Which brand of primers do you prefer? - The Firearms Forum

springerbuster · 10-11-2009, 11:37 PM

I know lately primers are hard to come by, so the answer to my question from many of you would probably be any brand that you can get. But given a choice what brands of primers would you rather use? I was lucky enough to pick up 2000 federal small pistol primers today. Are these as good as any? I might add that I will be loading 9mm and 40 S&W.

JLA · 10-11-2009, 11:45 PM

they will serve you well. I much prefer winchester primers because thats what all my loads are currently worked up with, before the primer shortage my loads were developed using CCI magnums (250, 350, 450, and 550) I ran out of those and managed to come across 5000 of each size of winchesters at a gunshow. So, my favorite is what I currently have firearms specific data for

woolleyworm · 10-11-2009, 11:46 PM

Winchesters are my first choice. You shouldn't have any issues with the Federals, they are top quality also.

jdon72 · 10-12-2009, 12:03 AM

I prefer the Federal as I had problems with the win lg pistol. No misfires so far with the fed as I would have 1-2 with win.

Just my input

J

muddober · 10-12-2009, 12:05 AM

Federals are my first choice, Winchesters are my second and CCI my third and a lot of that has to do with the box they come in. In other words they are all good.

JLA · 10-12-2009, 12:37 AM

I hate federal packaging. Its too big... I like the rem sleeves, small and compact. I store my primers packed in .30 and .50 cal ammo cans and the smaller the packaging the more I can get in there...

LDBennett · 10-12-2009, 07:04 AM

Several years ago a magazine had a photo test of primers of all brands. Across the board Winchester primers were the most energetic, based on the photos. Until the recent shortage of anything gun related, the only primers I regularly saw at gun shows for sale were Winchesters. The pricing then was better than even mail order (no shipping). So all my loads are for Winchester primers. I waited for almost 6 months to get my now adequate supply of primers (Winchester) from my supplier via mail order. I am now setup for years to come.

So due to availability and pricing several years ago I settled on Winchester. My choice was backed up for me as a good one with the magazine tests. It also turns out that even today the most readily available primers to me are Winchester, so its Winchester for me. Your situation for availability may be different than mine. You need to choose a brand that is readily available in your area via gun shows or your local dealer. Of course today anything reloading is hard to find but the market place will eventually get saturated and the panic buying will stop and things will return to normal... hopefully.

I have been using Winchester primers regularly for at least the last 10 years and longer. I have never had a failure to fire due to these primers. If I did I would first suspect the gun and next suspect incorrect seating of the primer in the primer pocket before change brands of primers. Yes, I have had a few failures to seat the primers correctly which was a Dillon press problem easily solved by a call to them and new parts rushed to me to fix the problem.

LDBennett

gdmoody · 10-12-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLA

I hate federal packaging. Its too big... ..

+1

I always used CCI until recently when the supply problem hit. I still like CCI, and will use them again when they become available in quantity, but I use Winchester, now.

Archie · 10-12-2009, 04:28 PM

I use primarily Winchester primers. They were the most available (local gun show) and they work very well in my Dillon progressive. CCI also works in the progressive as well.

Federal give good results, but tend to collapse during primer seating (in the Dillon) more than others. On the other hand, some competitive shooters prefer Federal as they are believed to be easier to ignite in light hammer fall pistols and revolvers. Maybe that's why they collapse in seating?

Once seated, they all work pretty well. I don't recall any great propensity to misfire with any brand.

As has been implied by other posters, find a brand that works for you and stick with it after you work up a suitable load.

gdmoody · 10-12-2009, 06:13 PM

Getting ready to order some reloading stuff from Widener's and the only small rifle primers (the only in stock primers at all) they have is Wolf.

I know I read some posts about Wolf primers but the Search does't take me there. Anyone have any thoughts about Wolf primers?

jdon72 · 10-12-2009, 06:54 PM

gdmoody,

If wolf has primers, it may be as dirty as their ammo. Maybe bad ingredients to make the primer...personally I try to put cleaner and more quality components in my firearm...but one that I can trust...I do not trust wolf.

