45 acp brass: small or large primers?
- Thread starter nevadabob
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Blkhrt13
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I am new to reloading so this is just old common sense. But I think it’s likely a combination of preference and powder choice. If you keep hotter powders you can use the smaller primer. I have been thinking on this but not made the post yet. Thanks for asking I will wait for better answers.
Targa
Member
I don’t have a better answer but I hate that the different size primers was ever even a thing, just makes it a pain to sort range brass. I stick with large pistol primer .45acp, I am not even sure that new production small pistol brass is even an option.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
I use both. When im loading i keep some small primers handy. Most are large. I have ran into small primer on 10mm and 6.5 CM.
CQB45ACP
Member
Well this has never been discussed before.
Charlie98
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These days, it's what do you have primers for? Other than that, I would say it's a 'pick one.'
GeoDudeFlorida
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What else do you load with the large pistol primers? What else do you load with the small pistol primers? I think the best answer is to try and get down to the point where you only need one size/style of primer.
Charlie98
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N555
Member
I like small primer 45acp because everyone hates them. At one time, not that long ago you could get SP 45acp brass for scrap prices. Also I haven't seen large pistol primers for anywhere close to reasonable prices for 3 plus years.
So I have just been cleaning and shelving all my range pickup LP 45acp, until recently.
I just happened to buy some old cci LPP bricks at a yard sale for a fairly reasonable price, especially considering no tax, no shipping, no hazmat.
Otherwise I have no idea when I would have been buying more LPP again.
So I have just been cleaning and shelving all my range pickup LP 45acp, until recently.
I just happened to buy some old cci LPP bricks at a yard sale for a fairly reasonable price, especially considering no tax, no shipping, no hazmat.
Otherwise I have no idea when I would have been buying more LPP again.
GeoDudeFlorida
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I didn’t know the OP was also loading 9mm. In that case, never mind.In that case... where are the LP 9mm cases???
Charlie98
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He's not... I was thinking of meself. The only thing I load with SP's is 9mm... it would be handy to not have to stock SP primers...
Charlie98
Member
I bought some once-fired SP .45ACP brass a few years ago. I had 5000 SP primers... and nothing to use them for. At the time, 9mm was cheap, and I was just shooting factory. My how times have changed... So now, I sold the SP .45's, and started loading 9mm, again. Now I need more SP primers... go figure.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Have you considered using a large pistol pocket reamer to open up the pocket and then a large pistol pocket uniforming tool to clean up the pocket? If you use a drill press and collet to hold the case you should be able to knock out 500/hr with some practice.He's not... I was thinking of meself. The only thing I load with SP's is 9mm... it would be handy to not have to stock SP primers...
bltmonty
Member
With the primer shortage, I had to buy 500 spp 45 cases just because I could not find lp primers in stock and had plenty of sp primers. I've shot lp primers in 45 acp for 20 years; with the small pp, I could not tell any difference in performance.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Now you have to decide whether you want to deplete your supply of LP and do without .45Colt and .45ACP or buy more SP/SR primers.
Several years ago when this was a hot topic, I did my own test. I have 3 favorite loads for my 45 ACP and tried some of the 3 half with small primers and half with large primers. My loads were 200 gr. LSWC over Bullseye, 230 gr. FMJ over Bullseye, and a cast 230 gr. TC over Universal. Long story short; Shot all in the same 1911, shot over my chrony on clear sunny days, and not enough difference to make a difference. So, it boils down to personal choice. Some won't accept anything except the "traditional" l large primers, some progressive press users find it difficult to swap priming tools on their press (or don't/won't inspect their brass prior to reloading.), some have used large primed 45 ACP brass for decades and are fine with what they have. I now have at least 300 small primed 45 ACP cases and several hundred (thousand?) large primed cases so i prime off my press with whatever primers I have the most of at the time...
Blue68f100
Member
The 45acp was originally design with a LP primer. The SP primers showed up when the toxic free primers started coming common. I've seen some 1911 where the FP hit so for off center SP primers were a problem. I have both but normally shoot LP. The SP are for when I can't retrieve my brass. The same load over a crony, the SP is 15-25fps slower than the LP.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
In a perfect world, all handgun brass would use small primers.
I guess then we would just call them pistol primers.
I guess then we would just call them pistol primers.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Great gun. Very light. Kicks like a stubborn mule. I think I still have a set of Pachmyers hanging around from when I sold my last one. If I can find them do you want them?
AJC1
Member
I like having both options, and I shoot what I have primers to reload. I wish more cases had that option. A srp 30-30 please starline!!!!
Cheesemaker
Member
All good replies. Use what you have and can get and treat 45ACP lp/sp as different cartridges.
The 45 ACP is not a "big" cartridge by any stretch - both sized primers will handle the job.
The 45 ACP is not a "big" cartridge by any stretch - both sized primers will handle the job.
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