Federal .45 ACP Primer differences

[mooner]

I also have seen only a very small difference in velocity over my chronograph using identical loads with only the primer size varying.  It adds a small amount of extra time for sorting, but otherwise the small primer cases shoot just fine.  I wouldn't worry too much about you loads unless you are really on the hairy edge.

[MikeBjerum]

Once we have gotten past the issue of trying to ram an oversized primer in a small hole the issue I see isn't on the upper end - trying to make power factor in a came like USPSA.  Most of us load enough and chrono ahead of time to be certain.  My larger concern would be on the download side.  If you play a game that allows light loads the lower powder volume combined with the smaller primer flame jet could become an issue.  This is where I see the possible need for drilling out the flash hole, and maybe upping the powder charge.

It is problems like this that make reloading fun for me!

[Magoo541]

Once we have gotten past the issue of trying to ram an oversized primer in a small hole the issue I see isn't on the upper end - trying to make power factor in a came like USPSA.  Most of us load enough and chrono ahead of time to be certain.  My larger concern would be on the download side.  If you play a game that allows light loads the lower powder volume combined with the smaller primer flame jet could become an issue.  This is where I see the possible need for drilling out the flash hole, and maybe upping the powder charge.

It is problems like this that make reloading fun for me!

It would be cool to have enough brass so that the large primer stuff could be used for either the fast stuff or the light stuff and the small primer stuff for the other.  I have about 3 boxes of CCI Blazer Brass (small primer) and a couple hundred large primer round for my 45 and I think I might just do that since I'm just starting out.  It'll probably work until I get flooded with one or the other 

[MikeBjerum]

Not intending a thread drift, but this is a good place to insert this:

If you are truly hooked on shooting games and interested in adding to your brass inventory, get involved and RO a major event.  Major events are "lost brass."  The RO's get take all the brass they want from these matches.  Before the penalties for overweight luggage, I brought two five quart ice cream pails of .45acp home from Mesa, AZ.  I have seen guys take home five gallon pails of brass at the end of each day.

Keep in mind that all this brass needs to be sorted and inspected, and in a match that includes "open guns" 9mm major can not be reloaded.  It is a one shot deal due to the max over pressures put on the brass.  However, brass is very valuable at the recycling center, so don't be afraid to sell the scrap.  Our local club purchases all of its paper target needs (various NRA targets for bullseye, smallbore, and pellet and bb) with money received from spent .22 rimfire cases.

[Solus]

Is primer size part of the SAMMI spec for .45 ACP?

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

SAMMI/ANSI specs do not state primer.  The drawings do not show the primer pocket.

I looked at my reloading books, called a couple friends that reload .45acp, and did a web search.  All I can find on the small pistol primer in .45acp is in forums like this one and whackier.