pistol primers

[nickaballison]

I have reloaded for rifle before but am starting to try pistol now. I want to reload 9mm and all the recipes say to use CCI 500, but i cannot find any right now. Can i use any small pistol primer, or are they different? Does anybody know who i could get some CCI 500's from or want to sell any?

[madmike283]

I don't see why any recipe would call for a specific SPP. At this point it wouldn't be a bad idea to use what you can find. Most, I think, competitive shooters prefer Federal as they're "softest" to ignite since we typically use light hammer/striker springs. I have some CCIs coming and I *may* be able to part with some of them. Since my order I have read that CCIs are "harder" and I'm not sure how they'll work in my gun. Shoot me a PM with how many you're looking for and when they arrive I'll see what I can do.

[MarkCO]

There are slight variations in accuracy and cup hardness, but if you are working with standard loads below max, you won't have any issues using another brand. I am a competitive shooter and won't use Federals for the same reason as they are easier to ignite. CCI is a "prefered" brand for a lot of commercial loaders/reloaders for the same reason so they are likely going to be the hardest to find in large quantities anytime soon.

[spqrzilla]

Recipes call for a particular primer mostly just to document what primer that load was tested with, and to distinguish between magnum and standard primers. I'd go with any standard small pistol primer.

[birddog]

Recipes call for a particular primer mostly just to document what primer that load was tested with, and to distinguish between magnum and standard primers. I'd go with any standard small pistol primer.

this is my understanding as well. An SPP should be fine, especially if you are loading under max.

[nickaballison]

Awesome that may be a little easier to start reloading for 9mm then if i don't have to wait for just CCI. I will use whatever i can find for now until hopefully someday supplies become more available again. Thanks for your responses.

[madmike283]

I am a competitive shooter and won't use Federals for the same reason as they are easier to ignite.

Won't use, or do use for that reason?

[Zombie Steve]

Awesome that may be a little easier to start reloading for 9mm then if i don't have to wait for just CCI. I will use whatever i can find for now until hopefully someday supplies become more available again. Thanks for your responses.


The important thing with load development is to start low and incrementally work your way up. Whatever primer you land on using might be more or less powerful than tested in the published data. Your best load might be lower or higher powder charges than theirs as a result.

[MarkCO]

Won't use, or do use for that reason?

In a match grade AR, the lower mass BCG moves at a higher velocity. The floating firing pin is more prone to ignite a more sensitive primer unless you go with a Ti firing pin. Tried both ways and got no benefit with Feds over the others, so no reason to use a slightly riskier primer. The same is true with a pistol. The vast majority of accidental ignitions are with Federal. Either on the ground, in the press or ejecting live rounds from pistols. In a revolver with a light trigger, almost necessary and improved performance. In auto-loaders, not worth it to me.

[nickaballison]

That is kind of scary that the firing pin could accidentally strike a primer. I was kind of worried about that because i have a 6.5 grendel and i have noticed small marks on the primer after it loaded a round. I thought it may have been from the ammunition being loaded but it looks more likely to be from the firing pin. I may need to change that.

[MarkCO]

Nick, in Mil-Spec, it is not scary. AR-15 firing pins float. When you fire a round, the firing pin WILL impact the primer lightly, it is normal. BUT, you just fired the gun and if it does happen the fire the next round, you are still pointed in a safe direction. The chances of it happening back to back are very small. Primer indentation upon dropping the bolt is likely due to an XP recoil spring.

[spqrzilla]

Lots of semi-auto rifles designs with floating firing pins. Garands, SKS, AR's and many more.