Lead free, non toxic primers, any experience, advice?
- Thread starter Onty
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WinClean
Onty, I came across some .45 acp brass a while back that had very large flash holes. I was curious and started asking around and was told this was from "Winclean" ammo. I checked on Winchesters web page and found a warning not to try reloading these at all that it would be very dangerous.
Apparently the non-toxic primers they developed require the extra-large flash hole to work properly and any standard brass is out. I don't know if brass and primers are available yet but if so you would need both and then have one MORE thing not to mix up on your reload bench! Not good.
Onty, I came across some .45 acp brass a while back that had very large flash holes. I was curious and started asking around and was told this was from "Winclean" ammo. I checked on Winchesters web page and found a warning not to try reloading these at all that it would be very dangerous.
Apparently the non-toxic primers they developed require the extra-large flash hole to work properly and any standard brass is out. I don't know if brass and primers are available yet but if so you would need both and then have one MORE thing not to mix up on your reload bench! Not good.
ReloaderFred
Member
Non-toxic primers are available from Graf's and Midway. Both CCI and Magtech are producing them for the reloading market.
As for the NT brass with the large flash holes, I've talked to the people at both Federal and Winchester and they both say they can be reloaded the same as the older brass, and that has been my experience. I've been loading them without problems for a couple of years now and can't tell the difference between the brass with smaller flash holes and the larger ones, either while firing or on the target.
I've been loading since 1963, and have seen things change once in awhile. You just have to adapt. I've still got .38 Special and .357 Magnum brass with large pistol primer pockets.
You do have to be aware that Winchester is now producing .45 brass with small pistol primers in some NT loadings. These are also loading fine, just don't try to seat a large pistol primer into a small pistol primer pocket. It just takes a little care while sorting to keep them separate and prime accordingly. Also, a lot of the NT primers are crimped in, similar to military cases, and you may have to swage out the crimp in order to reprime. It's no big deal, just another step in the process.
Hope this helps.
Fred
As for the NT brass with the large flash holes, I've talked to the people at both Federal and Winchester and they both say they can be reloaded the same as the older brass, and that has been my experience. I've been loading them without problems for a couple of years now and can't tell the difference between the brass with smaller flash holes and the larger ones, either while firing or on the target.
I've been loading since 1963, and have seen things change once in awhile. You just have to adapt. I've still got .38 Special and .357 Magnum brass with large pistol primer pockets.
You do have to be aware that Winchester is now producing .45 brass with small pistol primers in some NT loadings. These are also loading fine, just don't try to seat a large pistol primer into a small pistol primer pocket. It just takes a little care while sorting to keep them separate and prime accordingly. Also, a lot of the NT primers are crimped in, similar to military cases, and you may have to swage out the crimp in order to reprime. It's no big deal, just another step in the process.
Hope this helps.
Fred
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