Why small primers in .45 ACP?

[anothernewb]

From a MFR standpoint small primer makes a lot of sense. If you're making pistol ammo for say, the 75% share of the market. you're making basically 45acp and below. There are lots of people with 44 special and 44 mag and up, but let's be honest - there's a lot more 9mm and 380 owners than probably any one else. add in 45 acp and 38/357 and you're got the lions share of the market covered.

So, if you're going to make ammo, you'll do anything you can to lower costs. having equipment that only needs to feed one primer size is a great place to save. I think it's simple as that.

That being said, I know a number of people who use small primer 45 and love it - for the same reason. with a progressive press, it's one less piece of equipment to change out, and one less set of components to have on hand.

 

[Sunray]

"...Manufacturers originally started..." Winchester. And they said the brass was not reloadable.
Your inspections should pick 'em out for disposal. The whole thing is only bad if you mix 'em and use a progressive press. Makes no difference otherwise.

 

[tuj]

During the ammo shortage, all my bullseye friends could find was SP 45acp brass for some reason. There IS a difference in POI with the same load and SP versus LP. Most people found they could work up a new load that gave them the same accuracy.

 

[brickeyee]

It is not hard to open them up using a large primer carbide pocket cleaner and a lathe.

I use a dial indicator for depth but a tail-stock calibrated in thousandths of depth would probbaly be adequate.

Points for using both on critical things like pocket depth.

I already had a rifle primer carbide tool and have converted Berdan cases to Boxer for a few very hard to get cases (Bertram to the rescue).

Old cases have become more available (for a price).

 

[powwowell]

I just be dadgum if I'm going to add a lathe to my reloading equipment.

 

[Ky Larry]

Not an issue for me. I sort brass while cleaning primer pockets.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I just be dadgum if I'm going to add a lathe to my reloading equipment.

I agree. I can't see going to all that trouble.

 

[hamp sandwich]

I've managed to find a sizable batch of it. The way I see it, I have to sort brass for crimped primers anyway. The small primers aren't hard to spot, and I set them in trays with primer up so I don't miss them while loading.

 

[Kosh75287]

I guess it all depends on one's commitment to stay armed. If I was charged with the mission of disarming the shooting public as a fast as possible, I'd dry up the primer supply. For a great many years, the only sidearm I owned was a .45 ACP. If my supply of large pistol primers suddenly dried up, but I was sitting on a bunch of small pistol primers (which I sometimes used to reload 9mm & .38/.357 for friends guns), and .45 ACP brass with small primer pockets, then my only sidearm wouldn't be sidelined.

I don't like the .45 ACP brass with small pistol primers, and I don't reload them except by request. But I don't throw it away, either. Life is uncertain.

Just saying.

 

[mboylan]

45 ACP may be moving toward a small primer standard. When self defense ammo standardizes on small primers, it will be over for large primers. Standardizing on small primers for all automatic pistol cartridges will save ammo companies a fortune.

 

[iblong]

It is a pain sorting them and as of yet I have not loaded any.
I just through them in a bucket in case there's a primer or brass shortage down the road.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

I've got two five gallon buckets of win ntx small primer 45 acp brass. It was free for the pick up after police quals. I haven't noticed any differance in POI in my loads. I now use spp 45 acp only.

 

[vongh]

I use both but I prefer to use large primers because it seems easier to have a primer go in sideways and backwards when seating them. I have not noticed any measurable decline accuracy with either.

 

[mbopp]

The 45ACP really doesn't need a large primer. JMB designed the case with the same base dimensions as the 30-'06 so it could be loaded on an existing production line.

I too find the SP brass a touch more accurate.