new reloader - primer questions

[kellyj00]

I'm going to start reloading soon and have yet to purchase the equipment let alone materials.

There's many brands of Primers. Is any one better than another? Will all of them work with a lee auto-prime tool that's coming with the lee anniversary kit when I order it?

Thanks for all your help. This forum has answered a lot of my questions before I even could ask them.

 

[SASS#23149]

the main difference is in the 'hardness' of the primer cup.CCI's are the hardest to ignite in a lightly sprung gun followed by winchester,and then FEderal which I feel are the softest.
REad the Lee material to see if they caution against Federals because of their ease of ignition and POSSIBLE detonation in their priming tool.

IMHO,YMMV,FWIW,yadda yadda.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I've used several brands, CCI, Winchester and Federal. I have noticed no difference whatsoever in any of them - so whichever is cheaper and available! Like the previous person said there are differences in hardness and strength of the primer, but if your gun is clean and in good shape, you won't notice the difference.

All of the primers will work in the Auto Prime tool. There is a notice in there not to use certain brands because of possibility of all the primers going off if one accidently does - but the rarety of that happening, especially if you are careful is way too rare to worry about. (I've practically cut a primer in half with the little ram rod with no ill effect.) It's just like the warning in your gun's manual not to use reloaded ammo and you are, obviously, going to ignore that one!

 

[Walkalong]

Many folks who shoot S&W revolvers with lightened springs report needing to use Fed primers, which are considered the softest, for reliable ignition. I just purchased a used 625 which had been worked on to give a light double action pull and the owner said it needed Fed primers. We shall see. I have been using WLP primers, but I still have some "pre primer shortage" Fed primers I can try.

I don't remember the order of hardness but Feds are the softest and I believe CCI are the hardest. Someone will list them for us soon.