437