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markb5446 · October 27, 2012, 06:50 PM

So I started loading .454 Casull with some hard cast 265 grain lead, and have had miserable reliability due to primers not igniting. Not just one gun, but 3. I started using CCI mag small rifle primers and first batch had primer failures to fire with a Ruger Super Redhawk, a Taurus Raging Bull, and a Rossi 454 92 model. Primer dents were not as deep as I would have liked to have seen. Most would not fire on repeated attempts. None of the arms were modified. Failure rate was about 50 percent on all arms.

So I got some Federal match small rifle primers. Situation improved, but still had 2 failures, 1 was retried in the Rossi 92, and it fired. Had to use the bullet puller on one round. Both batches were 20 rounds.

So I am looking for a reliable 454 Casull primer. All were seated nicely with once fired brass. I had 3 kinds of brass, Hornady, Starline and ...uhh (CBC maybe not sure). Anyway, the worst brass of the three was the Starline. Sometimes the brass buckled while seating and crimping. New Lee Carbide dies and Lee press. I don't think that is related to the primer issue as the primers were checked for flush fit to rim and were good. Just another gripe I guess.

Anyway, I have had ZERO failures to fire with factory ammo (Wisconsin Cartridge, Winchester, Hornady). I wonder what primers Wisconsin Cartridge Co and others are using? I have read something about Remington primers working well. I am thinking I need to avoid magnum primers, even though they are recommended. I know the CCI's only work 50 percent of the time and are too hard. No more of those lawyered up ultra hard CCI primers.

October 27, 2012, 06:50 PM	#1
markb5446 Junior Member Join Date: September 21, 2011 Posts: 9	454 Casull Primer Hell No boom So I started loading .454 Casull with some hard cast 265 grain lead, and have had miserable reliability due to primers not igniting. Not just one gun, but 3. I started using CCI mag small rifle primers and first batch had primer failures to fire with a Ruger Super Redhawk, a Taurus Raging Bull, and a Rossi 454 92 model. Primer dents were not as deep as I would have liked to have seen. Most would not fire on repeated attempts. None of the arms were modified. Failure rate was about 50 percent on all arms. So I got some Federal match small rifle primers. Situation improved, but still had 2 failures, 1 was retried in the Rossi 92, and it fired. Had to use the bullet puller on one round. Both batches were 20 rounds. So I am looking for a reliable 454 Casull primer. All were seated nicely with once fired brass. I had 3 kinds of brass, Hornady, Starline and ...uhh (CBC maybe not sure). Anyway, the worst brass of the three was the Starline. Sometimes the brass buckled while seating and crimping. New Lee Carbide dies and Lee press. I don't think that is related to the primer issue as the primers were checked for flush fit to rim and were good. Just another gripe I guess. Anyway, I have had ZERO failures to fire with factory ammo (Wisconsin Cartridge, Winchester, Hornady). I wonder what primers Wisconsin Cartridge Co and others are using? I have read something about Remington primers working well. I am thinking I need to avoid magnum primers, even though they are recommended. I know the CCI's only work 50 percent of the time and are too hard. No more of those lawyered up ultra hard CCI primers.