Small pistol primers in large cases......

[eb in oregon]

I may be wrong, however after separating a quantity (several gallons) of range pickup .45 ACP brass into large and small primer pockets I'm wondering "why?"

The small primer gives enough to ignite the .45 ACP, but why?

Ah, major manufacturers can make millions of rounds that cost a quarter of a penny less. Thus saving them a bunch of money as I'm pretty sure the cost of "big" and "small" primer pockets in the case is the same.

So by saving minimal expenses the company's make millions.

I'd like someone to rationally explain how a small pistol primer gives better ignition than a large pistol primer.

Money walks.

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[Local Loader]

Small Primers cost less to manufacture for the same number of primers as Large Primers. If you have a 5x5 sheet of primer compound you can make more small primers from that 5x5 than you can making large primers from that same 5x5 sheet, so they spend less money that way as the cost of the sheet doesn't change, just the number of primers that can be made per sheet.
Think of it like a 1.5x1 ratio of primers, for every 1 large they can make 1.5 small primers. This applies to the metal used in the caps and anvils as well.

 

[ma96782]

IDK the specifics but......

When I first saw the sm primer in a .45 ACP case, I figured that maybe they (the ammo company) were just trying to F@#* with me. Or maybe they were having "supply limitations/problems". Then, I've been seeing more of the manufacturers switching to sm primers in the .45 ACP. Humm......maybe (only my speculation) they are figuring that sm primers can be used and stocked for more "efficiency and interchangeability" across their product line?

Nah......money......probably.

Whatever. I got plenty of .45 G.I. brass that I'll probably never use up in my lifetime. And, when I checked my stash......I pulled the sm primer .45 ACP ammo and sold it off. I don't want to have a "mistake" when reloading. Not to mention, the hassle of switching over parts on my press or messing with my current reloading setup/system.

Aloha, Mark

 

[gmerkt]

I'm starting to see small pistol primers in 10mm as well. Which is a higher energy cartridge than .45 ACP. So I don't think size relates to ignition efficiency. At least how it works with current production. I had one guy tell me that "modern primers ignite better than older ones." I don't know if that's true, but I'd suspect economy of materials is why some LPP have bee replaced by SPP in ammo production.

 

[eb in oregon]

Small Primers cost less to manufacture for the same number of primers as Large Primers. If you have a 5x5 sheet of primer compound you can make more small primers from that 5x5 than you can making large primers from that same 5x5 sheet, so they spend less money that way as the cost of the sheet doesn't change, just the number of primers that can be made per sheet.
Think of it like a 1.5x1 ratio of primers, for every 1 large they can make 1.5 small primers. This applies to the metal used in the caps and anvils as well.

That was the point.

 

[Local Loader]

I'm starting to see small pistol primers in 10mm as well. Which is a higher energy cartridge than .45 ACP. So I don't think size relates to ignition efficiency. At least how it works with current production. I had one guy tell me that "modern primers ignite better than older ones." I don't know if that's true, but I'd suspect economy of materials is why some LPP have bee replaced by SPP in ammo production.

I saw small primers in my 10mm as well on my last range session for CCI ammo and Federal ammo, I don't like having SPP in my 10mm now. Given Vista has always been about cutting cost and marking up prices, I highly doubt it's about useability and more likely about reducing overhead production cost.

 

[eb in oregon]

"modern primers ignite better than older ones."

Horse manure. It's a chemical composition not altered much in a hundred years. And not changed much since percussion caps.

 

[gmerkt]

Horse manure. It's a chemical composition not altered much in a hundred years. And not changed much since percussion caps.

Pretty much what I'd thought. I certainly haven't noticed any difference between firing .45 ACP with large vice small primers. Or should I say, if there is any difference, it's so slight that I haven't noticed it.

For those who hate small primer .45 ACP, after cleaning cases, I simply separate them into two batches. I load single stage so it's not a worry about fouling up a process.

I haven't embarked on using small primer 10mm's yet. When I do, I'll probably use magnum SPP since I have so many on hand. I don't load on the high end.

 

[Local Loader]

Pretty much what I'd thought. I certainly haven't noticed any difference between firing .45 ACP with large vice small primers. Or should I say, if there is any difference, it's so slight that I haven't noticed it.

For those who hate small primer .45 ACP, after cleaning cases, I simply separate them into two batches. I load single stage so it's not a worry about fouling up a process.

I haven't embarked on using small primer 10mm's yet. When I do, I'll probably use magnum SPP since I have so many on hand. I don't load on the high end.

I've found the easy way to separate them is to do it by maker marks, anything owned by Vista is tossed into the smalls bin and everything else in larges bin.
This seems to also be true with 10mm as well now so if you don't want to deal with small primers than avoid Vista (CCI, Federal, Remington)

 

[RVTECH]

When I first discovered SPP .45 brass I went through ALL my .45 brass and separated them out.

I added them to my Blazer aluminum cases I load for one time only, let 'em fly and no pickup when shooting in the woods.

 

[eb in oregon]

I've found the easy way to separate them is to do it by maker marks,.

I don't really look, I use a gage pin that fits LPP but not SMP. So it's easy to separate them quickly.

 

[Local Loader]

I don't really look, I use a gage pin that fits LPP but not SMP. So it's easy to separate them quickly.

A large pocket uniformer removes the issue of small pockets as well as they all become large pockets.

 

[eb in oregon]

A large pocket uniformer removes the issue of small pockets as well as they all become large pockets.

As I've three or four gallons of standard brass I need not spend the time for such an onerous chore. That's mere desperation as that is a lot of cutting metal.

 

[Local Loader]

As I've three or four gallons of standard brass I need not spend the time for such an onerous chore. That's mere desperation as that is a lot of cutting metal.

Only takes me about 2 seconds to do it, I don't do it by hand, power tools are friend.

 

[eb in oregon]

Your choice, your brass. I don't feel the need myself.

 

[arakboss]

A large pocket uniformer removes the issue of small pockets as well as they all become large pockets.

Which tool do you use to make large primer pockets fit small primers

 

[Local Loader]

Which tool do you use to make large primer pockets fit small primers

Lol magic pixie dust and a box of shiny metal.

 

[RoscoeTurner]

I prefer the small primer 45 ACP for two reasons. The first and primary reason is that I do not have to change out the priming system on my Dillon press when I switch from 9mm to 45 ACP or the other way around. The second reason is that when shooting at a local match I always get my brass back from those that hate small primer 45 ACP.