I have used a ton of different primers. From Magtech to Wolf to Tula to Winchester & CCI along with Remington and Federal.
For handgun loads, as long as I use a magnum for magnum loads and standard for standard loads, I've not seen a big difference between all of these brands.
Well, Federals are needed for a tuned gun, so, I guess there is some difference.

What are your favorites though and why?

I like Winchester, though I have used pretty much all of the others. I have a good source for them at a good price, they go bang when the hammer falls and they work well in my machinery. Plus the large pistol work for both standard and magnum, makes inventory control a bit easier.

I pretty much like Winchester across the board however for a while they were hard to get and I used a lot of Federals.

I too prefer Winchester.

I've not had issues with other brands, it's just the Winchester's seem to be more uniform than some.

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

I have used mostly CCI for the last 30 years with zero issues so I kinda prefer them,I have some Winchester ones too & zero issues on those,Haven't tried Foreign Brands & have no intention of trying them.

I find CCI to be more uniform than Winchesters. In my Dillon RF-100's, CCI's load flawlessly.....while Winchesters, have a lot of issues. This is strictly when using my auto primer filler. As far as function, ignition, velocities etc., I see no difference in any except Federal which have a much softer cup. I have had issues in the past with Federal primer cups getting slightly crushed/distorted when loading them.

I use Federal small or large pistol primers for my revolvers which are tuned for fast double action shooting. I even use Federal 22 LR ammo in my tuned 617s.

For almost all my semiautos, I use CCI primers which seem to be harder than other brands. CCI primers also are more trouble free in my Dillon machines.

I was once almost exclusively a Winchester primer user. But, since they stopped nickel plating their primers and began to have quality issues, I don't buy them.

I've used very few Remington primers since they always seem higher priced than other domestic brands. I've never used foreign made components, but I would if desperate.

Something else worth mentioning is that I have tested Federal small pistol primers against Federal Gold Medal Match Magnum primers and found no difference in chrono results. My results don't constitute scientific proof but I'm comfortable using them interchangeably.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

If I had to chose a favorite, I'd go with Winchester. I find them to be the easiest to seat, with my equipment. However, like most of you, I have used pretty much all that are available. The last couple of years, when they have all been hard to come by, I found a local B&M that was able to get Armscor Primers. The Large Pistol were and still are costing me $20 per thousand. That's a dam good price. I have been through a few thousand in .45acp & .45 Colt with not one problem!

I try to use CCI largely because they seem to work best with APS strips. Winchesters will sometimes fall out of the strip, so I wind up using them when I am priming with a hand primer. The reason that I keep Win primers around is that they seem to load better into Win brass.

I started out using Winchester. I used those exclusively for a long time. I was happy with them and wasn't interested in adding variables.

When supplies dried up, I could only find Federal around here. Now that primers seem to be back in stock, CCI are cheaper than the rest.

I haven't seen any difference for handgun loads. Now I use whatever is cheapest.

I never ran out of rifle primers, so I haven't had to worry.

Chubbs

I usually buy CCI when I have a choice, but right now small pistol primers are very scarce in my area. Looked into buying on line, but small pistol seem scarce most places and the extra shipping cost is just too high.

Winchester....but I will use CCI when it's tough to get Winchester's.

I had always used CCI, but the last few "bricks" of std small pistol primers from them I have had many failure-to-fire (FTF). There was a large primer dent, but no joy. This in my M27, sw9f, M&P9, Ruger sp101. It seems that the cases are the hardest. Which is why the talk of "tuned" guns and using something else besides CCI primers. Federal is the softest, with Winchester next at least in my experience. I tried to find some Federals but every place I looked on line and in stores were out. I did find some Winchesters (bought 5k) loaded them up and have not had a FTF in two outings not changing anything with the guns or with the hand loadings. All that to say I am buying different from now on.

I mostly use CCI but have used a lot of Winchesters. I never found any problems with either. I just bought 5000 Seller and Bellot LP primers because they were a great buy and we will see about those. They have a good reputation.

