I stopped using federal RIFLE brass years ago because the primer pockets got too big to hold new primers after the 3rd loading, Well today I was loading some 45 apc on my Dillon and had some brass that would not take new primers, someone gave me some federal 45 apc brass and it has LITTLE PRIMERS IN THEM WTH gives for over a 100 years 45 APC has had large primers.
Federal Brass
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Jim Puke
Hunter
It has been around for years, although it is not very common in my area and I just throw them away when I happen to pick it up at the range.
Rick Courtright
Hawkeye
Hi,
Like Jim said, it's been around for a while. First I saw was from Winchester, some kind of "green" round w/ a non-toxic primer. Initial word from Winchester was "Don't reload 'em."
Since then, other mfrs have started producing the small primered .45 ACP brass, and that warning from Winchester seems to have gone away. Might take some looking, but I think you can find a recipe or two if you've got enough of 'em to bother with...
Rick C
Like Jim said, it's been around for a while. First I saw was from Winchester, some kind of "green" round w/ a non-toxic primer. Initial word from Winchester was "Don't reload 'em."
Since then, other mfrs have started producing the small primered .45 ACP brass, and that warning from Winchester seems to have gone away. Might take some looking, but I think you can find a recipe or two if you've got enough of 'em to bother with...
Rick C
AGE Ranger
Single-Sixer
I've reloaded both and haven't had any issues. Since I just started reloading 45s last year, I have been taking what I can get.
The hardest part is sorting them out. Federal brass has two small stars on the headstamp.
The hardest part is sorting them out. Federal brass has two small stars on the headstamp.
I bought a rather large batch of once fired 45ACP brass and a dozen or so had the small primer pockets when it was all supposed to be all large. If you ever buy once fired 45ACP brass, make sure it takes LPP's. I now have about 50 of them and since I'm so anal in retrieving spent brass, I'll separate it, load and shoot it, and not even bother to pick it up as it's nothing but a headache keeping it separate.
Paul B
Hunter
"Initial word from Winchester was "Don't reload 'em.""
Yeah, that's what they told me when I aked. Frankly, just use small pistol primers and they work just fine. It's good brass even if it does take a small size primer.
Never had much of a problem with Federal pistol brass but rifle bras well that's another story. I was given 1,100 rounds once guaranteed once fired .308 Federal Gold Medal match brass and the primer pockets are loose as a goose using Winchester primers. I've noticed that CCI LR primers usually fit more snugly in looe primer pockets so I'll see if I can chase some down..
Do the research. When the .45 ACP fffirst came out, the cartridge took a special size primer. Apparently it was designed that way to prevent civilian use of the cartridge and the 1911 hand gun. I forget how long that attitude held sway but then it was lightened up and fo a while there were three sizes of primers to contend with. IIRC, the special primer was somewhere between the standard small and large pistol primers we all know and love (hate) today.
Paul B..
Yeah, that's what they told me when I aked. Frankly, just use small pistol primers and they work just fine. It's good brass even if it does take a small size primer.
Never had much of a problem with Federal pistol brass but rifle bras well that's another story. I was given 1,100 rounds once guaranteed once fired .308 Federal Gold Medal match brass and the primer pockets are loose as a goose using Winchester primers. I've noticed that CCI LR primers usually fit more snugly in looe primer pockets so I'll see if I can chase some down..
Do the research. When the .45 ACP fffirst came out, the cartridge took a special size primer. Apparently it was designed that way to prevent civilian use of the cartridge and the 1911 hand gun. I forget how long that attitude held sway but then it was lightened up and fo a while there were three sizes of primers to contend with. IIRC, the special primer was somewhere between the standard small and large pistol primers we all know and love (hate) today.
Paul B..
I've had no problems reloading small primer size Federal .45 ACP brass. The same charge weights chrono to the same velocity as the large pistol primer types. I've loaded them 4 times now, but have never heard any disclaimers from Federal regarding unsuitability for reloading. Accuracy wise, the small primer brass is actually a bit better, on the order of 1/4" group size at 25 yds from a rest.
The Winchester comment surprises me (didn't know Winchester made small primed .45's). Did that comment directly from Winchester, or via a friend or internet...?
Best Regards, Rod
The Winchester comment surprises me (didn't know Winchester made small primed .45's). Did that comment directly from Winchester, or via a friend or internet...?
Best Regards, Rod
Paul B
Hunter
"The Winchester comment surprises me (didn't know Winchester made small primed .45's). Did that comment directly from Winchester, or via a friend or internet...?"
The comment was directly from Winchester in a letter sent to me in response to the one I sent asking if it was safe to load the brass. Their concern was should a small primer pocket piece of brass get mixed up with "normal" brass the potential of the large primer exploding and causing injury was their concern They actually never did say it was unsafe, just that the possibility of mixing the brass was a problem, The stand they took in the letter was throw them away.
I see their point but I'm pretty darn careful anyway and once I saw there were different sized primer pockets, I just added an extra inspection, separated the two and loaded away. Winchester small primered brass is marked somethin like WW .45 ACP NT IIRC. I'm too lazy to run out to the shed and check but I think that's close.,
Paul B.
The comment was directly from Winchester in a letter sent to me in response to the one I sent asking if it was safe to load the brass. Their concern was should a small primer pocket piece of brass get mixed up with "normal" brass the potential of the large primer exploding and causing injury was their concern They actually never did say it was unsafe, just that the possibility of mixing the brass was a problem, The stand they took in the letter was throw them away.
I see their point but I'm pretty darn careful anyway and once I saw there were different sized primer pockets, I just added an extra inspection, separated the two and loaded away. Winchester small primered brass is marked somethin like WW .45 ACP NT IIRC. I'm too lazy to run out to the shed and check but I think that's close.,
Paul B.
Rick Courtright
Hawkeye
Rodfac said:
Hi,
Two out of three?
I didn't go as far as Paul did: my info came from the Winchester website some years back when their NT ammo (the "green" stuff) was still pretty new. The warning's since disappeared from that website.
Rick C
The only "problem" with small primed 45 ACP brass is when they get dumped into an auto case feeder without being inspected first. I've never had any such problems 'cause I inspect every case before I reload. I use a turret, not a progressive and I'm not too busy to pass up on inspection, no matter how much of a hurry I am in...
Buckhorn150
Bearcat
do you use the same load as the large pistol primers when you reload the small primers I wonder?
I use the same load with the small pistol brass as I do with the large pistol - 5 grains of Win 231 and a 230 grain RNL bullet.
Sorting them is a pain, but I usually collect about 500 of them and then do a run on the Dillon.
Sorting them is a pain, but I usually collect about 500 of them and then do a run on the Dillon.
Paul B
Hunter
Yup! Works just fine.Buckhorn150 said:
Paul B.
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