Federal Small Pistol Primers

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dahermit

New member
Federal Small Pistol Primers are virtually unobtainable, which begs the question: Why? There is no problem finding Federal Large Pistol primers, Large Rifle primers, Large Rifle Match primers. Also, CCI and Winchester Small Pistol Primers are seemingly apparent on the shelves of retailers in abundance.

I know that revolver shooters like the, easiest to ignite primers in their tuned double-action revolvers, but in this day and age of most people shooting autos rather than tuned double-action revolvers those revolver folks should not logically be the blame for any shortage.

So, what gives...why the apparent shortage?
 
9mm
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If I draw the correct inference from your crypic message, you are suggesting that the reason that Federal Small Pistol primers are scarce is because there are so many people using them for 9MM shooting. However, that makes no sense to me inasmuch as autos do not need the sensitivity of the Federals and can in fact use any brand of primer including CCI and Winchester. I shoot a 9MM Browning H.P., .38 Super Colt Combat Commander and do not use Federals (I use Winchester and sometimes CCI), in either. If I have not not understand what you implied, please explain.
 
Federal is using SPP for 45ACP now. Maybe that is part of it?

SPP are all pretty scarce around here I’ve noticed, large pistol are in stock.

If I was to have a revolver tuned it would not include the ability to only reliably ignite Federal primers.
 
On one hand, I have also noticed that Federal SP primers have seemed to be scarce compared to all other Federal offerings and CCI and Winchester also.

Then again, I bought a thousand just two days ago... likely because I saw them in stock. (and they had PLENTY) Typically, I only buy primers when I find a sale... not this time, they were $35+tax.

In my opinion, I see many more sales on CCI and S&B primers than I ever see on Federal.

And when it comes to primer sizes... it should be painfully obvious that small pistol totally rules the roost. .380, 9mm, .38/.357, 40cal and now more than ever... .45 Auto. No point in listing the insignificant chamberings, they have little statistical value.

Now then, what eats up large pistol primers?
You've basically got .45 (which is getting small by the day with the proliferation of SP brass), you have .44 Mag... maybe a shout out to 10mm and .41 Mag. And those would be statistically insignificant.

There is just no big mystery here why the SP primer is the most popular for handloaders and why it's far more often sold out.

Nothing "cryptic", this is pretty simple. As more and more .45 brass moves to small primer, it's going to be even more so.
 
And when it comes to primer sizes... it should be painfully obvious that small pistol totally rules the roost. .380, 9mm, .38/.357, 40cal and now more than ever... .45 Auto. No point in listing the insignificant chamberings, they have little statistical value.
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However, there is no reason that shooters of .380, 9MM, and .40 cal. would need to use Federal primers, and as far as I know would not likely seek them out inasmuch as Federals are known to be scarce whereas CCI and Winchesters are not. So, the only cartridges that are likely to need Federals are .38/.357 and only those that have been tuned for light double-action shooting...and that would not be a significant number I would imagine. However, I can see how Federal's move to small primers in the .45 could have some effect.
 
I would venture a guess that many/most handloaders... and certainly the newest handloaders (who are far more likely to deplete a retailers shelf full of primers) simply starts their handloading career the same way that I did when it comes to primers...

Back in 1988, I walked in to my LGS and asked for small pistol primers and they handed me CCI-500 and thus... for the next couple of decades, CCI was my brand and no other need apply.

It wasn't because they were cheap, it wasn't because they were "hard", wasn't cause they were "hot"... it was nothing more than because it was what they handed a 16yr old new handloader.
 
I am flush with my preferred CCI SPP. I am happy. As a new reloader, if Federal primers were readily available I'd be flush with Federal SSP. It's what is on the shelf and not a specific brand for me. CI, Winchester or Federal - I have no preference other than what I can buy when I need it. Easy.
 
I use Winchester Small Pistol Primers for all of my small primer users: .380, 9mm, the various .32's, .38 & .357, as well as .40. They work well, give fine accuracy and feed through my machines.

I do have a small (<3000) supply of Federal SPP's for one of my handguns (a Sig) that has an unusually light firing pin fall. While Winchesters work OK in it, the Federals show a deeper, more defined firing pin strike. But if pressed, the Winchesters would do...and, BTW, my repeated testing has shown no difference in group, one make vs. the other.

You'll note that I didn't mention CCI's. Early on, during the first year of my ownership, my two Dillon 550B's did not feed CCI's well at all. After the 3rd or 4th occurrence requiring dismantling the primer feed tubes, I gave up and permanently switched to Winchesters. I've not had a jam up since.

