45 ACP.... small or large primer ?

[garandman]

Recently gotten into 45 ACP. I fired about a 100 rounds of each of small primer and large primer and both worked 100%

My Dillon 550C is set up for 9 mm and 300 BLK so leaning towards small primer brass for 45 acp.

Is my thinking wrong here ?

 

[ShtrRdy]

Sounds like a reasonable way to go.

 

[Steel head]

Buy up all the small primer 45 brass do I don’t have to deal with it.

 

[garandman]

I will take all my SP brass with me from the range. Problem is lot of other people won't.

 

[Threadcutter308]

I've been going through this same thing lately. I'm thinkin' that finding once fired small primer brass is going to be harder than large primer, if you're going to buy bulk once fired brass. If you pick up range brass while you're there, I think large primer is going to be the most prevalent.

Actually, I have no experience with .45 small primer, everything I have/do/reload is large primer. I have been having problems with once fired Privi Partisan (large primer) brass. The pockets are on the small side. Primers get seated sideways (Dillon XL 650) and upside down. I bought and am now using a swaging punch on the Privi large brass, which has helped a great deal. One more pass through the press though.

I guess, at the end of the day, I'd stay with large primer brass because it's much more common. I don't think I've ever seen small primer loaded ammo at the LGS's for sale. YMMV.......

 

[garandman]

I won't be shooting this 45 *that* much. I've bought 300 rounds SP to shoot. I'll save that brass, reload it 4-5 times till it craps out and that'll likely last me 5 years.

 

[Threadcutter308]

I won't be shooting this 45 *that* much. I've bought 300 rounds SP to shoot. I'll save that brass, reload it 4-5 times till it craps out and that'll likely last me 5 years.

That makes sense then......

 

[ShtrRdy]

I won't be shooting this 45 *that* much. I've bought 300 rounds SP to shoot. I'll save that brass, reload it 4-5 times till it craps out and that'll likely last me 5 years.

Actually you'll be able to load 45 ACP brass 15 to 20 times. Sounds like you're all set.

 

[dttheliman]

Buy up all the small primer 45 brass do I don’t have to deal with it.

Please do they are really annoying !!!

 

[RTH1800]

I only encounter a small primer now and then. Always an issue in the press. I throw them away.

 

[Steel head]

Actually you'll be able to load 45 ACP brass 15 to 20 times. Sounds like you're all set.

I have 45 brass that’s been loaded so much you can’t read the head stamp.

 

[garandman]

Then my next question is what bullets?

Cast lead? Coated? Copper jacketed?

I'd like to load 'em light, and use "boattail" bullets so I don't hafta flare the case mouth ....

Prolly use Titegroup powder

 

[Steel head]

200 grain SWC’s pushed out with WST.

 

[Threadcutter308]

Then my next question is what bullets?

Cast lead? Coated? Copper jacketed?

I'd like to load 'em light, and use "boattail" bullets so I don't hafta flare the case mouth ....

Prolly use Titegroup powder

Awww.........pshaw.........230 gr rn fmj's. Works great with a can. You do have a can, right ? ???

 

[Ryridesmotox]

I have used Acme coated lead very effectively in USPSA. Both in 9mm production minor PF and 45acp in single stack major PF. But it's barely major lol. Still runs really flat.

 

[clcustom1911]

230gr plated or FMJ ball: 5.5gr Win 231, .471-.472" crimp, 1.26" OAL

 

[doc88]

Only difference in SP and LP 45 brass is aggravation in the press when trying to load one and the other shows up. Other than that they shoot and reload the same. I shoot exclusively 230 RN for ease of feeding. Have shot both coated lead from Blue Bullets and Bayou bullets and FMJ bullets. Jacketed bullets take a little more powder to reach the same velocity as the coated bullets if you are concerned about power factor for USPSA or IDPA. Good luck, very fun caliber to shoot. Love my Les Baer's.

 

[sako17]

I've heard the small primers are going to lose about 25fps to the large primer.

 

[dttheliman]

<snip>
Only difference in SP and LP 45 brass is aggravation in the press when trying to load one and the other shows up. Other than that they shoot and reload the same <end snip>

Herein is the fundamental issue , pick one and stick with it , LP brass is prolific, so use it , or not, I load a couple of 1000 a year , nothing worse than that one SP that you missed , throws you off when you are full flow on your progressive then - inversely it would be the same - toss the ones you don’t use - dilemma gone - happy reloading

 

[Ryridesmotox]

I've heard the small primers are going to lose about 25fps to the large primer.

I haven't seen that with my chrono and my loads. But I shoot a rather light USPSA load so I could light all the powder off pretty easy. I bet you might see a difference in something with a stouter charge of powder maybe. All my shooting has been within my normal MV deviation for me

 

[garandman]

I've heard the small primers are going to lose about 25fps to the large primer.

I'm wanting a slow, lighter weight bullet anyway, so this would be good....

 

[Ryridesmotox]

I'm wanting a slow, lighter weight bullet anyway, so this would be good....

Try 4.6 gr of noblesport Vectan BA9. I use that in my 45acp and it hits right around 760fps. Which is BARELY major PF. It shoots smooooooth

Edit to add: that's with a 230gr coated lead.

 

[afv338]

for me it depends on the time of year, in the summer when i shoot outside i use master cast 200 gr swc, in the winter when i shoot inside i use berry bullets 200s i used to shoot alot not so much anymore. with the berrys their was about 5 of us that would go together so we would get a better price i would get 20,000 at a time really brought the price down. master cast is close to me so i would drive down it saved shipping and they gave discount for bulk. i use win 231 for powder.

 

[afv338]

aways large primer sorry forgot the topic of the post

 

[260shooter]

200 grain SWC’s pushed out with WST.

Amen brother. I run 4.4 to 4.8 . Shoots great in all my .45's.

 

[Mike Casselton]

I'm wanting a slow, lighter weight bullet anyway, so this would be good....

If you can get some Ruag or other non-toxic small pistol primers, use the TiteGroup.
You won't even need to clean your brass.
TiteGroup is inexpensive and was designed for nontoxic loads.

 

[garandman]

If you can get some Ruag or other non-toxic small pistol primers, use the TiteGroup.
You won't even need to clean your brass.
TiteGroup is inexpensive and was designed for nontoxic loads.

Interesting. I'll check it out.

 

[RmeJu]

The reason to use small primer 45 is if your other reloaded calibers also use small primers (especially small pistol primers). Given that you reload only a small amount, and you've got other SP calibers, I think you made the right call. FYI, pistol brass can withstand WAY more firings than rifle brass, especially if you load light, which it sounds like you are. I second Titegroup for powder.

I use jacketed bullets. I used to use lead, but the $ savings wasn't worth the extra cleanup of lead fouling. That's also why I don't use plated. YMMV. Zero (roze distribution), delta precision, and rocky mountain reloading (with coupon code) all have good prices.