Any Thoughts on CCI Primers?

[Jeff82]

I've been thinking of using CCI small pistol primers. Anyone have any experience with them? Does anyone recommend them?

Thanks,

--Jeff

[dtknowles]

What are you using them in? It does not matter much, just wondering. I have used them a bunch in the past in 9mm and .380 and was happy. If they work fine in semiautos they should be fine in revolvers.

Tim

[smurf hunter]

If I could find them retail I'd buy 2000 more today.

[Garpo]

I use them all the time in reloading my pistol calibers. No issues as long as I have been buying them.

[wolf3006]

I have used cci for over ten years they always go bang.

[Bonz]

My primary choice of primers is CCI small pistol primers and have had very few misfires. I load .38 special, 9mm and .40 S&W

[Love Life]

Good primers, but not will not lite reliably for me from my tuned revolvers. A common and known issue since the CCI's are supposed to be a little harder. That does not mean CCI primers are bad. CCI primers are great. I have never had an issue with them running stock springs in any handgun. If I saw them for a decent price I would buy as many as my wallet would allow and just turn in the screw a couple turns on my S&W.

[Kevin Rohrer]

They have been around for a long time for a very good reason: they always go *bang*. I always try to use either them or Winchesters.

[j_dude77]

They work.

[DeanWinchester]

That's my brand for small pistol. I don't buy anything else.

[Ed_Shot]

Been using CCI pistol and rifle primers since the 1960's. Never saw the need to try anything else. Noticed yesterday that Powder Valley showed some types of CCI primers in stock again... a good sign. I'll continue to ration what I have till the supply chain gets back to normal.

[Jeff82]

Thanks for the responses. I'm loading mid-power 357s for my Marlin 1894C. The carbine has a lightened hammer spring. I've been using Federal primers and occationally Remingtons with good results. It looks like CCIs will be in stock sooner than anything else. So, I was thinking of giving these a try.

[zomby woof]

Too hard, you'll be sorry.

[Doc65]

Be a little careful with Remingtons as their 1 1/2's are NOT for "high intensity cartridges like the 357 Magnum & the 40 S&W" from the Remington packageing...

[LUCKYDAWG13]

CCI is my first pick i have used them for over 20 years
wish i could find more of them

[500MAG]

I prefer CCI. Never had an issue with them. Well, other than the supply issue.

[Pb Burner]

I've used CCI primers more than any other brand for more than 10 years. Never a problem. Also, as far as reloading for handguns, never had a problem with Winchester, Federal or Tula....

[429421Cowboy]

I use CCI primers in everything but one gun, i have never ever had a lick of trouble from any of them. If i could find a brick of SPP i would snap them up since i just bought a 9mm and have no other SPP cartridges so that leaves me kinda high and dry! Still have an ok supply of LR, LRM, and LPP, but never had a SPP round to load before so no primers before it all hit the wall coming around the second turn so to speak lol

[DCM]

CCIs are my first choice for most applications.

For those with applications with a wimpy firing pin hit I would go with the soft cup Federals.

[BruceB]

The primer makers just can't win.... if they make the primers SOFT, so that guns with lightened springs can ignite them reliably, SOME people who did NOT lighten the springs complain. If they make them hard enough to withstand high/normal pressure, those who DID lighten springs will complain.

CCI has been in business for a very long time, providing BILLIONS of primers to the reloading market. Do you honestly believe their success happened by ACCIDENT? They make a quality product which has survived decades of use in our hands, in every possible environment. I personally used them in the deep cold of the Canadian Arctic for many years....with NEVER a misfire, in about every type of centerfire firearm known to man from single-shots to machine guns, and including their percussion caps as well.

Spend your time LOOKING for them and quit worrying about whether they work.....thet have worked reliably; they DO work reliably, and they WILL work reliably.

Good grief.

[Alvarez Kelly]

Spend your time LOOKING for them and quit worrying about whether they work.....thet have worked reliably; they DO work reliably, and they WILL work reliably.

Good grief.

Unless, as Love Life pointed out, you have very light springs in your revolvers...

As long as you realize that one application where maybe they are not the best choice, they will work fine...

[newton]

Personaly, primers are primers to me. unless you got a specific load and are working on the very best accuracy. right now, ANY primer at a reasonable price is what I would use. I dont know if its just my area, but they are scarce...except the guys that have them who are selling them for twice what they normaly sell for.

[1hole]

"Good grief. "

Roger that.

I've been reloading since '65 and the only brand of primers I've ever used is all of them and they have all worked quite well. ??

[John Guedry]

I've never had a "primer problem" 'cept maybe finding 'em.

