Can a 1911a1 fire number 41 primers?

[Slamfire]

I am amazed by @Walkalong results. His #41's went bang, something I would not have expected. As a class, pistols don't have the ignition energy of rifle mechanisms, so I would not have expected an deliberately insensitive rifle primer to go bang.

I guess as long as you can seat them. Make sure the anvil of the primer is seated on the bottom of the cup.

 

[ess45]

I have not tried #41 but my 1911 with #19 mainspring was able to ignite Win LRP, CCI 400, CCI 450 and Rem 71/2.

 

[Blue68f100]

I have a 28# hammer spring in one of my 1911's. It also has the smaller 9mm FP (0.062" dia) so it will set anything off. I have not tried in it with my other 1911's that have a 19# hammer spring. But it also has the smaller FP dia. If yous 1911-A1 has the std 0.093" FP it may have a problem due to size. It was designed for the std LPP.

 

[IALoder]

I voted no for not consistently. I thing several if not all in a mag will need to be hit 2 or 3 times. I had that issue in my 357 marlin.

I feel exactly the same. It might, but not consistently. I've had an AR with the 3# JP trigger spring that wouldn't consistently set them off. No idea how hard the 1911 firing pin hits comparatively.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm guessing you don't load rifle cartridges.

If those #41 primers were mine I would try to trade them off for SPP or LPP making both parties happy.

 

[W.E.G.]

Primers come in generally THREE DIFFERENT THICKNESSES.

Small pistol primer cups are about 0.017" thickness.
Large pistol primer cups are about 0.020" thickness.

Small rifle "standard" primers (.e.g. CCI 400, Remington 6 1/2) are about 0.020" thickness.
("standard" small rifle primers generally unsuitable for FULL 5.56 pressure: 62,000 PSI)

Small rifle "magnum" (e.g. CCI 450, Remington 7 1/2) and CCI 41, and CCI BR are about 0.025" thickness.
These primers are correct for full 5.56 pressure.

Hammer-fired full-size handguns will usually ignite a "standard" small rifle primer.
Striker-fired handguns, and small hammer-fired revolvers, will usually not reliably ignite a "standard" small rifle primer.
I am aware of no handgun that will reliably ignite a primer that is 0.025" thickness.

Also note that ALL large rifle primers (both magnum and standard) are 0.027" thickness.

See http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php

 

[W.E.G.]

I will venture that Winchester 41's - although not specifically mentioned in Calhoon's chart - are 0.025" thickness.

 

[N555]

My sten is striker fired. Following the provided directions it would light strike SPP, it would only set off fed spp reliablely so I modified it to reliably smash No41 primers. I tested and modified it on cci No41 primers until it smashed a dent in those with authority.
Beretta 92FS sets off No41 just fine in single action mode. I didn't try DAO shots.