I once used all CCI primers then out of multiple 10s of thousands I had 3 failures so I switched to Winchester. Yesterday I had a failure of a Winchester. I know that isn't much of a failure rate but I don't like any. These all being shot in my S&W 686 except for one in a S&W 638. The hammer strike was adequate but no "bang". What do you fellows favor?
Winchester Small Pistol Primer Failed
- Thread starter Rex
- Start date
I use what I can get?
Never had issues with Win, CCI, Rem, or Fed. Used a fair number of Tula too.
If it is a good price then I buy them. Only certain loads get a specific primer.
Only failure to fires are from a too thick cup in a revelover cartridge. Things like a CCI BR ina. 357 revolver.
Never had issues with Win, CCI, Rem, or Fed. Used a fair number of Tula too.
If it is a good price then I buy them. Only certain loads get a specific primer.
Only failure to fires are from a too thick cup in a revelover cartridge. Things like a CCI BR ina. 357 revolver.
Chris
Well-Known Member
I may have had a few misfires over many years, can't actually recall specifics, and I have shot most brands. I twice had significant problems, the first resolved as a mechanical issue with a Ruger 77 and the second was a bad batch of Federal small rifle benchrest where most primers pierced and blew gas back. They had issued a recall years before I unluckily bought a few boxes at a small gun store. Federal was nice about it and offered to replace them, but I let it go as not worth the fuss of sending them back.
JWFilips
Well-Known Member
Only primer problems I ever had was a batch of 5000 Winchester large rifle primers started blowing out the sides! I contacted Winchester and showed them photos & they sent a courier to pick up that batch/ lot and replaced the 5 bricks!
About a month later they contacted me for bringing it to their attention.
That was about 4 years ago. Reading the forums at about that time I realized I was not the only one experiencing this. Lucky it was just from one mfg plant and one or two batch lots. Cup was being formed too thin and blowing out the sides
About a month later they contacted me for bringing it to their attention.
That was about 4 years ago. Reading the forums at about that time I realized I was not the only one experiencing this. Lucky it was just from one mfg plant and one or two batch lots. Cup was being formed too thin and blowing out the sides
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
Mostly CCI's, only time I had failures were when the V-shaped hammer spring in my Python fatigued. Replaced that and issue went away. BTW, Colt wouldn't sell me the spring. Found a local master gunsmith that specialized in Pythons that had a replacement.
During the last shortage, I bought 5K of Tula SP primers. I get 1-2% FTF per hundred.............doesn't matter which revolver. Second strikes in another revolver, either. Although, better luck with them in my semi auto 9mm's. Just about out of them, won't be buying anymore.
During the last shortage, I bought 5K of Tula SP primers. I get 1-2% FTF per hundred.............doesn't matter which revolver. Second strikes in another revolver, either. Although, better luck with them in my semi auto 9mm's. Just about out of them, won't be buying anymore.
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fiver
Well-Known Member
years back Remington went through a period of time where they had a super high failure rate with their shot shell primers.
it wasn't any better or worse with their factory target type ammo, but it was 3-4%.
this was right as they went to the hotter P series of primers.
others have had an issue off and on over the years in various types.
things just happen in the manufacturing industry and sometimes you just don't know until they get out to the final testers... us.
I'm sure we all have our preferences, and if I had to choose or could replace all the ones I have with what I wanted my cupboards would look mainly something like this.
CCI LP
rem SP
Fed LR
win LR
2-3K of Rem 9-1/2's
win/wolf SR
with a smattering of this and that thrown in for some side calibers.
as it is I got a whole bunch of Blue boxes shoved in the cupboard and drawers with some of this and that filling in the holes.
it wasn't any better or worse with their factory target type ammo, but it was 3-4%.
this was right as they went to the hotter P series of primers.
others have had an issue off and on over the years in various types.
things just happen in the manufacturing industry and sometimes you just don't know until they get out to the final testers... us.
I'm sure we all have our preferences, and if I had to choose or could replace all the ones I have with what I wanted my cupboards would look mainly something like this.