[Harter66]

CCI is about all I load. 38/357/9mm/40 S&W/45 ACP for SMPP. I even loaded them in some 556 I chopped up for RBH 357 shot shells.

[Woody3]

I use them as well as others. Knock on wood, I've never had a problem with them in my dillon or in my firearms. When this frenzy dies down, I'll buy another few k.

Just my 3 cents

[1616s16]

way to say it good grief
1616s16

[Kydaddy]

They are dangerous. Please send to me for proper disposal. :mrgreen:

[doulos]

Ive loaded and fired many CCI primers in small and large pistol both regular and magnum, Large rifle. Never had a problem. In fact Ive only had one failure to fire in the thousands of rounds Ive reloaded and that was a Winchester primer. And I still wouldnt hesitate to use them again or CCI or Federal.

[csmopar]

Another vote of confidence here, I've been using them in all I load for. Including ARs, never had any issues with them at all. Buy and stack em deep if you can find them

[rmb721]

I use mostly CCI. I am happy that I have plenty right now.

[David2011]

Like Love Life said, they are hard to light with lightened revolver mainsprings. Other than that, they're great. Other than revolvers, I use them in my 1911/2011 guns and everything else that needs small primers and they always work. They feed more smoothly in my Dillons than any other brand. I'm a fan of Federals in revolvers.

David

[dragon813gt]

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so how do you think I feel about them ;)
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/Firearms/Reloading/d52164f9.jpg

Old pic and that's just what I keep in that cabinet. I've used most brands but CCI is always my first choice. It's the brand I started with so I've stuck with them.

[chambers]

Good primers to use, work well in progressive presses also.

[wrench man]

The only time I ever went away from them was when a ***! Taurus Gaucho wouldn't lite them off, but it wouldn't lite Winchester, Remington or Federal's either!, then this last summer when the SPP's seemed to disappear I picked up some Winchesters, I don't know how many thousands of the CCI's I've touched off and never had one issue!, in these tough times I find myself down to about 12K CCI's of various flavors on the bench now!?

[GabbyM]

My stock S&W K frames punch deep dents in CCI primers. No worry there.
CCI leaves a littel less crud in the primer pockets.

[RobsTV]

CCI was my go to primer for everything, and seemed to work well.
Stock S&W X-frame not so good with CCI.
Hangfire (delayed fire) is not something enjoyable with a S&W 500 shooting 440gr slugs at 1450fps.
After half dozen combined over several shooting sessions, switched away from CCI and all problems solved.

[r1kk1]

I've used the major four primer companies. I've uniformed primer pockets and use a K&M seating primer gauge. I've seen ES tighten up with a primer change. I've seen different shooting sports switch from one manufacturer to another over the years. What I haven't seen is a consistent results across a plethora of cartridges. Too many variables. I use Federals and Winchesters mostly but the CCI 350s I use in big bore pistol with ball powder. Nothing against Remington as I've seen these shine in one barrel for one wildcat and something else in the other. This is across the chronograph but targets can be hard pressed to see a difference.

I have not shot Magtech, Wolf, or Tulas. I have seen people swear by one primer brand and swear at another. I keep the big four on hand for load development. It also seems that depending on where you live in this country seems to dictate what is available. I've noticed this on my travels. Thank God for mail order.

It's nice to have a choice. The import primers may be a hidden gem but I don't know. I like them all and can say they all have a home on my bench.

Take care

r1kk1

[DxieLandMan]

Although I have used other brands of primers, CCI is the brand that I use most.

[375RUGER]

I recommend them. Never had one that didn't go bang. Been loading with them for 20 years. Recently been loading some that are a lot older than that and they go bang too.

[MGySgt]

Just checked my Primer supply - 36 K of primers over 35K are CCI's. (all sizes, SP,SP Mag, LP, LP Mag, SR, LR, LR Mag) I have about half a carton of Remington's in LP.

And NO I do not want to sell any :)

Use to shoot PPC way back when and some of the shooters would turn out there strain screw on their bull barrel M10's. Had 2 Master Class shooters tell me that is the wrong way. Thin the spring, but never backout the strain screw - You could have a lighter hammer spring by thining it and still set off any primer. Backing out the strain screw caused the pistol to not have full use of the spring through out the hammer fall, thereby the hammer slowed down and you wouldn't get good ignition. You not only need to get primer ignition, you also need to get consistant primer ignition.

I use to load the 358477 with Unique and CCI SP. These Masters, with lightened hammer springs in their Mod 10 PPC guns would shoot the X ring out of the B27 with my loads, at 25 yards one ragged hole - at 50 they still stayed in the 10 ring with a high percentage of X's.

I couldn't and still can't shoot that good! :(

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

I use CCI exclusively when I can get them in all but 2 rifles, both Handi rifles, will not light them
off consistently. Even Federals wont light all the time in the Handi's.
I hate the gigantic boxes that Federals come in as well.

