Any Issues Ever Discovered with Small Pistol Primers in .45acp?

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,

I'm aware of the use of small pistol primers in .45acp for some years now. I've never used them due to my vast supply of cases I've accumulated.

I debated finding some SPP cases when LPPs were harder to find, but ultimately didn't need to. So zero experience.

I just ordered and received some new carry ammo, Federal HST .45acp. Inspecting it, I found it has SPPs.

Are there any issues that have been discovered when using SPPs in .45acp in the years since they started trying it?

I really doubt there should be, but it's a variable in carry ammo so I figured I should check.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Nope.

 

[N555]

Small pistol primers are easier to get is the only noticable difference.

 

[gwpercle]

Read a couple extensive tests ... no issues reported .
Same bullet , powder charge , one case with SPP and the other case with LPP ...
Not much variation in velocity , just normal variations .
Concensus Small or Large primers didn't make any difference .
Gary

 

[Mostly Lead]

None.

 

[BBarn]

With a light load I was using, I had cycling problems when switching to SPP from LPP. I don't recall any of the specifics of the load now, but I increased the charge slightly to achieve reliable cycling with SPPs. It likely depends on the powder and primers being used.

My procedure for light loads is try a direct primer swap with about 20 rounds or so, preferably comparing chronograph data, and increase the charge a little if needed.

 

[InTheSwamp]

I have never reloaded it, but no issues shooting a few hundred rounds of factory Federal ammo.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Had a few misfires with Federal aluminum-cased .45s using SPPs maybe 7-8 years ago. You might be able to find an old thread about it using the search function.
IIRC, Federal was offering to replace the affected boxes for free. I had 3 boxes and experienced maybe 5-6 duds per box. Didn't bother getting them warrantied, just shot it up, tore down the duds, and never bought that ammo again.

Have shot metric tons of the Federal aluminum 9mm and never had an issue.

 

[LV Gun]

I reload them and have shot over a 1000 of them in 4 different 45’s have not had one issue. I don’t go below starting load though I have used 155 gr 185 gr, and 200 gr and several different powders with no issues.

 

[243winxb]

https://www.starlinebrass.com/articles/small-pistol-primers-vs-large-pistol-primers/

 

[9mmepiphany]

Are there any issues that have been discovered when using SPPs in .45acp in the years since they started trying it?

I don't think they are "trying" it anymore. They have standardized on SPP in .45ACP

I haven't heard of any issues with factory brass cased SPP .45ACP.

I prefer them to reload as they are easier to ignite, feed better in my presses, and don't destroy a primer if a LPP case sneaks in...I had 4 LPP Blazer cases sneak into the last 300 round batch of SPP .45ACP I loaded

 

[Blue68f100]

Only problem is when your loading on a AP and they are mixed. Stops the press or primer fall out.

Otherwise if your using the same load as you did with LP you will have ~ 15-25fps less.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Thanks, peeps.

 

[Slamfire]

Difference over a chronograph is such, can't tell a difference, as the averages are within the extreme spreads.

Rock Island Arsenal GI M1911

230 FMJ 7.8 grs AA#5 Lot DM WLP OAL 1.265" taper crimp 0.469"
13-Sep-18 T = 82 °F


Ave Vel =815.4
Std Dev =18.02
ES =68.22
High = = 847.6
Low = 779.4
Number rds =28

230 RMR FMJ 7.8 grs AA#5 Lot DM small primer brass WSP OAL 1.265"
taper crimp 0.469"

10-Jun-20 T = 91 °F

Ave Vel =805.6
Std Dev =12.56
ES = 39.38
High = = 822.4
Low = 783
N = 16

 

[Carl N. Brown]

The scuttlebutt is that when less toxic "green" primers were introduced for shooting in indoor ranges, small pistol was the first non- toxic primer offering. So cartridges that were originally large pistol primered started showing up with small pistol primers.

I have a low end .45 ACP pistol with a slightly off center firing pin when using large pistol primered cartridges. Otherwise the pistol is OK. Except I don't want to use small pistol primered cartridges in it. That is my only semi-valid gripe about small pistol primer in a cartridge originally designed for large pistol primer.

