Favorite Primers

crashmore · Mar 26, 2018

So I've been using winchester primers for a long time for my pistol loads. 9,45 and 40 and have never had one not fire. A couple weeks ago I swapped in a batch of federal primers I had gotten a good deal on at a gun show. Since then I've had about 6 rounds out of about 400 that didn't fire.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't just light primer strikes based on the markings and that they wouldn't fire out of any of my guns including those that stock springs etc. Anyone else have issues with Federal primers? There's clearly a materials difference based on the color etc between winchster and federal. I think for the time being I'm going to go back to using Winchesters that have worked really well for me in the past. Just curious if anyone else has had similar experiences.

What's your favorite primer these days? I'm spinning up to load 223 which I know is a different beast but I'm leaning towards going with winchester for these too.

kohburn · Mar 26, 2018

I load almost exclusively wolf primers, never had a failed fire

Doctor_M · Mar 26, 2018

I use CCIs for pretty much everything and have had good luck so far.

Mdeng · Mar 26, 2018

I use Winchester for pistol and CCI #41's for my 5.56/223 AR handloads. I prefer the military spec CCI primers for the AR action. While it shouldn't happen my concern is having a AD due to a dirty rifle fouling the floating firing pin. The CCI #41 primers are a bit thicker for this very reason.

K-43 · Mar 26, 2018

kohburn said:
I load almost exclusively wolf primers, never had a failed fire

Me too! Jumped on them when nothing else was available. Nobody wanted the Ruskie primers until Dave Tubb said he used the "Red Box Russian primers", not the "green box" ones
I've shot about 18k of them with the only failure being light strikes in a Mauser. However, it didn't light off CCI or Remingtons reliably either. Replaced the spring and it was all good.

Can't find Wolf now because Putin pissed off Obama, but I still have about 1k left. So I'll have to get some American brand this Summer. Hard to choose;they've all been reliable to me. Winchester had some bad lots get out, but I read they fixed it.
So, do I want Vanilla, Vanilla, or perhaps some Czech Vanilla? Heresy in the brand loyal reloading world, I know, but that's how I see it.

BradMacc82 · Mar 26, 2018

Handgun, Winchester. Always treated me right. In over 5 years, haven't had one not go off, so far.

AR - Started with CCI 400, then to Wolf (and those were great, until they dried up), finally to CCI #41.

Large rifle - I prefer the CCI #34, I have a few packs of Federal GM210M - but haven't gotten into those yet.

outrider58 · Mar 26, 2018

BradMacc82 said:
Handgun, Winchester. Always treated me right. In over 5 years, haven't had one not go off, so far.

AR - Started with CCI 400, then to Wolf (and those were great, until they dried up), finally to CCI #41.

Large rifle - I prefer the CCI #34, I have a few packs of Federal GM210M - but haven't gotten into those yet.

^^^this, with the addition of CCI #450 for my 300AAC if I can't get #41

I use Winchesters on all my 5.56. Never had a problem.

jimbobborg · Mar 26, 2018

It depends on the application. Federal has the softest cups of all of the primer manufacturers. I think Winchester is second. I prefer Winchester for my cowboy rounds, especially when I use black powder. Everything else, I use S&B primers. My Colt revolvers, my CZs, and my 1911s run S&B just fine. I'm down to my last Wolf/Tulammo primers for my ARs, I will try S&B with them next batch.

BUFF7MM · Mar 26, 2018

I mostly use Winchester, but have some Federal and Remington that sometime get put to use.

DaemonAssassin · Mar 26, 2018

CCI, Federal, S&B come to mind. S&B are about 28 bucks a brick at Cabela's. So far I've had no problems with them out of an AR.

kohburn · Mar 27, 2018

K-43 said:
Me too! Jumped on them when nothing else was available. Nobody wanted the Ruskie primers until Dave Tubb said he used the "Red Box Russian primers", not the "green box" ones
I've shot about 18k of them with the only failure being light strikes in a Mauser. However, it didn't light off CCI or Remingtons reliably either. Replaced the spring and it was all good.

Can't find Wolf now because Putin pissed off Obama, but I still have about 1k left. So I'll have to get some American brand this Summer. Hard to choose;they've all been reliable to me. Winchester had some bad lots get out, but I read they fixed it.
So, do I want Vanilla, Vanilla, or perhaps some Czech Vanilla? Heresy in the brand loyal reloading world, I know, but that's how I see it.

yeah, I've got a couple thousand of the small pistols left, but out of rifles primers.

Pinecone · Mar 27, 2018

I use primarily Winchester and CCI. For most uses, I don't care which one, and never had an issue with them not firing. Other than the odd one inserted upside down.

The CCI 450, Small Rifle Magnum primer, is almost the same as the #41 mil primer. Same cup, same compound. The #41 has the anvil set a little further away from the cup. Is use the 450 for my 5.56 loads.

I use Federal match in my long range loads.

kohburn · Mar 27, 2018

picked up some cci primers and some sellier&bellot primers to try

TGR · Mar 27, 2018

I just switched to Remington 1 1/2 for my pistol rounds. Switched from S&B due to light primer stricks on a Glock 34 with a light spring. Haven’t had an issue since and the Rems feed like butter into the pockets with the progressive.

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