I have not had too many problems with wolf in 7.62 and 380 other that it being dirty, but do not trust it.

Cabelas has a 2 month waiting list roughly, I am sure you know the other sites.

J

gdmoody · 10-12-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdon72

gdmoody,

If wolf has primers, it may be as dirty as their ammo. Maybe bad ingredients to make the primer...

That is exactly my thoughts on Wolf too, I was hoping someone would tell me that I am all wrong about Wolf.

Every other place I have checked has a 4 to 8 month wait for primers. I really don't need the small rifle right now but thought I would ask about them.

Thanks for confirming my thoughts, I guess.

312shooter · 10-12-2009, 07:58 PM

Guys,

I watch powder valley regualarly and find the cci 41's coming in and out of stock almost every day. Paste this link to your favorites and check it daily you should be able to snag small rifle primers I just grabbed #34's a few weeks back and notice they are coming in too.

http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/

GMFWoodchuck · 10-13-2009, 08:54 AM

Chevy, Ford, Dodge....Doesn't matter which one you get...The same with the name brand primers, Federal, Remington, CCI, Winchester, etc.... One may suit you a little better than another, but that's going to be gun specific. Your Savage may like Remington's better than CCI's, and your Remington may like CCI's better.

When you're getting that particular about what primers you are using, you should make sure that you have also invested in a good shooting table/rest set-up as that will make a bigger difference than the brand of primer that you're using.

res45 · 10-13-2009, 09:05 AM

Instead of repeating everything I know I will just do some cut and paste.

Wolf recommends the Small and Large Rifle Magnum primers for use in semi-autos because the Magnums have a slightly harder cup: “The Wolf Standard Small and Large Rifle Primers have an all-copper cup, which is a little more sensitive than the brass cup magnum primers. If you are loading for an AR15 or Military-style semi auto rifle, or are loading high pressure cartridges in any other type of rifle, we recommend the Magnum Small or Large Rifle Primers. Both primers use the same amount of compound. The only difference is in the cup hardness.” Same applies to handgun primers.

Test have shown that Wolf primers deliver very good accuracy and extremely low ES/SD with certain powders. (No guarantees–you need to test with your loads in your gun.) John Whidden used Russian primers to win the NRA Long-Range National Championship.

I would use them if they were available locally without hesitation,I'm pretty stocked on CCI and Win. that I bought local but I want order Wolf online just to have some.

zb338 · 10-13-2009, 10:35 AM

I load for my oldest Son who is a big game hunter. I load for his
.340 Weatherby Magnum. He has shot almost every head of American
big game using Remington Magnum primers. His gun shoots two to three
inch groups at 200 yards off of the bench. He has never had a misfire.

Zeke

Gearheadpyro · 10-13-2009, 06:46 PM

I use federal, winchester, and cci - br2's. I much prefer the cci's to the rest, but they all shoot well. I think I mostly like the cci's best because I'm a stickler for perfection, and benchrest primer's give me the (perhaps percieved) most perfection.

Suwannee Tim · 10-13-2009, 07:01 PM

I don't think there is a rational basis for prefering one primer over another at least generally speaking. Primer makers have different ideas about how a primer should work. CCI primers have less total energy but release it over a shorter time making a hotter flame which more effectively lights the powder. Winchester puts relatively large aluminum particles in their primers which make white hot sparks that drive into the powder and enhance ignition. Remington has a longer cooler flame with no particles. The all work very well. Of course for any give load and rifle there is going one of the primers will work better than the others. It might even be possible to prove that a particular primer works best for a specific caliber. To say that one primer is better than another is highly subjective.

JLA · 10-13-2009, 09:12 PM

I bought a case of fiocchi 209 primers for my shotshells. I only bought them because the shop was sold out of my regular brand (rem STS) and they had standard rem 209s and win 209 on order, so i got the fiocchi 209s and took em home to test. I gotta say them italians make some fine primers. these things are twice as hot as a rem sts (at least the flame from them protrudes about 10 inches further out my muzzle) and my loads pattern better with them. Im gonna keep buying them

doug66 · 10-14-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMFWoodchuck

Chevy, Ford, Dodge....Doesn't matter which one you get...The same with the name brand primers, Federal, Remington, CCI, Winchester, etc.... One may suit you a little better than another, but that's going to be gun specific. Your Savage may like Remington's better than CCI's, and your Remington may like CCI's better.

