CCI primers

garryc · August 13, 2009, 08:18 AM

Years ago when I started reloading I used CCI primers. I didn't care for them on consistancy and fit. Since then I've used Federal or Winchester primers and have been happy with them. Now it looks like I can get CCI primers faster, I only need standard small pistol and large pistol, My question is, have CCI primers improved over the last 25 years?

oldcspsarge · August 13, 2009, 08:53 AM

Yes.........CCI completely revamped their primers a couple of years back.....they work great in my Dillon with an assortment of brass manufacturers.

Primers....if you see some...buy some !

margiesex · August 13, 2009, 08:58 AM

CCI's are just great! I try not to use anything else, but as the man said "If you see anykind on the shelf - buy 'em!"

They are in short supply pretty much everywhere.

Back in the day when I started in this hobby I used RWS exclusively - but they are no more, so I think CCI's are next best. Especially the BR2's.

God bless and keep shooting!

Margiesex

And remember: Hug your God and your guns - 'cause he's coming for them both, and soon!

**Unclenick** · August 13, 2009, 08:58 AM

I recently had this discussion in another thread on this forum. The CCI's have always been harder to seat for me (though I haven't tried any recently, so I hope Oldspsarge is right), and another fellow said he'd looked under magnification and found mouth flaring and burrs on the lips of the CCI primer cups that were not present on the other brands you mentioned. But again, that was some time ago. I'd always assumed the cups were just harder, but apparently that is not so. Some I measured one time seemed to be about three ten thousandths bigger, too, which wouldn't help, but the cups themselves are of no thicker material. And that was in the 80's. Failure to fire due to being incompletely seated seems to have been the main cause of the impression they were harder (this does not count their #34 and #41 military hardness primers which actually have thicker cups and really are harder).

In any event, if you can run your brass through a swager meant for military crimp removal or a profile cutting reamer, like the Wilson, all primers will go in more easily. It never occurred to me before, but perhaps if you dip the end of a Q-tip in some dry case neck lube, then spin it in the primer pockets, you will see an improvement? Spraying the pockets with a spray-on dry lube (let it dry before priming) is another possibility to help them ease in?

I know CCI built a new production line that was supposed to come up last month (perhaps it did - maybe Rocky knows?), and if Oldspsarge has the story right, maybe it will do better, too? Primers change over time, though it is seldom announced to the public.

Dannyl · August 13, 2009, 10:22 AM

Hi,
I have been using CCI primers (Winchester is my alternative, but only if there is no stock) for the past 13 years.

I have never had problems with them and my Remington 700 groups 1/2" at 100M
with 150 Gr Hornady SST, 2550 FPS, Locally made powder , Federal cases, CCI primers.
I also use the 180Gr Hornady SST, at 2650 FPS, with groups of 3/4".

I cannot find any reason to fault CCI, they work well for me.

I also use them for my hadguns, except for my revolver (0.357)
I only use Federals with it because with their being softer I can have a very soft DA trigger pull. ( I tried others, but if I do not increase the trigger tension I get misfires with DA due to light-strikes)

Brgds,
Danny

garryc · August 13, 2009, 10:30 AM

Well, I have a number of Winchester LR that is rated for standard of magnum, they always worked well even with H110 loads. I'll save those for true magnum loads. For 357 mag loads I always use Blue Dot and standard primers have always worked well.

My consern was the difficult seating. These will be use in my RCBS Pro 2000 and that APS system. Mostly they will be used for 38spl, 9mm, 44 spl and 45acp.

BigJimP · August 13, 2009, 10:48 AM

I'm using CCI primers exclusively in my handgun loads for the last 5 or 6 years since I got back into metallic reloading - on a Dillon 650 - and I've had no issues at all.

I shoot 4 - 6 boxes a week in a variety of calibers ( from 9mm to .44 mag ) - so call it 10,000 rounds a year for the last 5 years or an easy 50,000 rounds and no misfires, no problems.

garryc · August 13, 2009, 10:53 AM

Ok, well, I'll put them in consideration. The order will go to Graffs under my license. I imagine I'll have to wait for back order

**Mike Irwin** · August 13, 2009, 10:59 AM

I quit using CCI primers many years ago for many of the same reasons.

Recently I got a really good deal on some in APS strips, so I bought them. I'm pretty happy with them so far.

BigJimP · August 13, 2009, 11:48 AM

Supply really depends - just last week at one of my local shops, I picked up 2 cases ( 5,000 to a case ) of small pistol primers and 2 cases of large pistol primers. Price on them was up / but they were in stock.

I also picked up 8 lbs of Hodgdon TiteGroup and 6 cases of bullets in a variety of calibers ..... so it just depends.

That buy will get me thru the next 6 - 8 months ....