 

[ballman6711]

With a light load I was using, I had cycling problems when switching to SPP from LPP. I don't recall any of the specifics of the load now, but I increased the charge slightly to achieve reliable cycling with SPPs. It likely depends on the powder and primers being used.

My procedure for light loads is try a direct primer swap with about 20 rounds or so, preferably comparing chronograph data, and increase the charge a little if needed.

I recently did my own LPP vs. SPP test, and I ran into the same cycling issues with a light target load. I haven't tested it yet, but I assume if I go up a tenth or two on my charge my cycling issues would clear up.

I don't have a chronograph, so no numbers to post, but I didn't see any change in accuracy at the distances I normally shoot.

chris

 

[JDeere]

The article from Starline is pretty darn good. I have who knows how many thousand empty lpp .45 cases. LPPs are a little harder to get but they are out there. My LGS has them on the shelf every time I go in there. I have to fight the same thing with 10mm and SPPs getting mixed in with LPPs. I avoid buying SPP loaded ammo...

 

[Kaldor]

I've loaded 45 with both large and small primers. SPPs work fine. LPPs give a hair more velocity, maybe 15-25 more fps. Interestingly enough, SRPs in a SPP case have worked quite well, and seem to yield the same velocity as LPPs.

For my own use? I prefer LPP brass as I have it at probably a 20 to 1 ratio over the SPP stuff.

 

[Show Me]

Way back .357 mag had large primers. Must have been the most common in the old days?

 

[jmorris]

Sorting them from LPP brass was the only issue I had before building machines to sort them for me.

 

[lordpaxman]

I really doubt there should be, but it's a variable in carry ammo so I figured I should check.

I’ll admit I never thought about choosing carry ammo based on primer size.
My .45 LPP Vs SPP revealed no statistical difference in the loads I worked up. Precision was the same.
On the progressive I used to load on I’d need to switch from lpp to spp, depending, so I’d save them for a batch run. At first I’d use them at a lost brass match. Nowadays it doesn’t matter for me.

 

[nastynatesfish]

Small primer is all I use. 45acp and 10mm. I’ve got my 45acp with 230s running right at 100fps with no issues with the brass. I look at it as more beat in the case head is a good thing. I get them fairly cheap cause most that run progressives hate the face you crush a primer. I hand prime so it doesn’t bother me.

 

[buddyd157]

Hello,

I'm aware of the use of small pistol primers in .45acp for some years now. I've never used them due to my vast supply of cases I've accumulated.

I debated finding some SPP cases when LPPs were harder to find, but ultimately didn't need to. So zero experience.

I just ordered and received some new carry ammo, Federal HST .45acp. Inspecting it, I found it has SPPs.

Are there any issues that have been discovered when using SPPs in .45acp in the years since they started trying it?

I really doubt there should be, but it's a variable in carry ammo so I figured I should check.

as mentioned, no real difference.

on a personal note, i just prefer to reload LPP 45 ACP.

when i buy new ammo, i buy Winchester, S&B, Fiocchi, Remington, and they have LPP's. Federal and Lawman, and Speer, have SPP's. (from what i have seperated in the past)

so my bulk cleaned and polished brass are all LPP.

if in my floor sweepings i should pick up SSP's, i toss them into the recycling bucket, for a trip to the salvage yard.

if i buy Federal (and i did, before i got into reloading, and still have some left) with the SPP's, they get tossed as well.

i always check the primer before i decap, and toss or keep from that point.

 

[Ethan Verity]

My S&W M&P Shield 45 used to have a lot of primer drag... which was fine with LPP but got awfully close to the edge of the primer pockets on the SPP rounds. I'm not sure if that might have caused long term problems with the firing pin... and I guess I'll never know, because I sold that gun a few years ago in favor of the 9mm Shield Plus.

 

[Slamfire]

https://www.starlinebrass.com/articles/small-pistol-primers-vs-large-pistol-primers/

They should have shown the shot count and the extreme spreads and standard deviations. I have lots of data with 158 LRN 3.5 grains Bullseye in the 38 Special, and I can say, the averages of that load, even in the same firearm, are close. But they are seldom exact. Real data is messy