[hermans]

I agree with BruceB...if they dont work in your guns, then there is something wrong with your guns. I have used many 10'ths of thousands of CCI's, and still use them.

[casterofboolits]

Started using CCI primers in the mid 60s without a problem until I bought a CH AutoChamp Mk5 and switched to Winchester LP for 45 ACP. The CCI primer anvil sits a bit higher and caused prob lems in the CH primer feed. I prefer the harder CCI for 5.56 as they help prevent slam fire in my AR. Never had a bad one in almost 50 years of loading 380, 9mm, 38/357, 41 Mag., 44 Spec, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, 22 Hornet, 222, 223, 7mm, 308, and 30-06.

[MOcaster]

CCI is my favorite primer brand. If I could find any I would be very happy. I use CCIs in large and small rifle and small pistol and haven't had any problems.

[Poygan]

I have also been using CCI primers for almost 50 years with maybe one primer that failed in that time. OTOH I'm having problems with Winchester non plated LP primers that need a second hit to fire at the rate of several per 50 rounds. CCIs are harder and can be difficult to set off with reduced power springs. In those cases I use Federals.

[Reverend Al]

There is a lot of PPC revolver shot in our area and these lightly tuned revolvers are only completely reliable with the Federal 100 small pistol primer. Winchester and Remingtons are a close second, but the Remington brand is not well distributed here compared to Federal or Winchester. The CCI's are great in semi autos since they are a bit harder cup and they get a lot of use locally in military style pistols and rifles ...

[USMC87]

I like cci's, Ive used them in every pistol round that I've loaded with no issues.

[Jtarm]

I've used cci almost exclusively for over 30 years without a hiccup. That includes tens of thousands through a competition-tuned S&W that breaks at 8 lbs da & 1.9 SA.

They go bang everytime with excellent accuracy when everything else is right.

[o6Patient]

I used cci primers primarily back when I was reloading a lot, many thousand, one single one that didn't
fire..can't really say if it was the primer or the gun or the way it got seated. I'll use them all but I have had pretty good luck with cci's and that spans 30 years...unless they've changed, they're as good as any.

[smokeywolf]

CCI primers have performed reliably for me. Hope you already have them on hand. If you don't, good luck finding them right now. The only brand I see floatin' around right now are Tula. Never tried those.

[opos]

Big CCI fan here (for handgun cartridges)....don't load any rifle so don't know there....not possible to find right now but have enough (if we ever have enough)...did a little "shopping" locally and found some Winchester (I like them too) large pistol primers for $57 a thousand...needless to say I've got enough...that's a lot of money for primers but they seem to get it (not from me though).

[tawastom]

i like them :)

[FLHTC]

I love them although i use other brands. :)
61649

[NickB1075]

I use many different primers CCI have always been good to me. The only gun I have trouble with them not going bang is my PPC revolver. The revolver is sent up with very light trigger/spring and it will only reliably ignite federal (often softer). Other then that i buy them when they are in stock.

Nick

[375supermag]

I use CCI and Federal primers.
I have probably loaded around 100,000 rounds of handgun ammunition with them.

I have never had an issue with them...they always work.
I have quite a few thousand of SP, SPM, LP and LPM on hand.
No rifle primers to speak of...I was going to start reloading for my various rifles and shotguns this year, but with the current component shortages, it will be difficult to gather a broad enough spectrum of supplies to do the required testing.

Once supplies and prices stabilize, I will be re-stocking my handgun reloading supplies and then will concentrate on components for the rifles and shotguns.

[LabGuy]

When I have a choice I choose CCI. As for my thoughts, I think I need some more.

[Spawn-Inc]

CCI FTW!

i like them because of their minimalist packaging, the brown box i just bought (5k) so i decided it was picture worthy.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/Spawn-Inc/Reloading/IMG_20130102_143229_zpseca94825.jpg

[wrench man]

SO! that's where ALL the small pistol primers are!, north of the boarder!:roll:

[dragon813gt]

I wonder what the legality is of bringing them across the border? I will be close to it in a few weeks and might have to cross if you can bring them back without any issues.

[Spawn-Inc]

i know Canada has no issue with bring in reloading components from the US, it's the US that will jail me if i bring them to Canada without proper forms and ****.

not sure about the other way around.

[millsa2]

CCI and Winchester are harder than others. Use them in ar 15s and M1A

[sffar]

I've usually bought Winchester primers, but had a slam fire during a match last year shooting an AR. Had never had a slamfire before, but the high power guys all told me they use CCI's for that reason. I've taken the advice and bought a thousand for that rifle.
Sam