When you're getting that particular about what primers you are using, you should make sure that you have also invested in a good shooting table/rest set-up as that will make a bigger difference than the brand of primer that you're using.

I agree, GMF.
First on my list, the ones in stock. If I had my choice. CCI. No reason why, always used them, and I hate change.

p3cwst · 10-15-2009, 02:46 PM

I use them all but mostly Federal 210M for large rifle primers and Remington 6 1/2 for small rifle. CCI's for pistols.

RustyFN · 10-15-2009, 08:57 PM

I like the ones that are in stock. I have used CCI, Win, Magtech and Wolf and haven't had any problems with any of them.

RandyP · 10-20-2009, 04:04 PM

With the recent shortages, I reckon whatever brand you can find in stock is the "best" brand to use - LOL - that said, I've loaded a bunch of ammo using Wolf, CCI and Remington small & large primers and every round so far has happily gone bang each time ~ most recent purchase was again Wolf SP and LP.

I use a Lee Classic Turret FWIW and am loading just .380, 9mm and 45ACP calibers....so far. Must be time to buy a .40 handgun? I am saving all the .40 brass I pick up at the range 'just in case'.

JLA · 10-20-2009, 06:01 PM

WOO HOO!!! i stopped in at the shop today, I have been out for a couple weeks... Stu had tons of primers on the shelf, so now i aint down to may last 461 SPM primers anymore

dsv424 · 10-21-2009, 02:34 PM

I use CCI, Winchester, and Remington and have never had a problem with any of them. Since I use a Lee auto-prime it is recommended not to use Federal primers in conjuntion with the auto primer because of the slightly softer cup they have. I believe there was an isolated incident of one detonating so Lee can't recommend them being used with the auto prime. I could be wrong but thats what I recall reading.

10-11-2009, 11:37 PM	#1
springerbuster V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southwest Washington Posts: 154	Which brand of primers do you prefer? I know lately primers are hard to come by, so the answer to my question from many of you would probably be any brand that you can get. But given a choice what brands of primers would you rather use? I was lucky enough to pick up 2000 federal small pistol primers today. Are these as good as any? I might add that I will be loading 9mm and 40 S&W. __________________ The second amendment was put there to protect all of the other amendments --> Last edited by springerbuster; 10-11-2009 at 11:41 PM..

10-11-2009, 11:45 PM	#2
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,412	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? they will serve you well. I much prefer winchester primers because thats what all my loads are currently worked up with, before the primer shortage my loads were developed using CCI magnums (250, 350, 450, and 550) I ran out of those and managed to come across 5000 of each size of winchesters at a gunshow. So, my favorite is what I currently have firearms specific data for __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-12-2009, 12:03 AM	#4
jdon72 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 340	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? I prefer the Federal as I had problems with the win lg pistol. No misfires so far with the fed as I would have 1-2 with win. Just my input J

10-12-2009, 12:05 AM	#5
muddober Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,436	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? Federals are my first choice, Winchesters are my second and CCI my third and a lot of that has to do with the box they come in. In other words they are all good.

10-12-2009, 12:37 AM	#6
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,412	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? I hate federal packaging. Its too big... I like the rem sleeves, small and compact. I store my primers packed in .30 and .50 cal ammo cans and the smaller the packaging the more I can get in there... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-11-2009, 11:46 PM	#3
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,888	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? Winchesters are my first choice. You shouldn't have any issues with the Federals, they are top quality also. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

