Russian Primers

[HKSmith]

I just used up the last of a batch of Russian primers that I purchased about 13 years ago. It consisted of 20,000 small pistol (Wolf brand) and 10,000 large pistol (Tula brand). I believe both are made by the same company (Murom). Over the years I had no problems with seating or firing these 30,000 primers in a wide variety of cartridges and firearms. During that same period, I used up 30,000 Winchester primers, 10,000 Unis-Ginex primers and about 5000 CCI primers. I could tell no difference among them for ordinary target shooting. The Russian primers were $17.00-$17.50 per 1000 at the time. I thought it was interesting that they could be manufactured, shipped to and distributed in the US at that price with everyone making a profit.

Obviously, these primers will not be available in the foreseeable future and I would not buy them under current conditions anyway. Over the years, I've seen lots of threads that questioned the quality control and performance of Russian primers, but I had no problems with the 30,000 that I used. I'm currently using Federal, Winchester, and Unis-Ginex primers. I'm glad to note that primers are much more available from all over the world and at somewhat lower prices.

 

[AmStaff64]

I purchased 5000 Fort Smith Armory Large Pistol primers in early 2021 - also Russian made. I am working my way through the last 1k now - I too have had zero issues with them.
I have also run a couple of thousand TulAmmo rounds through my AKs with no issues.
The Russians have been making more arms and ammo than most countries for a long time - they likely know how to make them. QC may be an after-thought for them - but, in my experience, their stuff works.

 

[BB4XL]

I bought 25,000 Wolf at Camp Perry during the Obama shortage. 15,000 small pistol and 10,000 large. The large seated a little harder in .45acp cases but they would go in. With the small I had a few fail to fire. Maybe 5 or 10 over the years. I would buy them again.

 

[Skeet 028]

I bought 20,000 LPPs Tula Paid 10 a thousand for them...sold 10,000 for what I paid for all. i shoulda kept them all

 

[SlamFire]

I recall hearing the David Tubbs, a multiple times Highpower rifle National Champ purchased an ungodly amount of Russian rifle primers. I do have F class friends who used them, and they worked well.

Tula 7.62 and Wolf primers shot very well and I have used Tula 7.62 in matches, and they shot well. One limitation in terms of accuracy was that I was using irons, and shooting prone with a sling. Today's F Class shooters are shooting well inside anything I did.


30-06 Primer Test

Colombian Mauser Match bolt action rifle, 26" Wilson match barrel

174 FMJBT White Box 1968 NM M72, Headstamp LC67 match, box velocity 2640 fps 
       
14 Nov 2011 T =  68 °F     
       
Ave Vel = 2698      
Std Dev = 51      
ES = 117       
High = 2771      
Low = 2654       
N = 5      
       
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895  Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI #34 OAL 3.30   
       
14 Nov 2011 T =  74 °F     
       
Ave Vel = 2645      
Std Dev = 12      
ES = 42       
High = 2671      
Low = 2629       
N = 10      
Very good group       
       
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895  Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Tula 7.62 lot 1-10 primers OAL 3.30  
       
14 Nov 2011 T =  74 °F     
       
Ave Vel = 2665      
Std Dev = 9      
ES = 28       
High = 2677      
Low = 2649       
N = 10      
Excellent Group     
       
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895  Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Wolf NCLR lot 18-09 OAL 3.30  
       
14 Nov 2011 T =  74 °F     
       
Ave Vel = 2656      
Std Dev = 15      
ES = 36       
High = 2677      
Low = 2641       
N = 9      
       
       
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895  Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Fed 210S OAL 3.30   
       
14 Nov 2011 T =  74 °F     
       
Ave Vel = 2656      
Std Dev = 13      
ES = 34       
High = 2674      
Low = 2640       
N = 10      
       
       
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895  Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM WLR (Nickle)  OAL 3.30  
       
14 Nov 2011 T =  74 °F     
       
Ave Vel = 2665      
Std Dev = 18      
ES = 60       
High = 2696      
Low = 2636       
N = 10      
Excellent group       
       
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895  Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI200  OAL 3.30   
       
14 Nov 2011 T =  74 °F     
       
Ave Vel = 2680      
Std Dev = 14      
ES = 56       
High = 2712      
Low = 2656       
N = 10      
V. Good group

While the Russian primers gave tight extreme spreads and standard deviations, since 2011 I have learned more about primer characteristics, and have concluded that attempting to measure primer characteristics with a chronograph is analogous to attempting to measure to the ten thousandths with a wooden ruler.

I do not have the equipment to measure the time from primer initiation to peak energy output. I don’t have the means to measure the energy output of a primer, nor the energy output versus time. I do not know the duration of flame, nor the mass ejected by the primer. That mass ejection is important as plasma hot frictionator helps ignition of the powder grain. I don’t know the pressure variances caused by the primer. And there are probably more things I don’t know.

What I do know, Russian primers were good. But of course, they were inexpensive compared to American brands, and industry combined with Politicians to demonize Russia and all things Russian, and our leaders “virtuously” banned Russian firearms, ammunition, and ammunition components. The Government does virtuous import bans all the time, such as the virtuous bans against Chinese firearms, ammunition, and ammunition components. But since the virtuous ones can’t live without Chinese made cell phones, we don’t ban those.

If you love virtuous trade practices, you must love virtuous tariffs. And, you will get more.