Federal .45ACP

[DWalt]

Some years ago I did a brief comparison between identical .45 loads, differing only in primer size. I think I used SR primers vs. LP primers. Not extensive testing, but clearly there were no significant differences in MV and grouping between them.

Originally, the small primers were used to distinguish between conventional and Lead-free .45 ammunition. I don't know if that is still the case. I load and use both sizes, I just segregate cases by primer pocket size. . Some believe that the small primers are better suited for use with high pressure .45 loads in any event, I really don't care which size primers I shoot. I generally use SRPs ito load all handgun cases having small primer pockets.

 

[scattershot]

Federal HST ammo uses small primers, at least the ones I bought last week. Can’t help with the training ammo, sorry.

Those of you who pitch small pistol ptimer brass, pitch it my way. I jave a stash of it.

 

[Chuck Edwards]

I used to pitch my small pistol .45 brass, but I decided to keep it as my backup stash. .45 ACP is much less popular than it used to be, and as our supply of reloadable brass (the stuff others leave at the range) dwindles we'll need to be less picky.

 

[AJ]

While I do not care for the small primer versions of the .45 ACP or the 10MM (all that I have run across so far). I do not throw them out. I have separate containers for the small pistol versions. In the event that I am out of large pistol primers (heaven forbid), I can still load the small pistol primered versions.

 

[Goblin]

If only there was a way for two guys to trade large primer brass for small primer brass, depending on which they prefer………

 

[DWalt]

I do not understand the aversion of some to using small primer .45 ACP. All you need to do is segregate cases for reloading. Or is that too difficult for you to do?

 

[chief38]

Back in the day I am guessing that the manufacturing cost difference between large and small primers were so negligible they cost the same price on the retail level. Now that is not true. Company's will always seek to cheapen their products in order to eek out whatever extra profit they can.

I do believe that the cases loaded with small primers would need a few grains more powder to provide the same ballistics as the large primed cases. At least that would make sense to me. Unless things have really changed, SD ammo still uses large primers while practice and range ammo uses small - at least for the most part. I suppose as long as the company's compensate the load spec's to duplicate the same ballistics, which primer they use is a non issue. Seems that eventually, all 45acp will be loaded with small primers unless they start getting under performance complaints.

 

[DWalt]

Back in the day I am guessing that the manufacturing cost difference between large and small primers were so negligible they cost the same price on the retail level. Now that is not true. Company's will always seek to cheapen their products in order to eek out whatever extra profit they can.

I do believe that the cases loaded with small primers would need a few grains more powder to provide the same ballistics as the large primed cases. At least that would make sense to me. Unless things have really changed, SD ammo still uses large primers while practice and range ammo uses small - at least for the most part. I suppose as long as the company's compensate the load spec's to duplicate the same ballistics, which primer they use is a non issue. Seems that eventually, all 45acp will be loaded with small primers unless they start getting under performance complaints.

By my .45 tests, no significant difference in MV or grouping. Just as there is no significant difference between using SP vs SR primers for identical .38 Special loads. I determined that over 50 years ago. Back in the "early" days, ammunition manufacturers used .357 and .38 Super cases with LP primers. Then switched to SP primers. No idea why.

 

[AJ]

I do not understand the aversion of some to using small primer .45 ACP. All you need to do is segregate cases for reloading. Or is that too difficult for you to do?

No particular aversion to using it. Just not enough of it on hand. I only find a few here and there, those are usually when I am priming .45ACP with large primer pockets. Since these have been cleaned, sized, and belled, I put them in a separate container. At some point I will use them, but with about 80 pounds of large primer pocketed .45 ACP, why?

 

[gwpercle]

I save the small primer 45 brass for the next ...
and you know it's comming ...
Primer Shortage !
Run short of large primers ... I'll break out the small primer brass ...
and carry on reloading 'em like I got good sense !
I kind of like being ambidexterous with 45 acp !
Gary

 

[DWalt]

The benefit to having both large and small primer pocket .45 cases available is to provide some degree of insurance against primer shortage events. It makes no sense to throw away fired .45 cases just because they use small primers.

 

[WR Moore]

Duty vs training ammo primer choice. The market for training ammo is vastly larger than the market for actual duty ammo. If there's any cost difference that might favor the SPP, it'll be the one to use. Also eliminates the tooling changes/lost production on the loading machines between SPP non toxic primers and toxic LPP.