Factory 45 ACP known to have small primers?

[lrrifleman]

Hello! I am about to make a small order of factory 45 hardball, and accidentally discovered in another thread that Federal Champion tends to be loaded with small primers. Unfortunately, some of the merchants that I buy from don't reveal which ammo comes with large or small primers.

Does a list exist on the forum of factory small primer 45 ACP? Can members share which 45 ACP they have encountered that has small primers?

I would like to avoid purchasing small primer brass, so I can make my reloading adventures a bit less exciting in the event a small primer sneaks into my brass bucket.

 

[505Gibbs]

I believe the sm. primers are usually used on the 'green' ammo i.e. no lead or reduced lead, in the primer.

 

[Echo40]

I am unaware of any database which compiles information regarding the precise components used in commercially available factory ammunition.

That being said, what difference does it make? Isn't the primer pocket on the brass the same in either case? Also, couldn't you just open the box and inspect the primers at the store, or at least use the stock photos on web pages as a guide? Most ammo manufactures have product pages on their various lines of ammunition, often with individual, high definition photographs of said ammunition from a variety of angles, including the case head, especially when they use Starline Brass and are using it as a selling point to push the quality of their ammunition.
Heck, even when the manufacturer itself doesn't provide such pictures, they can often be found on the internet via a simple Google Image Search. (Case in point, I just Google Imaged Federal Champion .45 ACP, and it appears that they use Large Pistol Primers in their brass cased ammo, yet Small Pistol Primers in their aluminum cased ammo for some unknown reason.)

 

[boatbum101]

Federal has been using small primers in their 45acp ammo for some time . Even the LE HST Tactical has small primers . I just keep them seperate as I load on a Dillon 1050 . I do everything in batches . Once I get a box full I'll process / load them .

 

[4barrel]

Federal-Blazer-Speer-and Winchester NT in my area. I have 6 pounds saved up. One pound =80.

 

[growr]

The small primer pocket in .45 acp has been around for a number of years.....no big deal, I simply sort the large from the small primer pocket and then when I have enough for a run, set up the Dillon 550 for which ever I need and go from there.

Load data stays the same for me. I tend to use the small primer pocket in my 25-2 and 625 revolvers and large for all else.....seems to work for ME.....

Randy

Order whatever you get the best deal on and then simply sort them...

 

[6string]

Remember the primer shortage a few years ago?
For extended periods you could find small but not large, or vice versa.
It's probably a good idea to keep a stash of both types of cases handy, if your cartridge of choice can accommodate it.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I keep the SPP for my outdoor shooting in rough terrain.. I don't look as hard to recover them.

 

[Troystat]

I think RWS has used small primers in some of their 45 acp brass.

 

[Golphin]

Most of what I have run into is Federal. I just toss it in a separate pile.

 

[muddocktor]

I've seen Federal, Blazer and maybe a few Win cases with small primer pockets. I presently only reload the large primer brass, but I have been keeping the small primer brass in bags for just the reason 6string states above. All the small primer brass of mine has been range pickups.

 

[Dogbone44Spl]

I've shot a bit of Blazer Brass. All I have seen has SPP.

 

[Mike0251]

I'll be happy to take any and all small primer 45acp and pay postage. Just part of the sorting procedure for reloading. NBD here.

 

[gwpercle]

I went to Midway and Ammo seek site , looking at specification sheets for various 45 acp loads (PMC , Winchester & Remington) the only info given on the primers is " boxer" no size .
If you are going to buy factory ammo , call the maker , be specific about what exactly you are thinking of buying and ask them...
better to find out now than find out later .
Gary

 

[Speedo2]

All Blazer, most Federal, some Speer and all WIN "NT" (non-toxic) 45 ACP brass use small primers. Based on approximate volumetric analysis (by eyeball), I'd estimate that approximately 10-15% of my range pick-up 45 ACP's are small primer brass. -S2

 

[jag22]

I think most everyone has it covered but I did find one GFL. Mine is all range pickup, don't think I've ever bought 45 ACP. What I will add is that it is inevitable you are going to get some so just learn to live with it. What I do, and I think most others, is toss it in a separate bucket and wait till you have enough to sit down and do an all SPP session.

 

[stansdds]

I think small primer 45 ACP is becoming more common and may, one day, become the new standard. Reloaders of small primer 45 ACP should be aware that they will get lower velocities than they would with large primer brass.

 

[Suburbanite]

Thanks for the tip on the Winchester lead free primer brass having small primers. So far all the Winchester USA brass I have takes large pistol primers.

CCI/Speer started using small pistol primers in their .45 ACP Blazer Brass ammo. The small pistol primers are also used in the .45 ACP Speer Lawman ammo. So far all the Speer Gold Dot brass that I have seen has large pistol primers.

Federal and Speer have been under the same ownership for quite a few years. I was disturbed to see that some Federal American Eagle .45 ACP brass now has small pistol primers. Some American Eagle .45 ACP brass still has large primer pockets. Apparently the CCI factory in Idaho puts some .45 ACP 230 gr. FMJ ammo with Federal head stamps in American Eagle boxes. Federal still loads their own American Eagle .45 ACP in Minnesota with large primers. The product number is the same (AE45A). Only the lot number would tell you if it is large or small primer brass. However, the CCI factory uses slightly smaller 50 round plastic trays and boxes than the Federal factory. You can see the difference in box size if both products are on the shelf together.

Personally, I decided to start using Remington last year. No small primers observed so far.