Loading Small Primer 45 ACP

[blujax01]

I've amassed enough Blazer brass to give this a go. I assume that normally 45 ACP uses large primers for a reason - would there be any advantages using Magnum (CCI 550) primers in these?
Should I reduce the load to insure complete combustion?
Who's done it? What's your take?

Thanks in advance for your knowledge and patience.

~ Alan

 

[Beans]

I use Winchester small pistol primers and my normal loads. I found no benefit is using the magnum primers. I am using Unique, Bullseye, Clays and Red Dot powders.

 

[blujax01]

Thanks Beans, I appreciate it.

Does anyone know why 45 ACP was designed for a large primer to begin with? Was it ignition properties, or striking area, or something completely different????

 

[john traveler]

The large pistol primer in the larger handgun cartridges became standard back in the black powder days. When the .45 ACP was developed it was simply natural to use what was being used for a couple generations in the .45 Colt, .44-40, .38-40, etc.

 

[rge1066]

I almost posted the same question today... I picked up some boxes of Blazer brass .45 yesterday without even realizing they use small pistol primers.

In the past I've just scrapped the few random NT/small primer cases that found their way in with the others, but I am definitely going to save and segregate these for loading in separate batches.

I also load most with Unique, Bullseye and Clays, so I shouldn't expect any perceivable difference in performance using my normal loads?

 

[Dragon88]

Yes, the 45 Auto cartridge doesn't really need a large primer. But coming from the 45 Colt and other cartridges, I'm sure the use of anything but a large pistol primer never even crossed the inventors' minds.

A standard small pistol primer should be more than enough to ignite the small charges of Bullseye, Unique, etc that 45 Auto uses. As this brass becomes more prevalent, I'd almost bet one of the gun rags will do an article on it.