I buy in case lots, 5000 at a time & that drops the price down to the $30 mark per 1000...not cheap but doable. For you vets out there, check with Cabelas for their much appreciated veteran's discount. Your VA med ID card or a copy of your DD214 is sufficient proof of service for our local store.

Rod
 
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I don't know that there's any single explanation. It's likely a lot of factors. It could even be as simple as production volume of Federal spp's isn't as much as other brands.

I know that revolver shooters like the, easiest to ignite primers in their tuned double-action revolvers, but in this day and age of most people shooting autos rather than tuned double-action revolvers those revolver folks should not logically be the blame for any shortage.
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True, semi-auto's are a lot more popular these days. But . . . when you look at the proportion with those who load their own ammo, the balance takes a considerable shift toward revolvers. You show me a guy out at the range shooting a revolver, and I'll show you someone who loads their own - 90+% of the time. Do the same with a guy shooting a semi-auto, and there might be a 70% chance he's loading - if that. This is not to discount or refute your point, however. I still agree with you: folks loading for their race revolvers can not account for the apparent shortage of Fed spp's.

Back in 1988 (1984 for me), I walked in to my LGS and asked for small pistol primers and they handed me CCI-500 and thus... for the next couple of decades, CCI was my brand and no other need apply.

It wasn't because they were cheap, it wasn't because they were "hard", wasn't cause they were "hot"... it was nothing more than because it was what they handed a 16yr old (21yr old for me) new handloader.
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I could have written that ^^. Except for the two corrections in italics. Until the big shortage of '13, I never used any other brand. During the shortage, I bought Federal LP's (No. 150) and Match SP's (No. GM100M). They all worked great. But once the shortage was over, I was back to CCI's. Except I use WSP's for my "semi race" Smith 38 revolver I use in competition - but that's for another post.

And when it comes to primer sizes... it should be painfully obvious that small pistol totally rules the roost. .380, 9mm, .38/.357, 40cal and now more than ever... .45 Auto.
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This likely accounts for some of the shortage - at least, in part. I realize that wouldn't account for the difference in brands - unless Federals are less expensive (which I don't know). I know when demand is high, the less expensive components are the first to disappear. Point is, SP's are in more demand in general, and so it would be easier certain brands to go bare on the shelves.

For what it's worth, here in my area, there is a shortage of primers in general. But I'm in California - I'll just leave it at that. Good thing I'm sitting on about 20K of them ;)
 
Maybe it's that those of us that know that they are to softest and have to wing it to build loads on them and then change up once we have hit the zone. I use them to build my 32 H&R Ruger loads w/ 115 gr bullets. They'll tell me I am hitting a certain pressure well before Win or CCI will.
 
Shooting a revolver with a very light trigger ( 4 1/2 pounds ) it's necessary to have the lightest primers and Federal Small Pistol fits the bill. Seems that everyone shooting a Revolver for USPSA and ICORE matches are using
Federals.

I just gave up shooting center fire and sold my stash of 45K FSP primers to the lucky guy that bought my 929 and my Dillon 650. I guess he'll have a year before he has to hunt down more primers. Glad I'm shooting 22s. They are becoming more available.
 
IMHO... it could very well be that at the moment, Federal is running a batch of a different primer.

IE, they only devote a small portion of the ammo plant to primer production... and do not continuously produce SPP's ... rather use the same equipment to make LPP in Feb. ... LMPP in March... Large Rifle primers in April... you see what I mean.

Given the risky / potentially dangerous operation of making primers I would think a smaller tightly run plant would be far easier to manage safely.
 
IMHO... it could very well be that at the moment, Federal is running a batch of a different primer.
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I really do not think that is the problem...I and many shooters have been complaining about the shortage (just cannot find them anymore), for at least the last year and one-half...unless Federal's cycle of primer making is cycling in years instead of months.

If anyone around South-Central Michigan, Northern Ohio knows a store than has either Federal Small Pistol or Federal Small Magnum Pistol, I would appreciate a private message telling me where.
 
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If you're quick you may still be able to pick up some CCI SPPs from Wideners @ $22/k, plus hazmat & shipping. I understand the sale is because they are getting out of the primer and powder business.
 
If you're quick you may still be able to pick up some CCI SPPs from Wideners @ $22/k, plus hazmat & shipping. I understand the sale is because they are getting out of the primer and powder business.
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You haven't read my posts, have you?

CCI's, Winchesters, etc. primers are not scarce...just the Federal Small Pistol primers.
 
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