Light primer strike question

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in recent years we've had to buy whatever primers we can find, so this thread might help others beside myself, especially if experimenting with lighter main (or hammer) springs in double-action revolvers and using a different brand of primers. The question is, what brand(s) of primers has been recognized as being the hardest to ignite and might give more light primer strikes, and which brand(s) are usually easiest to ignite and might work well in revolvers with lighter hammer or main springs? Also, what spring weight in the Redhawk seems to work for all primers in double-action?
 

beentheredone

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As much as I would love to give you all your answers... well, that's impossible. I know of no one--although he may exist -- who has tried every brand of primers, nor every gun in the world with every combination of springs -- including your very own -- and can tell you, "This is it." Only you have the tools at hand to arrive at a correct answer to your question, so get to work. Personally, I rarely modify guns in a way that would compromise primer strikes, and that's the only way I know of to get next-best-thing-to-guaranteed primer ignition--leave 'em the way the manufacturer made them.
 
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Thanks for the comments, and I hear what you're saying about just leaving a revolver action stock.

If we narrow the focus, then, to those that own a revolver where they opted to try other Wolff springs in their gun and also tried Winchester, CCI, Remington, or Wolff primers and noticed if one brand was giving them problems more compared to others in that same revolver.

As a bonus for me, it would also be great if someone shared their experience with a Redhawk, but general observations are more than welcome.
 
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contender

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As noted above,, too many brands, variations etc to be able to give a factual & comprehensive list you've asked about.

However,, It's a pretty well known fact among competition DA revolver shooters, that the Federal primers are THE most reliable primers in guns with modified actions or spring changes etc. They commonly use the term; "softest primers" in their description of them.
 
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Thanks, contender. This is the type of useful, while anecdotal, information I'm looking for. While there are a myriad of combinations, I was also inviting comments about anyone's specific experience rather than give up entirely.

I have CCI and Winchester large pistol primers. I'm starting to have some problems with light strikes using Winchester primers for a particular Redhawk set up for range (target) shooting. I can't find Federal LP primers, but have many in WLP and CCI. So I was hoping someone here can give a specific example where they've had personal experience with their revolver using one brand of primer and resolved it with a different brand as pertaining to light strikes. Thanks for the Federal tip.
 

s4s4u

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In my experience with them, CCI's tend to be on the harder side and Federal on the softer. I have also used Win SP with a lightened hammer spring in my GP-100 and had no problems.
 

3manfan

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in recent years we've had to buy whatever primers we can find, so this thread might help others beside myself, especially if experimenting with lighter main (or hammer) springs in double-action revolvers and using a different brand of primers. The question is, what brand(s) of primers has been recognized as being the hardest to ignite and might give more light primer strikes, and which brand(s) are usually easiest to ignite and might work well in revolvers with lighter hammer or main springs? Also, what spring weight in the Redhawk seems to work for all primers in double-action?
In my experience of 46 years of handloading, I've found that the primer hardness in ascending order of the major brands are:
Federal
Remington
CCI
Winchester
I have lighter springs in almost all of my handguns & the only ignition issues I've ever had were with Winchesters & less so, CCI's.
I stick with Federal or Remington. I actually prefer the Remington because they still come packaged in the old school small trays & boxes.
I hate the bulky modern packaging of Federals & wish they'd go back to their old packaging.
 

Ka6otm

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contender is right about Federal being the softest.

As to the hardest, my vote is for CCI. I've known a number of people who had problems with light strikes with them and ended up switching to Winchester to eliminate the problem.
 

contender

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Several years ago,, I took my S&W revolver to a big regional USPSA match. Lots of misfires happened. Enough to really hurt my scores.
Well, after I came home,, I bought & installed an extended firing pin. That helped, but not a 100% cure. Then I added a primer cup to the tension screw to give the spring more tension. That too helped,, but still had some light strikes.
Switched to Federal primers,, and it's been 100% reliable since.

I use WW primers in my Ruger,, and haven't had any issues at my local matches. But I shot the Area 6 Regional a few weeks ago,, and all my ammo was loaded with Federal. No misfires.
 
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That's a great account, Contender! Thanks for sharing your experience. Since I only have Winchester and CCI primers for this particular DA revolver, yesterday I decided to reinstall the factory spring and returned to the range and no light strikes. I'll just leave it that way since I have a lot of these primers and never see Federal.
 

James also

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In my experience of 46 years of handloading, I've found that the primer hardness in ascending order of the major brands are:
Federal
Remington
CCI
Winchester
I have lighter springs in almost all of my handguns & the only ignition issues I've ever had were with Winchesters & less so, CCI's.
I stick with Federal or Remington. I actually prefer the Remington because they still come packaged in the old school small trays & boxes.
I hate the bulky modern packaging of Federals & wish they'd go back to their old packaging.
For PPC reworked revolvers, the Federal and Federal match are the standard. I have to dump them from the large tray into a plastic bag, then pour them into the primer flipper tray carefully, Ugh.
 
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As noted above,, too many brands, variations etc to be able to give a factual & comprehensive list you've asked about.

However,, It's a pretty well known fact among competition DA revolver shooters, that the Federal primers are THE most reliable primers in guns with modified actions or spring changes etc. They commonly use the term; "softest primers" in their description of them.
In the last two years Vista Outdoors bought Remington Ammunition, Vista has owned CCI and Federal for many years. The thoughts of Federal having "softer" primers than CCI presently may not be true now. With my experience working for a larger corporation (GE) the corporation places orders for materials from an individual vendor called collective buying. I expect Vista has a certain specification for brass stock for pistol primers and a specification for brass stock for rifle primers (maybe a thousandths or two thicker or a higher tensile strength). With that said, when they are buying they buy enough to fulfil the needs of ALL their various brands. At one time, the statement "Federal was softer" may have rung true, when Federal was a family owned business. This may not be the case in 2023. I would think that Vista, for the sake of economy, would create a manufacturing facility that makes nothing but primers/priming compound for their various brands instead of having to maintain three separate manufacturing facilities. Vista owns 2/3s of the ammunition industry in the US. They are on the verge of a monopoly, Vista dictates the price of ammunition and components in the USA. Federal now sells ammunition direct from their factory at I think MSRP or just below eliminating the middle men like the distributors and the LGS.
 
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