primer help for 9mm/38 etc.

[Nevada Ed]

Finally getting low.............

To save space would you get the standard CCI or Federal box?My desk is getting crowded and one big box will hold me for a while..... no need for two. (both work)

 

[Speedo2]

I did some chrono testing a couple of weeks ago; found that Federal "Premium" small pistol primers had higher velocity spread and standard deviation than Winchester, S&B, or CCI. Given your choices, I'd opt for the CCI for that reason. -S2

 

[H Richard]

I did a test last summer, making the exact same load (38 special) and loaded batches with CCI, Fed, Win, and Rem primers. I ran all over the chronograph and shot for group. I could discern literally no difference in any of the data. I now buy what is on sale.

 

[epj]

I'd buy whatever I could find that was the cheapest. I think the foreign primers are better quality today than a few years ago. At least I don't see complaints about them much anymore.

 

[Moe Mentum]

Whatever you can get at the best price. Primers are primers.

 

[Alk8944]

Finally getting low.............

To save space would you get the standard CCI or Federal box?My desk is getting crowded and one big box will hold me for a while..... no need for two. (both work)

Obviously no one actually read your original question!

If storage space is the only consideration, and CCI and Federal are the only choices in Reno, then the answer is CCI. If available then I would pick Winchester.

ANYTHING but Remington, especially in Small Pistol. I have had a very high percentage of primer cup failures with Rem SP, and have the damaged breech faces in several revolvers to prove it! But then I diverge.

 

[drifterdon]

I know that CCI makes quality products but haven't used them. As far as Federal goes, I have had excellent success with the Federal 100 small pistol primers. I haven't had a single failure.

 

[muddocktor]

Obviously no one actually read your original question!

If storage space is the only consideration, and CCI and Federal are the only choices in Reno, then the answer is CCI. If available then I would pick Winchester.

ANYTHING but Remington, especially in Small Pistol. I have had a very high percentage of primer cup failures with Rem SP, and have the damaged breech faces in several revolvers to prove it! But then I diverge.

I'd heard that about the #1 1/2 Remington primers but never found anyone with firsthand experience with this until you posted. With that said, the Remington #5 1/2 pistol primers use the same priming compound and amounts as the #1 1/2, but use a harder cup. I've personally used the #5 1/2 primers in both 9 MM and 357 Mag with no problems with the primers lighting up a powder load or having any cup problems. I caught them on sale around a year ago and bought around 5k of them.

 

[Big Stick]

Prefer Federal over Winchester. I find the Winchester SPP seem to be much harder, and seem to take more pressure to hand prime than the Federal. Just my pair o'Lincolns......

 

[alwslate]

Ok Ed you posed the question on the issue of space but surely the
size of the box can't be that much of an issue can it? But to answer
your question I would buy the Federals or Winchesters if available
over the CCIs because of the fact that I find CCIs much more difficult
to fully seat than other brands.

 

[scooter123]

1000 CCI primers come in a repetitively small box, 1000 Federal primers come in a box nearly large enough to be called a Shoe Box. For me the decision is easy, CCI primers are my preferred brand.

 

[AveragEd]

I have CCI, Federal and Remington primers on hand - many thousands of each - and use them interchangeably without incident. I've never had any of them, including CCI, seat harder than another brand.

Now some imported primers are slightly larger in size than domestic ones. That's particularly true with #209 shotgun primers and if you use a Rio 209, for example, in a domestic hull like a Federal, Remington or Winchester, odds are subsequent use of a domestic 209 will result in the primer fitting loosely in the primer pocket - perhaps loosely enough to fall out.

Ed

 

[ChiefStealth]

The Federals come in a larger, thicker plastic tray. Takes more space. The CCIs are a bit smaller. Winchester is about the same as CCI. Remingtons are the smallest tray.They take up the least room. I don't know about other brands. Lately, I've had a few of the Remingtons back out on me while in the magazine. One, or two per hundred. Never had this with any of the others. Could be a loose pocket, but still, just the Rems.