What brand of primers do you use?

3287 Views 17 Replies 14 Participants Last post by spikedriver, Nov 10, 2016

MagBlackhawk

Discussion Starter · Feb 28, 2016

:booboo: Well hopefully not, you tell me.
When the primer shortage eased up I bought 5000 small pistol Std primers of the very first brand I could find, Remington.
No problems with them other than an occasional pierced primer and only in one new pistol.
Not really a concern because only a very small amount of gas escapes. But I'm thinking maybe Rem is using as thin of a cup as they can get by with.

Or is it the pistol? It doesn't look like the primers are getting hit too hard so........
This time I thought I would try CCI small pistol Std and I bought 5000 at a gun show last week.
Then I read some current reviews.
Several shooters reported a fail to fire issue with CCI primers. All said it only happens with CCI and no other.

In the past I've never had any sort of problems with Rem, Win, Fed small/large pistol or large rifle primers but I've rarely used CCI.
I decided against Win because I had one large rifle primer (recent manufacture) 'burn through' on the edge and take out a little metal on the bolt face.
It was certainly not an overload so I'm thinking thin cup. Is that the new norm? Use the least amount of metal as possible!!!

Anybody having fail to fire issues with CCI primers? What brand do you use?
:thankyou:

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

gunslinger669

· #2 · Feb 28, 2016

Never had any issues with CCI and I load with all of them.

VThillman

· #3 · Feb 28, 2016

I am a 'veteran' user of CCI primers. Recently two of my handguns have had fairly consistent one in 5 or 10 FTFs with the small pistol primers. They are both hammer guns, and the 2nd strike fires them. I think it is called 'insensitivity'. No problems with large pistol or small rifle primers. Haven't reloaded but a few large rifle primers, but no problems with those either. I will replace the mainspring in the S&W Model 10, to see if that is causing the problem. The 9mm I am reloading this winter is getting Winchester WSP primers anyway. All I can say is 'We shall see".

Tommycourt

· #4 · Feb 28, 2016

Mag,

I used to load with CCI primers and I was using stryker pistols (Glocks) and had FTF (failure to fire). I had finally had it and called CCI and talked to the factory. They told me that they had changed the anvil that they were using in the primers as they were cheaper. I explained to them what the problem was. The primers were showing hard hits although not discharging. I was told by the factory rep. that they will ignite if they are hit hard enough. I asked him what hard enough was and he said that you could hit them up to .006 depth and they would ignite. I told him I was loading them so they were flush with the casings and should not have a problem striking the primer and igniting. I also gave them the lot # and they wrote back and said there was something wrong with the pistols. (1 was a 9mm 19 and the other 26 9mm). I replied back that if that were true why was my Colt 9mm Commander having problems doing the same thing. They could only say that the primers have 1 less anvil than the older primers and gave no further explanation. I quit buying CCI primers and strickly use Winchester large primers for my .45's. I refuse to buy CCI's because I have talked to other reloaders who have had the same problem. If you hit the primer once and it doesn't go off, it might go off if hit multiple times. One time I hit a primer 3 times before it ignited. I haven't loaded any 9mm for over a year now and I gave away almost 800 CCI's just to get them out of my loading program. Hope this helps.

Tommy

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Oldhand

· #5 · Feb 28, 2016

I have only used CCI primers for years with no problems but my primers are about 10 years old. I had 30000 small and large pistol primers left to me by a good friend. I have bought some new large rifle CCI primers and have had no problem. People say the SR45 has a weak spring and I admit the hits look light but they have all fired the first time.:Cooltu:

phideaux

· #6 · Feb 28, 2016

My experience is,

CCI primers are the hardest,
Federal are the softest,
Winchester are in the middle.

I use in guns , I know will work best.

Jim

SavageGuy

· #7 · Feb 28, 2016

I only use CCI primers in my .357, never had a problem!

Reloader54

· #8 · Feb 29, 2016

I use Winchester large and small pistol primers most of the time. I bought a RCBS primer press at a swap meet that my gun club had a few years ago and it did come with 1000 CCI large pistol primers in strips that the primer press uses. And I had no problem with any of them not firing when I shot them in my Rugar Single action revolver in .45lc, Rock Island Armory 1911 in .45acp, or either of my Rossi lever action Rifle or lever hand guns both in .45lc. and no problems with the Winchester pimers which I shoot in all of my guns both rifles and handguns. Over the past 5 years I only remember having just one primer not firing when I pulled the trigger. But it did fire the second time. But I also haven't had to buy any primers for four years now so I don't know if things have changed.