10-12-2009, 07:04 AM	#7
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,754	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? Several years ago a magazine had a photo test of primers of all brands. Across the board Winchester primers were the most energetic, based on the photos. Until the recent shortage of anything gun related, the only primers I regularly saw at gun shows for sale were Winchesters. The pricing then was better than even mail order (no shipping). So all my loads are for Winchester primers. I waited for almost 6 months to get my now adequate supply of primers (Winchester) from my supplier via mail order. I am now setup for years to come. So due to availability and pricing several years ago I settled on Winchester. My choice was backed up for me as a good one with the magazine tests. It also turns out that even today the most readily available primers to me are Winchester, so its Winchester for me. Your situation for availability may be different than mine. You need to choose a brand that is readily available in your area via gun shows or your local dealer. Of course today anything reloading is hard to find but the market place will eventually get saturated and the panic buying will stop and things will return to normal... hopefully. I have been using Winchester primers regularly for at least the last 10 years and longer. I have never had a failure to fire due to these primers. If I did I would first suspect the gun and next suspect incorrect seating of the primer in the primer pocket before change brands of primers. Yes, I have had a few failures to seat the primers correctly which was a Dillon press problem easily solved by a call to them and new parts rushed to me to fix the problem. LDBennett Last edited by LDBennett; 10-12-2009 at 07:05 AM..

10-12-2009, 04:28 PM	#9
Archie V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hastings, Nebraska; the Heartland! Posts: 295	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? I use primarily Winchester primers. They were the most available (local gun show) and they work very well in my Dillon progressive. CCI also works in the progressive as well. Federal give good results, but tend to collapse during primer seating (in the Dillon) more than others. On the other hand, some competitive shooters prefer Federal as they are believed to be easier to ignite in light hammer fall pistols and revolvers. Maybe that's why they collapse in seating? Once seated, they all work pretty well. I don't recall any great propensity to misfire with any brand. As has been implied by other posters, find a brand that works for you and stick with it after you work up a suitable load. __________________ Be at Peace; go forth, spread enlightenment and joy to all. Wear clean underwear and take a gun. http://oldmanmontgomery.wordpress.com/ for my thoughts...

10-12-2009, 06:13 PM	#10
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,409	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? Getting ready to order some reloading stuff from Widener's and the only small rifle primers (the only in stock primers at all) they have is Wolf. I know I read some posts about Wolf primers but the Search does't take me there. Anyone have any thoughts about Wolf primers? __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

10-12-2009, 06:54 PM	#11
jdon72 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 340	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? gdmoody, If wolf has primers, it may be as dirty as their ammo. Maybe bad ingredients to make the primer...personally I try to put cleaner and more quality components in my firearm...but one that I can trust...I do not trust wolf. I have not had too many problems with wolf in 7.62 and 380 other that it being dirty, but do not trust it. Cabelas has a 2 month waiting list roughly, I am sure you know the other sites. J

10-12-2009, 07:58 PM	#13
312shooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 1,160	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? Guys, I watch powder valley regualarly and find the cci 41's coming in and out of stock almost every day. Paste this link to your favorites and check it daily you should be able to snag small rifle primers I just grabbed #34's a few weeks back and notice they are coming in too. http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/ __________________ "Democracy is based on citizenship- perhaps the greatest gift the United States has given to the world- Power is vested in the people themselves, and government flows from the people" James M Henslin

10-13-2009, 08:54 AM	#14
GMFWoodchuck Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 1,369	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? Chevy, Ford, Dodge....Doesn't matter which one you get...The same with the name brand primers, Federal, Remington, CCI, Winchester, etc.... One may suit you a little better than another, but that's going to be gun specific. Your Savage may like Remington's better than CCI's, and your Remington may like CCI's better. When you're getting that particular about what primers you are using, you should make sure that you have also invested in a good shooting table/rest set-up as that will make a bigger difference than the brand of primer that you're using.

10-13-2009, 09:05 AM	#15
res45 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 182	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? Instead of repeating everything I know I will just do some cut and paste. Wolf recommends the Small and Large Rifle Magnum primers for use in semi-autos because the Magnums have a slightly harder cup: “The Wolf Standard Small and Large Rifle Primers have an all-copper cup, which is a little more sensitive than the brass cup magnum primers. If you are loading for an AR15 or Military-style semi auto rifle, or are loading high pressure cartridges in any other type of rifle, we recommend the Magnum Small or Large Rifle Primers. Both primers use the same amount of compound. The only difference is in the cup hardness.” Same applies to handgun primers. Test have shown that Wolf primers deliver very good accuracy and extremely low ES/SD with certain powders. (No guarantees–you need to test with your loads in your gun.) John Whidden used Russian primers to win the NRA Long-Range National Championship. I would use them if they were available locally without hesitation,I'm pretty stocked on CCI and Win. that I bought local but I want order Wolf online just to have some. Last edited by res45; 10-13-2009 at 09:08 AM..

