Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Large Pistol Primers

I've been using Winchester for years in both handgun and rifle. Just started using Federals in my rifles, but that's another story for another time. Which large pistol primers do you guys favor in both standard and magnum? And is there a reason?

Federals.

Because they don't need much in the way to go boom everytime.

Mostly CCI's, but a buddy got me a deal on several several cases of Federals so I've been popping them lately until I need to replenish.

I seem to get the best accuracy with H-110 when lit off with CCI 350's, other than that I haven't seem much difference between CCI 300's and Fed large pistol.

Been using CCI's but now I am wandering over to Winchester as a local supplier had them for $22 a thousand.

I only use CCI.
Been using them since the 70's, never an issue

I have heard that CCI primers have a harder cup than Winchester or Federal. Is this true or not in your opinion?

I like silly DA pulls on my Smiths....so I use Federals.

Hawk, you just nailed the reason for my question two posts up. I am a little concerned about light primer strikes in double action mode if using a hard cup primer.

I did have some hang fires in my 480 when I put a lighter spring in using cci 350 primers and H-110. Not a good feeling to not know when a full patch load feels like going off.

Hence I put the factory spring back in and ~5000 rounds later no problems.

Mostly CCI over the years but Winchester when they were out of the CCI,good results with both.

What type/brand/model of DA?

Federals are forgiving when it comes to weak DA strikes, primers not seated fully and I've never had any poor hits on a Fed. pistol primer, large or small.....they ALWAYS dimple and crush the pellet.

That's why there is no LEE Auto Prime of old.

I don't advocate springs and DA pulls that won't fire any and every primer, but Federals have never exhibited one instance of "weak" strike.

I've had "untuned" factory springed guns have instances (though few) of looking like/having light strikes, but its almost like they were cups that were too hard. They wouldn't even fire or dimple more in SA.

We're talking a handful out of 500-1000 rounds, but there they were.

It shouldn't matter. A gun should work with any/all primers. Anything else is bull schit (did I spell it right Travis?)

Paul

A priming tool should work without warning for any and all primers; 'cept they don't.....wonder why.

I agree though, the gun needs to go boom with any and all. Problem is the all has always been Federals.

The other weird thing about Federal caps is that they come in those giant plastic squares; there's reasons for that too.


Federal primers are the "Ohio Blue Tip" of primers.

Hawk, shooting 629, and Redhawks in both 44 mag and 45 Colt. I know the problem that Redhawks supposedly have with light primer strikes for various reasons (although I have never in 30 years had a failure to fire). As I said, I have always used Winchester, and have been leaning toward CCI, but I don't want a cup that is too hard for quick double action firing in a sticky situation.

Which primers, by the way, is it that Lee recommend that we don't use in their priming tool? I've had them for years and used them with Winchester primers.....

LEE altered their Auto Prime due to supposed issues with chain ignitions with Federal primers. My last ones had warning cards in them NOT to use Federal primers. The new tool sucks, but its now hunky dory with Fed caps.

Generally a stock spring ignites them all; have had issues with one Colt DA and small pistol primers (never FTF with Federals) with stock springs in DA and several Smiths in DA with aftermarket spring kits. Again, they always fired with Federals but needed adjusted to fire others in DA every time.

If your using stock springs you should be fine, but most rarely fire in DA enough to even know if there really is an issue. If you have ANY issues in SA you definitely want a gunsmith to check it out!

I use them all except Remington's with zero issues. Just make sure the heat is right for the powder.

Thanks for the information. Smith is stock, but I'm using Wolfe's heaviest in the Redhawks. I've not had any FTF's in either in SA, but I've only fired probably 50 rounds or so DA with no problems. I may go back to the factory springs in my Redhawks or not worry about trying other primers. Thanks guys for all opinions.

Better to be safe and 100 percent.

I thought Wolff was where I dreamt up my reasoning, but I found it:

http://www.speedshooterspecialties....amp;cPath=103_96_235&products_id=685

" Miculek Revolver Spring Kit

$17.25

Fast trigger action & reduced pull weight for competition & speed shooting.
Balanced compression and rebound rates allow hammer spring and trigger return spring to work in unison. Together, they give a seven pound, double action trigger pull with a fast trigger return. Recontoured hammer spring helps smooth trigger pull, prevents stacking. Spring steel. Fits K, L and N frame revolvers. For best results, ammo should use Federal primers."

[video:youtube]http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...D6D73EFCAAFB24C74EC1D6D73EFCAAFB24C74EC1[/video]

5:50 is an explanation of strain screw/weight limits.

a couple years back, there was a thread about Federal using large packaging for their primers.

in the thread, someone mentioned a lawsuit in years past. i made a short, general reply about Federal primers, and below i have pasted some of that reply into this thread. Federal primers are excellent, and in my opinion, are the best alternative for self defense handguns--especially the smaller rigs...and they are also great for revolvers, especially if firing DA, and especially so if the strain screw is backed off...




for striker fired handguns, i prefer the federal primers, as in my opinion, they have a softer cup--which can better assure ignition in rigs often relied upon for self defense.

this can also be an extra nice "plus" in striker fired compact handguns that typically have shorter/weaker springs, and also in hammer fired compact guns, for the hammers will usually have somewhat lower mass, so it can help to have a softer cup in these rigs.

though i've read this (and have no way of knowing if it is a fact--perhaps a campfire member out there may know)), federal uses "basic" lead styphnate for their compound, while other manufacturers use "normal" lead styphnate compound. according to what i had read, the claim is that "basic" styphnate is more sensitive than "normal" styphnate, as the compound has a finer grain.

It is a fact that a CCI primer has a thicker cup. I switched from CCI primers to Federal many years ago in both rifle and handgun and haven't looked back.