I use a lot of CCI. Pistol & rifle. Kind of standardized on them since using a lot of #34's. I haven't had any trouble with Winchester, or Remington for pistol. Federal is my last choice.

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"from my cold dead hands" C.H.

I like the ones that go "bang". I don't use Russian primers. Not because of any particular reason, I just don't like using Russian stuff. (isn't this a wonderful country?)

I use Winchester and CCI, I have had no problems with either. I load and shoot 2 thousand of each every year.

Hello everyone !

Any of you expeariance useing pistol primers for rifle ?
Regards
O.g.

CCI lp & sp here, no issues Also use Federal lpm for magnum H110 loads, scored a few thousand when options were limited during "the drought". Also no issues.

I prefer Winchesters and that's mostly what I buy, especially in small
primers. I also really like Remington for low to mid range loads with
LP primers. I get good velocity and low ESs with them in 45AR loads
and 44 magnum mid range loads.

Winchester, CCI, Remington, anything else that is not toxic or corrosive.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

For handguns, I prefer Winchester. For rifles requiring magnum primers, CCI. For rifles requiring standard primers, either CCI or Winchester.

Bruce

For most handgun, brand doesnt matter. used them all at some point .For precision rifle loads, it could matter quite a bit. I will work up my most accurate load for a rifle, then use 2-3 diff brands of primers to see if it matters. Some times it matters a little, sometimes quite a bit.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Federal then Winchester

For just practice pistol ammo I have been using the S&Bs that I got for 18 per M..I bought a bunch of them and I got 30M S&W(Alcan) SP at an auction in October for (not a joke) 30 bucks. They are working fine. And at the gun show a week ago I bought Fiocchi 1500 packs of SR for 25 bucks a pack...Bought 5. 7500 primers for 125 bucks. I have been using them about 8 yrs and was almost out. Thought they quit selling them that way. Otherwise I use CCI BR2 and BR4s for serious rifle and CCI pistol primers for important handgun stuff.

CCI's were my go to for everything. Never an issue.

One trip to Cabelas a couple years ago, and no SP CCI's to be found. Ended up with S&B's. Bought 2 bricks to try, great price. No issues with those either.

Now, it's S&B's for my handguns and CCI's for my long guns.

I've used all the American made ones and not had any bad-but I do prefer Winchester. Barry

I used to be a primer snob and only used Federal, Winchester or CCI . Then they became impossible to get for years so I tried wolf and other "off" brands. I truly find no difference in my informal handgun shooting. That said, when I can I do stick to federal when competing since most of my range revolvers have lighter actions that benefit from the softer primer.

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Dave

I buy CCI in both SP and LP, when I find them. There was this one "shortage" where I bought some Wolf LP, and they did fine.

Mostly CCI, but I do use some Winchester SR and LR primers. However, I do use Remington SR for one of my 55gr 223 loads.

I did use one brick of Federal LP magnum primers because they were all I could find at the time; worked just fine.

Most of my loads were developed with CCI so I prefer to use them.

Anything but Winchester.

Had several 100 primer packs with a pretty high failure to fire percentage. Switched to CCI and Federal and have never had one of those fail to go bang.

I hate buying Federal primers because they come in huge packaging that takes up too much space. I normally buy Remington as they have the smallest packaging and work well, especially the 7 1/2 small rifle in my 223 loads. However, they don't feed so great in my recently acquired Dillon Auto Prime so I decided to try CCI which happened to be the cheapest ones. CCI packaging is pretty good and I've been able to get perfect feeding in my Auto Prime with small pistol.

I have used nothing but CCI primers for many years strictly because of their availability. But I recently found and bought a bunch of Remington small and large pistol primers for the same reason as the previous poster mentioned. I used Remington 209s exclusively in my 12-gauge trap loads for 20 years and out of over 10,000 used per year, had one dud. Given that, I have no concerns about their pistol primers.

