Small primer .45ACP

[Turo]

So I just got some .45ACP dies and I want to start reloading, but I noticed that about half my brass has small primers and the other half has large primers. The only small pistol primers I have are the CCI 550 magnum SPP. Would these be okay to use in mild to moderate .45 acp loads? I've got no problem running out and getting regular small pistol primers, but using what I've got would be nice.

My Google-fu only really told me that small pistol primer .45 was fine to reload, but I couldn't find anything about using the magnum small pistol primers. Any advice?

[scotty99]

Magnum primers are likely to result in a faster burn and hence increased pressure. You should be careful and start out with minimum loads if you decide to proceed. I have swapped them on certain rifle calibers, but a 5,000 psi pressure difference is a lot more relevant in a 16,000 psi cartridge than in a 60,000 psi cartridge. The faster the powder I was using, the less comfortable I would be conducting this experiment.

[Turo]

Magnum primers are likely to result in a faster burn and hence increased pressure. You should be careful and start out with minimum loads if you decide to proceed. I have swapped them on certain rifle calibers, but a 5,000 psi pressure difference is a lot more relevant in a 16,000 psi cartridge than in a 60,000 psi cartridge. The faster the powder I was using, the less comfortable I would be conducting this experiment.

That's about what I imagined. I'm going to be loading the .45 fairly soft, since I'm not really looking for maximum performance, but instead just money savings.

I'll see if I can't get a few more opinions and then start off nice and slow.

[Zeke003]

I've only found recipes that use spp and I haven't come across anything regarding spm, but my google-fu is weak.

[NotEnufGarage]

.45ACP is a low pressure load. I don't think using magnum primers would be a good idea.

As for small primers versus large primers in .45ACP, I haven't noticed any difference with my loads. They're a pain to separate, so I usually turn my LPP cases into .400 Corbon cases, since I mostly shoot SPP brass.

[stand125]

I have switched to Magnum Primers on all my pistol loads. I started at minimum and reworked my loads. I would not have switched, but was sent Magnum primers instead of regular primers and decided to try them with reduced powder loads and really liked them. I seem to get much cleaner burning powder with loads like 45 and 38 special when using Titegroup since I like my powder puff loads..

[five.five-six]

DIAF SP .45ACP

[Fishslayer]

Unless you're messing around with hot loads you can use standard or magnum, large or small. As with any hot load, start low & work up using the same primers.

I've found no real difference in my target loads from SPP to LPP. Hang onto that SPP brass. If we have another Great Primer Drought it will work with SRP which was more available last time.

[stand125]

DIAF SP .45ACP

It is pretty bad that I had to google DIAF.

[Bill Steele]

I use magnum primers if that is all I have and I also use them when I want to get maximum consistency (and obviously when I am using a powder and load that calls for magnum primers).

Reduce your load a little and work back up. You will likely get right back to where you were and just get a lower SD.

[Turo]

I use magnum primers if that is all I have and I also use them when I want to get maximum consistency (and obviously when I am using a powder and load that calls for magnum primers).

Reduce your load a little and work back up. You will likely get right back to where you were and just get a lower SD.

Thanks for the advice everybody. I haven't started reloading for 45 yet, and I don't have a load made up yet, so I'll be starting with the minimum anyway. No problems there.

[bohoki]

ive never noticed any difference between magnum and standard with small pistol i load mild though so i guess i wouldn't notice mild+

[five.five-six]

It is pretty bad that I had to google DIAF.

normally that term is used metaphorically, in this case it's literal

[Fishslayer]

DIAF SP .45ACP

It is pretty bad that I had to google DIAF.

So did I...

So I guess 5.56 will be sending us all that horrible SPP brass? I'll even pay the shipping.