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Thread: Small Primer 45 ACP

  1. #1
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    Small Primer 45 ACP

    What to do with SP 45ACP.

    45 ACP casings used large pistol primers from about 1905 until some idiot decided it would be cool to change to small pistol primers.

    I have a supply of 45 ACP casings and the vast majority of them are large primer casings, however I am steadily acquiring small primer casings as I cull them from my LP casings. The question is: "What to do with them"?

    My first thought is wait until I gather enough of them to load a decent size batch and just consider them to be disposable casings that I don't bother to pick up.

    I assume that at some point in time the small primer casings will become the norm but I'm not sure how long that will take. In the meantime, the small primer casings are an annoyance.
    Occasionally I'll miss one and it will turn up in the press where it brings the loading operation to a sudden halt. That's a bit of a pain to pull it out, put it with the other SP casings and replace it before resuming the loading operation. It also requires checking the casing under the powder measure to see if it was charged with powder so that I don't double charge a casing when I resume loading. That process is generally accompanied by cursing the person that thought it would be cool to change something that's been working fine since about 1905.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    JBinMN's Avatar
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    Here is an idea....

    Sell them to those who want them.
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  3. #3
    Boolit Master


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    The small primers are needed for some special applications of the .45acp. From what I see the vast majority of new .45acp is still large primer. I segregated mine and gave them to a begining competitive shooter.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master tazman's Avatar
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    Some target shooters claim better accuracy when using the sp cases. I have no experience with them myself.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master GhostHawk's Avatar
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    Save them until some point where you are low or out of LP primers.

    Or sell them as JB in Mn said.

    I am slowly accumulating a zip lock bag of them myself.

  6. #6
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    I finally got mad enough to sort them all out from the large primer type and put them on a PIF. Devil's work is what they are!

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  7. #7
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    Retailers in my area probably stock 10-20% of total primer stock with large pistol so always have ready supply of small pistol primers, 4 years ago I bought 450 small pistol primer 45 ACP cases for simple reason my 357 revolvers no longer liked the CCI hard primers and switched to federal for them, so have been steadily beating the brass to death trying to get through the 20k + pile of CCI I had, more than likely the brass will give out or be lost before the primers run out so as JB said put them aside and sell or swap them for LPP cases

    Cheers

  8. #8
    Boolit Bub
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    Quote Originally Posted by Texas by God View Post
    I finally got mad enough to sort them all out from the large primer type and put them on a PIF. Devil's work is what they are!

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
    This, I didn't realize they were a thing until I had 1 in my Dillon 1050. Cram a large primer into a small hole and BOOM. It lit off the entire primer magazine. Took it and dropped it off at Dillon and poof they fixed it.

    I then spent hours sorting 3 5 gallon buckets of brass. Then I promptly gave away the SP brass.

  9. #9
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    I can see where they would pose a problem for high volume loaders using automated presses, but shouldn't be much of an issue for those using single stage presses. I loaded several boxes this past winter, and find no difference in their performance from the large primer cases. Once you get them separated just keep them that way and load them as a separate batch. I certainly wouldn't consider them expendable.

  10. #10
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    I cull them out of my range sweeps and then reform them to .400 Corbon so that they'll never be used for 45ACP cases again and my higher pressure 400 CorBon loads have a cartridge case with just a touch more brass in the head.

    So if you want to use them for experimental heavy bullet loads in your 45ACPs or send them out for sale to others or a PIF to a new shooter, they can serve a purpose.
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  11. #11
    Boolit Master
    toallmy's Avatar
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    I load them again .

  12. #12
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    For right now I'm just segregating them as I find them. I probably have about 75. I think when I have a decent amount I'll trade them for something.

  13. #13
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    Ed_Shot's Avatar
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    Inspecting and segregating SP 45 ACP brass has become yet another ritual for me after range trips. I'm satisfied that they'll perform just fine if needed so I store them for when the day comes again when there are no LP primers to buy.

  14. #14
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    Tom W.'s Avatar
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    Every step is an inspection point.
    While I no longer have a .45 anything, I did use those with the sp primers for woods walking.
    And remember, you can use a sr primer in them without any problems.
    Tom
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    Did I ever mention that I hate to trim brass?

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom W. View Post
    Every step is an inspection point.
    While I no longer have a .45 anything, I did use those with the sp primers for woods walking.
    And remember, you can use a sr primer in them without any problems.
    Excellent point about SR primers, they do work without any problems.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
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    Heck I’ll take them!! I’ll even pay shipping I also make them into 400 Corbin ammo

  17. #17
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    Dieselhorses's Avatar
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    SPP 45 ACP cases have more strength at case head thus extending longevity with no sacrifice to accuracy or having unburnt powder. I was leery about that too and alas after selling a couple hundred new ones on here I discovered this notion from some other forums. Oh well.
    The unexamined life is not worth living....Socrates
    Pain, is just weakness leaving the body....USMC
    Fast is fine, but accuracy is FINAL!....Wyatt Earp

  18. #18
    Boolit Master

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    I just pitch them into an old coffee can until the can is full and then I process them and keep them separate from the lpp brass. When I shoot 45's I make sure that I don't mix them again.
    NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy Reverend Recoil's Avatar
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    I mark them for +P revolver loads.
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  20. #20
    Boolit Buddy Ateam's Avatar
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    I load them for my 45acp stub jobbie. A quick look at the primer confirms that it is a rifle cartridge, though I load all rounds intended for the rifle to an oal that will not function in pistols so there are no expensive oopses.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check