Which brand of primer do you use?

[ZWCoffindaffer]

I know everyone uses a different brand for different things. I havent been reloading for decades like some of you other guys, so i'm still learning new stuff all the time.

I have taken a liking to CCI primers for some reason. They are usually available in my area which is always nice. Anyone else you other brands? I picked up a few sleeves of Federal Magnum Large Pistol the other day on sale for $2/100. I didnt need them but the price was too good not to have some laying around.

 

[Slamfire]

For pistols, whatever was the cheapest primer at the time.

Rifles it gets more complicated. I use the mil spec primers in my gas guns to reduce (not prevent, you can't prevent them) the chance of a slamfire. I use CCI #41's in my AR15 rifles and CCI #34's and Tula 7.62 primers in my Garands and M1a's. It used to be that WSR was one of the finest primers on the market, but when Winchester removed the nickel plate and made their primers more sensitive, the new brass colored WSR pierced at loads than never bothered the old nickel WSR. After eating up a bunch of AR15 firing pins, I stopped buying brass WSR. I use those firing pins with the dished firing pin tip as punches.

For bolt guns, I use Federals, CCI 200 and the older nickel plated WLR. Still have thousands of the older WLR. Tula 7.62 primers are un usually good primers and I will use them occasionally at 600 to 1000 yards.

 

[Duvel]

Pick what's available in your area that works with your priming setup, workup your loads.

Be happy

 

[ZWCoffindaffer]

I've hear that Fedral has the most sensitive primer, and CCI has the hardest...

Any truth in that?

 

[david bachelder]

I have and use several different brands.

Tula, CCI, Winchester, Fiocchi(sp?) and Wolf.

I try to use them in the order I bought them. Lately it's been CCI's available at the LGS. So I buy five boxes of 100 every time I go into town.

 

[kcofohio]

CCIs and Winchesters seem to feed and seat the best using the LCT with their Safety Primer system.

The other brands I have used are Federal, Remington, and Tulammo.

Out of 5,000-6,000 reloads I have shot, maybe only 3 or 4 primers failed. And offhand, I couldn't tell you which brands they were.

 

[cfullgraf]

Generally CCI or Winchester for hand gun.

Remington 7-1/2 or CCI #41 for small rifle and Winchester for large rifle.

In a pinch, I'll use others.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

Since 1973 it has been CCI.

 

[AzShooter1]

Yes, Federal are the most sensitive. Even with our low poundage action jobs on our revolvers Federal will be the only primer that works.

CCI are very good but it takes a lot more force to set them off.

I use Federal for all my reloading. My triggers on my revolvers are less than 6 lbs.

 

[HOWARD J]

I have always used CCI---but I find when reloading military with crimp I removed----other brands have thinner metal & install easier than CCI on brass that the crimp is not fully removed

 

[MtnCreek]

The only defective primers I've ever had were Winchester LR. I shot many sleeves of them before getting a bad lot.

 

[bbqreloader]

CCI for my 40 and 45, Winchester for my 9mm. No price difference, but I load more 9 and can find it easier than CCI.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Federal primers for light loads, Win WSPM for magnum powders.

 

[ATLDave]

Federal for revolver loads. Mostly CCI for semi-auto and rifle.

 

[JO JO]

CCI 500 handgun 40 s&w and CCI 450 rifle .223

 

[BigBore45]

Cheapest I can find. Been ginex lately

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

For AR-15 loads I use CCI 450 small rifle magnum

For 9mm and 40 cal loads, I use CCI small pistol, but recently bought a bunch of S&B small pistol primers on sale from Cabela's, haven't tried them out yet.

For 308 bolt action loads, I'm using CCI, Winchester and Wolf large rifle primers.

 

[mdi]

CCI
Remington
Winchester
Wolf

I've read "this one is harder (or hotter, cooler softer, etc.) than that one", but in my experience of nearly 30 years of reloading I've not seen any real evidence. 99.9% of every primer I've stuffed into a case has worked just like they were supposed to. I'm not into bench rest competition but I've gotten some very consistent loads using just about any primer...

 

[AV8TOR]

Over 50k rounds with using CCI with not one primer miss fire, so that's my choice still.

 

[Walkalong]

Pistol? In no particular order: Federal, Winchester, CCI, Wolf, Tula, just bought some S&B.

Rifle? In no particular order: Federal (Both standard and match), Wolf, Winchester, CCI.

 

[murf]

whichever primer is more accurate with a given load. switching primers can tighten up a group.

murf

 

[P-32]

^^^^^^what murf said

 

[gamestalker]

I try to use CCI when ever possible, but if I can't find them I go with Winchester.

GS

 

[Reefinmike]

Mainly winchester and some cci in my stockpile. Nothing against tula or other cheaper brands, but when tula is 24.50/k online and cci/win are $27 at the gun show, the choice is easy.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I use mostly Federal primers for most of my loading, but I also have some S&B and MagTech, both of which I like. I've got some Winchester left on the shelf, and a few Remington, but my primary primer brand is Federal these days. Having access to a wholesale source for Federals helps, too..

If I'm given some CCI, then I'll use them for calibers where the hammer springs haven't been lightened, since they are the hardest I've used, but I don't buy them.

I'm well over 800,000 rounds of loaded ammunition at last count, and the majority of those have been Federal and Winchester over the years.

Hope this helps.

Fred