CCI LP
rem SP
Fed LR
win LR
2-3K of Rem 9-1/2's
win/wolf SR
with a smattering of this and that thrown in for some side calibers.
as it is I got a whole bunch of Blue boxes shoved in the cupboard and drawers with some of this and that filling in the holes.
smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
Had 3 FTFs in one session about 8 years ago. Was shooting 218 BEE reloads that Dad had done in the 1950s, in a model 65 Winchester. When I switched to reloads that I had done more recently I had no further failures. Don't know the brand of primers Dad had used in those. He had a history of using mostly CCIs and Winchester.
Out of 10s of thousands of rounds fired over 60 years, I don't think I've had more than 6 or 8 confirmed primer failures.
I prefer to use CCI in rifle cartridges. In pistol cartridges, CCI or Winchester.
Out of 10s of thousands of rounds fired over 60 years, I don't think I've had more than 6 or 8 confirmed primer failures.
I prefer to use CCI in rifle cartridges. In pistol cartridges, CCI or Winchester.
Happened into a pile of SB small pistol for cheap. All had been well for quite a while. Enter a model 64 SW, 2-3 out of a full cylinder required a double tap. Not all bad I suppose, makes me practice my double action and hold and not knowing which is fired and empty makes for a steady hold. Click,bang,click click bang......
A model 19 that has a pretty soft hammer, never had a miss fire. Same for a couple of GP's. I am suspecting the 64 could use a new spring. Yes tension screw is tight, first thing I checked.
A model 19 that has a pretty soft hammer, never had a miss fire. Same for a couple of GP's. I am suspecting the 64 could use a new spring. Yes tension screw is tight, first thing I checked.
M3845708Bama
Active Member
A number of guys at range have had failures with CCI small rifle and almost all have switched to Winchester. Not saying right or wrong but problem primers were not from same source so not easily determined what root cause was but have not had failure to fire with Winchester. Up till then we all used CCI if they were available.
About 30 years ago I started loading for bullseye pistol. I used Federal for many years. When the Marines started loading their ammo and using Winchester ,I switched over to Winchester. After untold rounds, the failures due to primers could be counted on one hand.
I think most problems is with seating the primer and not the primer itself. Another factor may be handling of primers. I buy in bulk,at least 5K at a time. If a person buys 100 at a time that have been handled at the LGS they may be less reliable. The same applies to rimfire ammo. An Olympic shooter told me that if 22lr ammo was dropped and treated roughly it affected the accuracy. He took precautions with his ammo when he travelled to shoot. He claimed the priming compound if broken from the rim affected the powder ignition.
I think most problems is with seating the primer and not the primer itself. Another factor may be handling of primers. I buy in bulk,at least 5K at a time. If a person buys 100 at a time that have been handled at the LGS they may be less reliable. The same applies to rimfire ammo. An Olympic shooter told me that if 22lr ammo was dropped and treated roughly it affected the accuracy. He took precautions with his ammo when he travelled to shoot. He claimed the priming compound if broken from the rim affected the powder ignition.
I have put primed brass in WD40 and have gave others a little shot of penetrating oil, they still popped.
22RF ammo is some funny stuff. I am fortunate to have several friends that are or were on the US shooting team. One of them flew to a match. His ammo went with him, but was in the bagage. Went to practice and it would not shot in a bucket. Long story short after thinking his gun was messed up, they tried another lot of ammo. Fortunate enough to have had access to try several lots. Found a lot it liked and all was well.
Got back to Colorado Springs, tried his lot there and it was fine.
His coach and several others figured it was from the altitude.
He is the assistant coach at Ohio State now. I know he went to Korea this past summer. I need to call and ask how they handled ammo.
Jeff
22RF ammo is some funny stuff. I am fortunate to have several friends that are or were on the US shooting team. One of them flew to a match. His ammo went with him, but was in the bagage. Went to practice and it would not shot in a bucket. Long story short after thinking his gun was messed up, they tried another lot of ammo. Fortunate enough to have had access to try several lots. Found a lot it liked and all was well.
Got back to Colorado Springs, tried his lot there and it was fine.
His coach and several others figured it was from the altitude.
He is the assistant coach at Ohio State now. I know he went to Korea this past summer. I need to call and ask how they handled ammo.
Jeff
