45 ACP Small Primer Pocket

[dvarmit]

So I have been loading for a little over a year and never knew that some 45 ACP brass had small pockets. I discovered this because one got into my cleaned brass and obviously, when I tried to prime it, no go.

I was going to do a little research online but thought I would ask here first since I have gotten good advice in the past.

So what small primers do folks use for this brass? What is the difference between small and large as far as loads? I'm thinking there shouldn't be much of a difference? Why doesn't all 45 ACP use small pocket?

Learn something new everyday!

 

[tvfinak]

briefly..

briefly..

I ran into this about a year ago. It appears that the brass with small primer pockets were made for lead free loads and the lead free primers only come in the small size since most are used for 9mm & .40 S&W.

There are some differences in loads using the small primer pocket brass. You really need to do some research to find out more- there is way too much info out there to repeat it on this forum.

So I have been loading for a little over a year and never knew that some 45 ACP brass had small pockets. I discovered this because one got into my cleaned brass and obviously, when I tried to prime it, no go.

I was going to do a little research online but thought I would ask here first since I have gotten good advice in the past.

So what small primers do folks use for this brass? What is the difference between small and large as far as loads? I'm thinking there shouldn't be much of a difference? Why doesn't all 45 ACP use small pocket?

Learn something new everyday!

 

[dvarmit]

I ran into this about a year ago. It appears that the brass with small primer pockets were made for lead free loads and the lead free primers only come in the small size since most are used for 9mm & .40 S&W.

There are some differences in loads using the small primer pocket brass. You really need to do some research to find out more- there is way too much info out there to repeat it on this forum.

Thanks for the post.. very interesting info. I guess I was surprised because I had never heard of anyone mentioning small pocket brass and don't think I have even seen it for sale. Regardless, I'll file this one under interesting and leave it at that.. Just thought someone might have some interesting info or experience loading it..

 

[YotaTRD4x4]

I have done a good bit of loading those. Alot of police depts in the lower 48 that run 45s are using these lead free small pistol primer ammo in there guns. Anyway I got a 1000rd lot off a police range and it works just fine. I don't really think there is any difference in a small pistol and large pistol primer or at least not enough to cause problems. I run the same load in both types of brass with standard primers large or small. The loads are not at max for 45 auto as I am running lead home cast boolits so I don't try for speed I try for accuracy and not leading up my barrels. One thing though I do know is when I used to run 38 supers pretty hard for competition we always ran small rifle primers because they have a thicker cup and can withstand higher pressures without blowing out. They are hotter than small pistol primers but I have when in a pinch backed my load 1.5 grains down and used small rifle primers as well. Now I tell you this all in what I have done. I don't recommend this to anyone but I have done it safely for years with no ill effect. YMMV so be careful and start low and work up in your guns if you choose this route.