VThillman

· #9 · Feb 29, 2016

Reloader54 said:
I use Winchester large and small pistol primers most of the time. I bought a RCBS primer press at a swap meet that my gun club had a few years ago and it did come with 1000 CCI large pistol primers in strips that the primer press uses. And I had no problem with any of them not firing when I shot them in my Rugar Single action revolver in .45lc, Rock Island Armory 1911 in .45acp, or either of my Rossi lever action Rifle or lever hand guns both in .45lc. and no problems with the Winchester pimers which I shoot in all of my guns both rifles and handguns. Over the past 5 years I only remember having just one primer not firing when I pulled the trigger. But it did fire the second time. But I also haven't had to buy any primers for four years now so I don't know if things have changed.

That is what has me wondering if CCI had a semi-bad production run, and didn't happen on a 'no-pop' in random testing.

A couple years ago Hornady ammo from some production lines had occasional squib-fires, apparently from a static buildup problem. That 'occasional' thing raises hell with QC.

Recently, some reloaders have experienced 'soft brass' in Federal rifle cases, bad enough to get case failures with the 2nd or even 1st reload. That must be a 'bad batch' too, eh?

reloader550

· #10 · Mar 4, 2016

CCI is the only primer I use, I shoot several rounds each week and have never had a problem with them. I use them in all my rifles and hand guns from revolvers to 1911 and striker fire pistols

silveradoman59

· #11 · Apr 11, 2016

I use Rem 1 1/2 small pistol primers often with no problem. I also use CCI and Winchester primers. In these brands I use small pistol, small pistol magnums and large rifle. So far no problems with any of them. Rem 1 1/2's have a warning on the box not to use them for 357 mags and 40 s&w. I can understand the mags but I've used them in the 40's with no problem. Checked for a reason for the warning and was told the primer cup metal is thinner. I only use mag primers in my mag rounds.

WildTurkey

· #12 · Nov 7, 2016 (Edited)

Any brand I can get that keeps me shooting. :machinegun:I do like cci,Remington, and winchester. I also use standard primers in most cases rather than magnum. This done per published data

buster40c

· #13 · Nov 8, 2016

I have only used CCI primers in .32 and 38spl. I have had only a few that took a second strike to fire off out of well over 1000 rounds.

SavageGuy

· #14 · Nov 8, 2016

I use CCI exclusively. Only one FTF. It was in my .3006. The bolt was gummed up with oil because of the cold and had a light strike. Went off the second time.

MagBlackhawk

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 8, 2016

buster40c said:
I have only used CCI primers in .32 and 38spl. I have had only a few that took a second strike to fire off out of well over 1000 rounds.

Ohhhhhhhhh Heck,

If those guns are in good working order, those primers are not.

Until the shortage I used Win primers, Rem some in the early days.
The first primers I could get my hands on after the shortage eased up was some Fed and 5000 Rem.
(About 4000 Remington fired).
Never had a single fail to fire in about 36 years with my loads. (Knocking on wood over here).

My Rem supply is getting kinda low.
I bought 5000 CCI..... A single FTF is not acceptable to me, hope I didn't screw up!

I'll likely get to the CCI sometime soon. Wish me luck.

:GadsdenFlag:

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VThillman

· #16 · Nov 8, 2016

MagnumBlackhawk said:
Ohhhhhhhhh Heck,

If those guns are in good working order, those primers are not.

Until the shortage I used Win primers, Rem some in the early days.
The first primers I could get my hands on after the shortage eased up was some Fed and 5000 Rem.
(About 4000 Remington fired).
Never had a single fail to fire in about 36 years with my loads. (Knocking on wood over here).

My Rem supply is getting kinda low.
I bought 5000 CCI..... A single FTF is not acceptable to me, hope I didn't screw up!
I'll likely get to the CCI sometime soon. Wish me luck.

:GadsdenFlag:

Good luck. After I switched from CCI to Winchester small pistol primers, the 2 guns that were having FTF, requiring 2nd hammer strikes, no longer did that. I still suspect it was a bad lot.

gwpercle

· #17 · Nov 9, 2016

What ever I can buy , beg , borrow or steal ! Primers...small pistol especially , are sometimes scarce , I buy any on the shelf.
Have used CCI , Winchester, Federal , Remington , Alcan and Herter's.......they all go bang. And I have seen little difference between brands. Some will only use one brand and swear by it...I'm not a brand snob and will use them all.
Haven't had to try any foreign made yet.
Gary

spikedriver

· #18 · Nov 10, 2016

CCI match if I have them. I've used Remington standard and Blue Box Federal too.

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