TulAmmo vs CCI?

[david bachelder]

I loaded about 300 45ACP rounds the other day with my LNL. I have a bunch of Tula (TulAmmo KVB-45) large pistol primers. I bought them during harder times a while back and have used a great deal of them. I haven't had any real problems with them as far as no fires or any other mechanical issue with them, and this is not a rant against Tula primers.

As I was reloading I was also stocking primer tubes. Two of them were filled with the Tula primers and one of them was filled with CCI's (#300 Large Pistol Primers). Using the Tula primers I noticed that they seemed a bit harder to seat than what I remembered. It was like they were a bit larger or something. As the loading progressed I came to the tube loaded with the CCI Primers. I immediately noticed that the CCI's were easier to seat.

I wondered why? This morning I took a CCI LP primer and measured the OD at .210", then I took a Tula and measured it at .210" as well. That blew the theory that the Tula's were a bit bigger around. Then I thought that there was a possibility that the CCI's had a tapered leading edge, allowing them to seat with less effort. I compared the two side by side with a 10X illuminated Loupe. I could not see any taper on the CCI's, and further I didn't notice any difference between the two at all.

After a few minutes I noticed that the wall thickness on the primer cup seemed to be a bit thicker on the Tula primers. I measured the two and from what I see the Tula cup metal is about .001 thicker that the CCI cup.

Tula measured .016"
CCI measured .015"

I'm measuring with a Harbor Freight Micrometer, so I don't have 100% confidence with my measurements even though I measured three times on each cup.

I'm supposing the Tula's thicker cup is what makes them require a bit more effort than the CCI's.

Has anyone else ever noticed this?

 

[Jmoreno88]

Ive noticed it with different primers also. Never used tula myself but federals for me were always a little more rough than winchesters or cci. Now I'm pretty much only using Ginex primers which to me are as smooth as CCI but I get them at Tulammo prices for $20 bucks a brick

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[ArchAngelCD]

I have not noticed any differences in the Tula primers compared to those made here. I hand prime so I would probably notice. I seem to notice many things others don't.

I will say though, if you can see a difference of one one-thousandth of an inch with your naked eye you should be working in the aerospace industry...

 

[egd]

Hey Jmoreno88, it's me again from the LNL thread. Where did you get those Ginex primers? I did some searching and it seemed that Ventura in Las Vegas was the only place that had them but I couldn't find them on their site-just ammo. Do you have a link to the primers?

 

[Jmoreno88]

Hey Jmoreno88, it's me again from the LNL thread. Where did you get those Ginex primers? I did some searching and it seemed that Ventura in Las Vegas was the only place that had them but I couldn't find them on their site-just ammo. Do you have a link to the primers?

I live in Vegas so I pick them up directly from Ventura Munitions

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[egd]

OK thanks

 

[LiveLife]

I'm supposing the Tula's thicker cup is what makes them require a bit more effort than the CCI's.

There are several resistances you will feel as you seat primers:

- Initial friction between primer and primer pocket wall as you seat primer
- First resistance as anvil feet hit the bottom of primer pocket
- Second resistance as anvil is pushed inside the primer cup against the priming compound
- Flattening of primer cup

Even for primers with same OD of cups, different hardness of cup will translate to how "hard" the primer is to seat, especially to below flush.

IME, CCI and Tula primer cups have been harder than Winchester/Magtech and PMC has been softer. With Lee hand priming tool, I can seat and flatten PMC primer cup with light one thumb pressure to .004"-.008" below flush while it takes moderate one thumb pressure to seat Winchester/Magtech primers to .004" below flush. With CCI/Fiocchi/Tula/Wolf primers (especially Tula LP primers with slightly larger OD cup), it takes more effort to seat primers.

Keep in mind this is with once-fired brass with tighter primer pockets. Brass reloaded several times with enlarged primer pockets will seat primers easier.

Here's my study of Tula SP primer cup being harder than CCI #400 SR primer cup (notice shallower indent on Tula primer cup) - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7807007#post7807007

 

[tomingreeneco]

I also purchased Tula primers a while back and they do require a little more pressure to seat them. Not complaining, but CCI seat easier.

 

[kerreckt]

They are a bit tight to seat. I have used over 5K of these and I have never had a failure. I do prefer the CCI simply because I am more familiar with them. They have always been my "go to" primer brand.