Wichester small pistols primers for 38 spl.

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Zackary

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Winchester currently has a very good rebate on primers. I've never used their small pistol primer before for my 38 spl. loads with HP 38. How do they compare to CCI 500's or other similar quality primers? Thank you for your time and expertise.
 
I used Federal primers exclusively for over 20 years then a primer shortage down under had me try some Winchester primers.

I now use Winchester LP primers exclusively in my .45 ACP and 9mm loads. They give close to 100% reliability. I load both calibers with W231, identical to HP-38 so I am told.

In my revolvers (.38 S&W/.38 Special/44.40) I prefer Federal as I sometimes get light primer strikes in single action mode, but when I find myself having to substitute Winchester I find no practical difference. I still load Tightgroup in my revolver calibers which is close to but not identical to W231.

To me it is a personally preference but practically there is no difference.

CCI primers have resulted in multiple misfires in almost every caliber.
 
With a stock gun you probably won't notice any difference. Some primers are said to have "harder" cups than others, but in 35+ years of reloading for stock guns, I have never had a properly seated primer FTF because of the primer's construction/composition...
 
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I have used and liked Winchester small pistol primers. I have also used and like Federal and CCI small pistol primers.
My order of preference.
1. Federal.
2. Winchester.
3. CCI.
 
The only thing I've noticed with Winchester primers as compared to other brands that are nickel plated like CCI, Remington or Federal is that they seem to have a little more resistance to loading into the primer feed tubes for my RCBS hand priming tool. I think the nickel plating on the others makes them slide through the plastic feed lip a little slicker. But other than that, no problems with them shooting or loading.
 
They can also be used in regular and magnum loading
 
If your gun is in good working order and hasn't been tampered with, you'll see no difference in primer reliability from brand to brand. However, a side-by-side comparison using an accurate handgun will probably show some minor differences in accuracy and velocity.
 
If seated correctly and a stock trigger/hammer in the weapon
I have no problems with any pistol/revolver primers.

If not fully seated.......... I have had a FTF now and then.
Every now and then I set a bunch of loads on a flat surface
to make sure I am seating 100%.........
and that my equipment is clean and not plugged up with crud.

However there is a difference in how a load does in Rifle loads
with standard and Magnum primers, big time...........
but that's a different story.
 
If you've been reloading with CCIs, you'll not have any problems with Winchesters.

If you're operating on the ragged edges, either heavy or light charges, remember to back off and work back up/down.
 
I've used thousands of WW SP primers with zero problems.......

My favorite primer is what ever is on sale!

Randy
 
Back at post #9 - It's the Winchester * LARGE * Pistol primers that are recomended for both Standard and Magnum applications . Winchester makes the Small Pistol in both Standard and Magnum flavors .

FWIW , the Win SPMag is purported to be the hardest US mfg commercial primer . I did use them as an acid test for tuned actions .
 
Absolutely no problems when using Winchester small pistol primers in my .38 special reloads.
 
I’ve been loading for over 30 years and used WInchester, Federal, Remington and CCI and never seen any difference. I can’t remember ever having a failure with any of them so I generally buy what’s the cheapest.
 
I have used both Winchester and CCI small and large pistol primers. CCI primers have a harder cup, which can be an issue with a highly tuned target pistol that has a light weight hammer or main spring. Winchester primers are good to go, the cups are softer than CCI and I find they seat a little easier than CCI primers.
 
Biggfoot44 said:
Back at post #9 - It's the Winchester * LARGE * Pistol primers that are recomended for both Standard and Magnum applications . Winchester makes the Small Pistol in both Standard and Magnum flavors .

FWIW , the Win SPMag is purported to be the hardest US mfg commercial primer . I did use them as an acid test for tuned actions .
Click to expand...

thanks for the correction, I though it was both sizes.
 
Other than being unplated and will tarnish, they will work just fine in any cartridge using small pistol primers. Use the proper primer (standard or Magnum) as called for in the reloading manual.
 
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