Russian Primers

[The King]

Today I tested Russian large pistol primers.
45 ACP Ball, Accurate 7 powder, also Ramshot Zip powder, 100% good to go.
Then
45 Colt hot loads (but published book loads) out of a Blackhawk, 250 grain lead bullet, Ramshot Enforcer powder. First shot excellent. Second shot phffft. Bullet traveled 4" in the barrel and stuck. Semi burned powder came out of the case and out of the barrel so it wasn't for lack of trying.
No Russian primers in magnum ammunition.

[justMike]

Back when they were freely available, there were few complaints about them, especially the rifle versions. Even preferred by some because low SDs IIRC.
I'd be game to buy them if we only could anymore. Missed my chance back when. Currently don't use any LPPs though.

[Sandspider500]

Enforcer load data for 45 colt doesn't call for a magnum pistol primer. Using one, especially with enforcer, could put you at a higher pressure than anticipated. It calls for a Remington 2.5 or the equivalent, so win lp, cci 300 or fed 150 should be fine. I'm not sure about what you're using. I do have tula large pistol magnums and have used them in place of other magnum primers when the data called for one.

I have seen a test of a tula or wolf spp and it threw a small orange flame from the muzzle, indicating very little to no aluminum powder or equivalent in the primer compound.

[The King]

Wolf Large Pistol Primers.
I will continue testing these primers but with Ramshot Zip or Accurate 7

[Cowboy T]

Never tried Enforcer powder, but I do use Russian primers (bought before Putin went nuts in Ukraine) in .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP, and .45 Colt. I have yet to have even a single failure to fire and properly combust with them. That includes my "Ruger-only" hot .45 Colt load.

The powders I use as follows.

LPP: Bullseye, Titegroup, and 2400
LPPM: H110 and W296

H110 and W296 do seem to need the magnum primers for consistent combustion. The same might be true with Enforcer in your application; I don't know. Give a LPPM a try and see how it goes.

[xfer42]

Recoil from the first shot probably yanked the bullet out of the second one, like a kinetic bullet puller. Snuffed out once it jumped the gap. I would expect that from H110/W296 with heavy cast bullets out of a 44mag. Not sure about Ramshot Enforcer in a 45.

[Sandspider500]

This is from testing done by western powder ballistician and published in handloader 279. A 310gr swc was used with the same powder charge across all loads, the only thing changed was the primer.

For heavy-frame Ruger revolvers and guns of equal strength. Loads fired in a 7 1/4-inch test barrel, without venting. New Winchester cases used with all loads.

primer: CCI 350; 35,950 psi
primer: Remington 2 1/2; 23,990 psi
primer: Winchester LP; 22,490 psi
primer: Federal 155; 27,870 psi

As you can see from the test the type and manufacturer of the primer gave different results. Some putting the load over what is considered safe. All the data I've ever seen in 45 colt and enforcer/4100 calls for a standard primer. This includes Barnes(wlp), ramshot(fed150), western powder(rem 2.5), and accurate (cci300).

Not saying you can't use a lpm with enforcer in 45 colt, just saying the pressure data they have for the charge weights are with a standard primer. The wolf standard primer may just be sub standard for enforcer is all.

Not apples to apples but here are some differences in small primers.

IMG_20220513_112449.jpg
Wspm

IMG_20220513_111855.jpg
Cci 41 srp

IMG_20220513_111604.jpg
Cci400 srp

IMG_20220513_111457.jpg
Cci500 spp

IMG_20220513_111216.jpg
Wolf spp

[Che762x39]

Today I tested Russian large pistol primers.
45 ACP Ball, Accurate 7 powder, also Ramshot Zip powder, 100% good to go.
Then
45 Colt hot loads (but published book loads) out of a Blackhawk, 250 grain lead bullet, Ramshot Enforcer powder. First shot excellent. Second shot phffft. Bullet traveled 4" in the barrel and stuck. Semi burned powder came out of the case and out of the barrel so it wasn't for lack of trying.
No Russian primers in magnum ammunition.

My question is did all the Russian LPP fired off? No duds it sounds like.

Some revolvers with smooth trigger jobs does not fire off the hard primers like CCI or Remington whereas Federal Primers are famous for use in "Match" guns. So I am also wondering how they compare.

[The King]

Correct. The Wolf primers worked every time in 45 ACP Ruger Blackhawk. Switch cylinders to 45 Colt and the two primers did ignite, but round #2 did not ignite the powder. Bullet stuck in barrel.

[Che762x39]

Thank you.

BTW I really liked the Ruger Blackhawk 45 Convertible. I had one but after a significant amount of cash it left my possession.

[JagerDog]

Thank you.

BTW I really liked the Ruger Blackhawk 45 Convertible. I had one but after a significant amount of cash it left my possession.

Enjoy mine (Bisley). Also the 357/9mm counterpart (not Bisley). Been toying with a Single six convertible to complete the set, but considering Single Ten instead.

I have Wolf SRP's and they work for me. I've shot tons of Wolf 209's even though some say they're junk. Other's say they're fab. I'm more in that camp.

[micro911]

I never used Wolf pistol primers, but I am using Wolf large rifle primers for my 308 loads. It shoots as good or better than the reloads with Federal match primers. I was told US long range shooting champions use these Wolf primers.

It was so good so I bought 5,000 primers.

[cfm117]

I havent used any russian primers outside of wolf, which i bought 60k during the good days. I use them in my match highpower loads for over 15 years and never had one ftf etc. cant speak on tula etc though

[xrMike]

Are the Wolf primers not available anymore? I still have a few K of the SRPs, in the red boxes with black lettering... They were my favorite primers, giving the smallest groups in my hand loads.

I know our clown-government banned russian ammo, but did they ban russian primers too? I haven't seen Wolf primers available anywhere for a LONG time.

[cleonard]

Are the Wolf primers not available anymore? I still have a few K of the SRPs, in the red boxes with black lettering... They were my favorite primers, giving the smallest groups in my hand loads.

I know our clown-government banned russian ammo, but did they ban russian primers too? I haven't seen Wolf primers available anywhere for a LONG time.

All banned and most likely never to return.