I also recently found Federal Gold Metal Match primers in pistol and rifle types including magnum rifle so I bought some of them, too. It will be a while before I start using any of the new ones as I still have several thousand of each CCI primer to go through first.

I had some bad experiences with Winchester reloading components - brass, in each case - several years ago and the experience with their customer service was even worse so I swore off anything bearing their name. I do use AutoComp powder but since that really is a Hodgdon product under the WW name, I know the service behind the product will be good.

Ed

Bought a buttload of Sellier & Bellot when Cabelas was running a sale on them for $17/1000.

Seem to work just fine.

Otherwise, I've been using CCI's which also work just fine.

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-Mike-

I like CCI and Winchester for My Bullets.Federals are good also but I read that They are touchy and can go off in the Primer Tool so I dont use Them unless there is no other Primer available.

Whatever is the cheapest at the time. I used them all, never had a problem with any primer.

My go-to primers are Winchester, good availability and never a problem. I also use some CCI and Federals, never a problem with those either...

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NRA Life Member

CCI and Winchester are my 2 favorites. I have some Remington, the LP were hard to seat, so I won't buy any more of those. They have all gone "bang" when used, so no issues there with any of them.

I have been using CCI primers for 45 years because back then someone told me they were the best. A few years ago I couldn't get them, so based on comments on this forum stating that Winchester was equivalent I bought 2 bricks.

My tests have shown that they are indeed equivalent. However, the unplated surfaces are not as smooth and thus they hang up in my primer feed tube. I contstantly have to manipulate the tube to keep them flowing.

CCIs are available again and I have stocked up with a long term supply. I won't buy Win again.

My favorite brand is Federal but I hate the stupid "shoe boxes" they come in! I now buy what is the least expensive or readily available which usually is Winchester now days. Winchester is my least favorite brand not because I have any problems with them, but because it irks me that they cheaped out and won't Nickel plate them! I have also used Remington and CCI but the two "bargains" in primers now are Federal or Winchester.

I stick to the 4 American Brands and find no real difference in performance or fit between them. Even though many will say CCI primers won't reliably go off with light actions I have never ad a single problem with them. Since I shoot quite often and go through lots of ammo I use primarily what I can get the least expensive within those 4 brands.

My CCW / SD ammo is always Factory so I can't justify spending more on one brand or another since they all seem to work just fine for Target Shooting and Plinking. I will NOT use foreign brands as that's where I draw the line. Not saying there is anything inherently wrong with them - but just like using the USA made ones.

Mil 5.56 brass can be difficult to prime with CCI primers. I use standard primers for all calibers except 7 mm Rem Mag, 300 Win Mag, and 300 WSM that take Fed Large Rifle Magnum #215 primers.

Over the years, Federal, Winchester, Remington, CCI, Tula, and Wold have all given consistent results. I buy the cheapest primers on the shelf every time.

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S&WHF 366

Winchester and CCI is all that I have used, but with over 50k of rounds using CCI and never a failure (KOW) I have a hard time useing anything else.

Winchester primers seem to work best in my Dillon presses. Otherwise I like CCI and have used them for years and years. Got to say that the Federal and Remington primers I've used have all gone bang too.

Actually, all domestic primer brands are manufactured to the same specifications and tolerances, so whoever first said "Cheapest is best" is correct. I don't know about foreign primers such as Russian or S&Bs. Someone mentioned using pistol primers in a rifle. While possible, it is not a great idea as the pistol primers generally have a thinner cup and may not withstand the pressure of firing a high-pressure load in a rifle. You do not want to have a primer perforation or blowout. For many years I have used small rifle primers in .38 Special and .357 Mag reloads. I cannot see any difference, and it simplifies logistics. Back at that time I had a friend who was a serious competitive Bullseye shooter who strongly believed that SR primers produced more consistent MVs in .38 Special than SP primers. That's when I started using them. You should not use a LR primer in a handgun case. LR primers are slightly longer than LP primers and when seated will protrude slightly out of the primer pocket. Not a good idea as your primer should be seated flush or slightly below the surface.