Testing Primers

[cool_as_crap]

I'm new to reloading and i'm going to start with 45acp. I have unique and power pistol and I plan to buy some 231 and 700x also.
I have tula primers but i was also going to buy CCI to try. Is there enough difference in primers to actually try each brand? Or should I limit testing to different powders?

My shooting is target rounds through my 1911, all RN.

Thanks!

[Cheep]

You may not see much change in different brands of primers when it comes to pistol reloads. Powder and bullets are a different story. Follow the manuals and enjoy.

[kcstott]

I’d stick with unique and what ever primers you can get your hands on. It’s a pistol load. It’s not complicated.

[MongooseV8]

Ive used them all and I mostly use CCI unless I have a lazy firing pin, then I will use something softer like a Win. Most pistol loaders wont see a difference in primer selection imo.

[phdo]

[waveslayer]

You will be fine for pistol. If it were rifle, then that would be a different story

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[bazineta]

You really only consider primer brand for rifle, and even then typically only in competition.

That being said, and since there's not enough argument here to warrant a reloading thread, I've heard that CCI is the primer brand used in heaven. Just sayin'.

[bruce381]

soft primers would be federal for lighten stikers like on a glock otherwise all will work and at 25 yards any difference would be not noticeable.

[hambam105]

CCI Primers are just fine. Now if I wanted to jam up my pistol with unburned powder I'd surely use Unique.

[kcstott]

CCI Primers are just fine. Now if I wanted to jam up my pistol with unburned powder I'd surely use Unique.

Well we found one. The internet reloading ninja.

Go take take a powder rookie, I've been using Unique for 30 years reloading 9mm, 38/357, & 45 ACP. Unburned powder?? BS You mean powder residue as in burnt powder residue. IDK I've had a 92FS, two 1911's, and a USP not one of which gave a good god damn about some powder residue.

Unique is a dirty powder for sure but if you want a clean sport maybe you need to take up Golf.

OP 6.5 grains of Unique behind a 230 grain what ever bullet, should put you at the 850 FPS mark it's a load that has stood the test of time.

[MongooseV8]

Wait Unique isnt a good powder? What am I supposed to do with the mountain of Unique in my reloading room?

[kcstott]

Wait Unique isnt a good powder? What am I supposed to do with the mountain of Unique in my reloading room?

[robert101]

I don't give much thought to primers in 45 Automatic. Yea, I've been reloading Unique for over 20 years. That and Bullseye are my go to Alliant powders for many handgun cartridges. They may not be perfect but are very good general use powders. OP stay in the mid range for 45 automatic and you will be fine. This cartridge is very forgiving and a joy to reload and unload. If you know what I mean.

[hambam105]

Unique Powder leaves more W.K.R.P. behind than any other pistol powder that I know of, and I've been loading 45acp for more than 30 years. But it only took me 1 year to figure out that if I wanted to jam up my pistols with un burned powder then Unique was my number one choice to do so. With Red Dot powder holding a commanding second.

My 1978 Speer manual spelled it out and I thought that by now experienced reloaders knew about it. Oh well.

Bench Rest Pistol Competitors swear by Unique powder to this day because it probably holds more than a few accuracy records. Pistol Actons shooters such as myself swear at Unique powder for 3 or 4 reasons to be mentioned at a later date.

[aspenvalley]