.45 ACP, Large or Small primers ??

[jmorris]

FWIW, if you've been sorting large and small primer 45ACP cases for a while and are starting to get cross-eyed from looking at them, a 3/16 drill bit will fit into a large primer pocket, but not a small._

That is pretty much how my culler works. It just does it as you load, here is a video of how it works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V7vSEAqkZw

 

[entropy]

I agree with most here-it's more a sorting issue than anything else. Most of my .45acp brass, (really most of all my brass) is range gleanings. Most are large primer, with some small occasionally showing up. I load them both up, just prime thm separately. I use a Lee hand primer, so no big deal doing so.

 

[mdi]

I guess I'm the odd one here, but, I can't see the big deal about looking at the case head. Is case inspection not "popular" anymore? It would take just a few minutes to get used to/learning spotting the different size primers. I guess I'm a dinosaur, but I look at every case I reload...

 

[tcoz]

I inspect every case as well but after a couple hours of staring at them it sometimes becomes difficult to tell the difference between some of the large and small pockets, especially since some of them are slightly beveled or chamfered and others are not.

I did recently buy a large primer pocket go/no go gauge though so I can begin using that when I begin loading 45ACP again.

 

[orionengnr]

guess I'm the odd one here, but, I can't see the big deal about looking at the case head. Is case inspection not "popular" anymore?

In my experience, .45 acp cases do not split or bulge at the base or head, but at the mouth. So no, I don't spend a lot of time inspecting the rim/base.

At least I didn't until some OEMs started loading .45 acp using SPPs.
Just a pain in the ass.

I pick up .45acp range brass (mine and anyone else who says okay, or whatever someone else leaves.)

Then I take them home and sort them by primer size.
The SPP ones, I cull and give them away, or throw them into the bucket at the range.

 

[RussellC]

I'll put it this way. Tradition says use LP primers, That's What John Moses Browning designed his gun for. But I have reloaded both kinds, and never really noticed any kind of difference whatsoever.

Actually not. He used a cut down rifle brass that happened to be large primer. That rifle round was designed for Large Primers. Both work fine, except the aforesaid sorting deal.

Russellc

 

[Jim Watson]

As said, either works, as did the odd Frankford Arsenal .204" primer meant to avoid getting rifle and pistol primers mixed in mass production.

I know one guy who will swap large primer cases for small so he only has to stock small primers to cover 9mm, .40, and .45.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I hoard the SP .45 cases too. At my range the only .45 brass I find on the ground is Blazer SP (thanks fellas) and oddballs like 'PERFECTA' LP (no thanks).

Federal 100 small primers are perfect for light target loads with fast powders.

 

[Baryngyl]

That is pretty much how my culler works. It just does it as you load, here is a video of how it works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V7vSEAqkZw

Could something like that be made for the LEE Load-Master presses?



Michael Grace

 

[jmorris]

I guess anything could be done but it likely would not be as easy.