In case anyone needs small pistol primers Norma has them on sale for 45 bucks with free shipping on orders over 150. That's about as cheap as I have seen them.
Norma Primer Special
- Thread starter llowry61
- Start date
The Kid
Member
I bought 5k of them the first time they had a killer sale. I’m through about 2500 of them so far and they have been fine. Be aware though that they have rather hard cups. DA ignition can be spotty with revolvers that have had springs swapped or lightened.
https://republicammunition.com/product/servicios-small-pistol-primers/
These guys beat Norma on the SyA Argentina primers.
These guys beat Norma on the SyA Argentina primers.
Kp321
Member
I had heard that the cups were hard on these Argentine primers but I don’t see it in use. The firing pin indentions and primer flow around the firing pin seem to indicate a moderately soft cup. Poor ignition could be from shallow seating. The primer anvil does not sit proud of the cup like most brands of primers. These primers have to be seated very hard since they are also a few ten thousandths larger than US brands. So far I have not experienced any misfires.
Whether or not a primer goes “Bang!” is not the sole criteria for a good primer.
I’ll stick with CCI, RP, Win, Fed.
I don’t mind paying a bit more for a better product.
Norma rimfire ammo is actually rebranded RWS from Germany. Too bad they didn’t choose to bring in RWS primers as well. Those were great primers!
I’ll stick with CCI, RP, Win, Fed.
I don’t mind paying a bit more for a better product.
Norma rimfire ammo is actually rebranded RWS from Germany. Too bad they didn’t choose to bring in RWS primers as well. Those were great primers!
My factory S&W 625 and my factory Taurus 66 will not reliabibly fire the SA primers but not a problem with any of the 1911's.
OP
Yes, these primers must be fully seated. Their CS states if they ignite on the second strike, they are likely not seated deeply enough. The first strike seats it fully and the second strike ignites it. They state the primer should be seated to .008 below case rim so as stated above they will not be proud but recessed a bit.
I bought a large quantity of the Argentine Orbea small pistol primers.
I have used them in a wide range of S&W and Colt revolvers. I’ve probably shot over 3 thousand rounds ( probably more) so far. I’m using them in mostly 32 & 38 caliber revolver rounds.
My experience has been that they are fairly reliable in single action mode but become unreliable in double action.
Especially problematic in the J-frame S&W. It’s not uncommon to get 3 out of five not fire on first strike.
Even in single action mode, first strike failures are still common even in the larger framed pistols.
I’ve tried more forceful seating and even reaming primer pockets with no significant difference.
Shame as it was a good deal at the time and I still have many thousands of them.
I haven’t used them much in semi automatic pistols. I have no data on reliability in that application.
I have used them in a wide range of S&W and Colt revolvers. I’ve probably shot over 3 thousand rounds ( probably more) so far. I’m using them in mostly 32 & 38 caliber revolver rounds.
My experience has been that they are fairly reliable in single action mode but become unreliable in double action.
Especially problematic in the J-frame S&W. It’s not uncommon to get 3 out of five not fire on first strike.
Even in single action mode, first strike failures are still common even in the larger framed pistols.
I’ve tried more forceful seating and even reaming primer pockets with no significant difference.
Shame as it was a good deal at the time and I still have many thousands of them.
I haven’t used them much in semi automatic pistols. I have no data on reliability in that application.
Currently on sale at American Reloading are the 2nd branded SPP primers. $353/10K on my card yesterday, tax, title and shipping and they do work in all my revolvers, double-action. Now if I could just find LPP for that price.