10-13-2009, 10:35 AM	#16
zb338 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Recently moved to Pennsylvania. Posts: 286	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? I load for my oldest Son who is a big game hunter. I load for his .340 Weatherby Magnum. He has shot almost every head of American big game using Remington Magnum primers. His gun shoots two to three inch groups at 200 yards off of the bench. He has never had a misfire. Zeke

10-13-2009, 06:46 PM	#17
Gearheadpyro V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 110	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? I use federal, winchester, and cci - br2's. I much prefer the cci's to the rest, but they all shoot well. I think I mostly like the cci's best because I'm a stickler for perfection, and benchrest primer's give me the (perhaps percieved) most perfection. __________________ www.southernmarksman.com Owner of & Chief Instructor for The Southern Marksman, LLC NRA Life Member, NRA CRSO, Multi-Discipline NRA Certified Instructor

10-13-2009, 07:01 PM	#18
Suwannee Tim Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,227	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? I don't think there is a rational basis for prefering one primer over another at least generally speaking. Primer makers have different ideas about how a primer should work. CCI primers have less total energy but release it over a shorter time making a hotter flame which more effectively lights the powder. Winchester puts relatively large aluminum particles in their primers which make white hot sparks that drive into the powder and enhance ignition. Remington has a longer cooler flame with no particles. The all work very well. Of course for any give load and rifle there is going one of the primers will work better than the others. It might even be possible to prove that a particular primer works best for a specific caliber. To say that one primer is better than another is highly subjective.

10-13-2009, 09:12 PM	#19
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,412	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? I bought a case of fiocchi 209 primers for my shotshells. I only bought them because the shop was sold out of my regular brand (rem STS) and they had standard rem 209s and win 209 on order, so i got the fiocchi 209s and took em home to test. I gotta say them italians make some fine primers. these things are twice as hot as a rem sts (at least the flame from them protrudes about 10 inches further out my muzzle) and my loads pattern better with them. Im gonna keep buying them __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-15-2009, 02:46 PM	#21
p3cwst Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: KSLC Posts: 6	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? I use them all but mostly Federal 210M for large rifle primers and Remington 6 1/2 for small rifle. CCI's for pistols. __________________ And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of devine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." T. Jefferson, B. Franklin, J. Adams 1776

10-15-2009, 08:57 PM	#22
RustyFN Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West Virginia Posts: 598	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? I like the ones that are in stock. I have used CCI, Win, Magtech and Wolf and haven't had any problems with any of them.

10-20-2009, 04:04 PM	#23
RandyP V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 439	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? With the recent shortages, I reckon whatever brand you can find in stock is the "best" brand to use - LOL - that said, I've loaded a bunch of ammo using Wolf, CCI and Remington small & large primers and every round so far has happily gone bang each time ~ most recent purchase was again Wolf SP and LP. I use a Lee Classic Turret FWIW and am loading just .380, 9mm and 45ACP calibers....so far. Must be time to buy a .40 handgun? I am saving all the .40 brass I pick up at the range 'just in case'.

10-20-2009, 06:01 PM	#24
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,412	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? WOO HOO!!! i stopped in at the shop today, I have been out for a couple weeks... Stu had tons of primers on the shelf, so now i aint down to may last 461 SPM primers anymore __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-21-2009, 02:34 PM	#25
dsv424 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Garland, Tx. Posts: 279	Re: Which brand of primers do you prefer? I use CCI, Winchester, and Remington and have never had a problem with any of them. Since I use a Lee auto-prime it is recommended not to use Federal primers in conjuntion with the auto primer because of the slightly softer cup they have. I believe there was an isolated incident of one detonating so Lee can't recommend them being used with the auto prime. I could be wrong but thats what I recall reading.