August 13, 2009, 08:18 AM	#1
garryc Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2005 Posts: 2,536	CCI primers Years ago when I started reloading I used CCI primers. I didn't care for them on consistancy and fit. Since then I've used Federal or Winchester primers and have been happy with them. Now it looks like I can get CCI primers faster, I only need standard small pistol and large pistol, My question is, have CCI primers improved over the last 25 years?

August 13, 2009, 10:22 AM	#5
Dannyl Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Cape Town - South Africa Posts: 627	0.5" groups using CCI primers Hi, I have been using CCI primers (Winchester is my alternative, but only if there is no stock) for the past 13 years. I have never had problems with them and my Remington 700 groups 1/2" at 100M with 150 Gr Hornady SST, 2550 FPS, Locally made powder , Federal cases, CCI primers. I also use the 180Gr Hornady SST, at 2650 FPS, with groups of 3/4". I cannot find any reason to fault CCI, they work well for me. I also use them for my hadguns, except for my revolver (0.357) I only use Federals with it because with their being softer I can have a very soft DA trigger pull. ( I tried others, but if I do not increase the trigger tension I get misfires with DA due to light-strikes) Brgds, Danny

August 13, 2009, 10:59 AM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I quit using CCI primers many years ago for many of the same reasons. Recently I got a really good deal on some in APS strips, so I bought them. I'm pretty happy with them so far. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 13, 2009, 08:53 AM	#2
oldcspsarge Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2008 Location: Rocky Mountains Posts: 441	Yes.........CCI completely revamped their primers a couple of years back.....they work great in my Dillon with an assortment of brass manufacturers. Primers....if you see some...buy some !

August 13, 2009, 08:58 AM	#3
margiesex Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2009 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 210	CCI all the way..... CCI's are just great! I try not to use anything else, but as the man said "If you see anykind on the shelf - buy 'em!" They are in short supply pretty much everywhere. Back in the day when I started in this hobby I used RWS exclusively - but they are no more, so I think CCI's are next best. Especially the BR2's. God bless and keep shooting! Margiesex And remember: Hug your God and your guns - 'cause he's coming for them both, and soon!

August 13, 2009, 08:58 AM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I recently had this discussion in another thread on this forum. The CCI's have always been harder to seat for me (though I haven't tried any recently, so I hope Oldspsarge is right), and another fellow said he'd looked under magnification and found mouth flaring and burrs on the lips of the CCI primer cups that were not present on the other brands you mentioned. But again, that was some time ago. I'd always assumed the cups were just harder, but apparently that is not so. Some I measured one time seemed to be about three ten thousandths bigger, too, which wouldn't help, but the cups themselves are of no thicker material. And that was in the 80's. Failure to fire due to being incompletely seated seems to have been the main cause of the impression they were harder (this does not count their #34 and #41 military hardness primers which actually have thicker cups and really are harder). In any event, if you can run your brass through a swager meant for military crimp removal or a profile cutting reamer, like the Wilson, all primers will go in more easily. It never occurred to me before, but perhaps if you dip the end of a Q-tip in some dry case neck lube, then spin it in the primer pockets, you will see an improvement? Spraying the pockets with a spray-on dry lube (let it dry before priming) is another possibility to help them ease in? I know CCI built a new production line that was supposed to come up last month (perhaps it did - maybe Rocky knows?), and if Oldspsarge has the story right, maybe it will do better, too? Primers change over time, though it is seldom announced to the public. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle Last edited by Unclenick; August 13, 2009 at 09:04 AM.

August 13, 2009, 10:30 AM	#6
garryc Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2005 Posts: 2,536	Well, I have a number of Winchester LR that is rated for standard of magnum, they always worked well even with H110 loads. I'll save those for true magnum loads. For 357 mag loads I always use Blue Dot and standard primers have always worked well. My consern was the difficult seating. These will be use in my RCBS Pro 2000 and that APS system. Mostly they will be used for 38spl, 9mm, 44 spl and 45acp.

August 13, 2009, 10:48 AM	#7
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I'm using CCI primers exclusively in my handgun loads for the last 5 or 6 years since I got back into metallic reloading - on a Dillon 650 - and I've had no issues at all. I shoot 4 - 6 boxes a week in a variety of calibers ( from 9mm to .44 mag ) - so call it 10,000 rounds a year for the last 5 years or an easy 50,000 rounds and no misfires, no problems.

August 13, 2009, 10:53 AM	#8
garryc Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2005 Posts: 2,536	Ok, well, I'll put them in consideration. The order will go to Graffs under my license. I imagine I'll have to wait for back order

August 13, 2009, 11:48 AM	#10
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Supply really depends - just last week at one of my local shops, I picked up 2 cases ( 5,000 to a case ) of small pistol primers and 2 cases of large pistol primers. Price on them was up / but they were in stock. I also picked up 8 lbs of Hodgdon TiteGroup and 6 cases of bullets in a variety of calibers ..... so it just depends. That buy will get me thru the next 6 - 8 months ....