Primer Question

[onegunred]

What is the preferred primer brand for use with a reduced power mainspring in a Ruger Blackhawk ?  For large pistol as well as small pistol.  Thanks, Jerry

[ira scott]

I believe the consensus is that Federal primers are the "softest".  You can almost judge by the packaging!

B.N. Scotty 

[River City John]

The absolutely best primers are any of the ones you can find on the shelves . . .

[Major 2]

The absolutely best primers are any of the ones you can find on the shelves . . .

.... and at a fair price....and not financing a new Mercedes-Maybach for the Price gouger.

[Coffinmaker]

  PLUS ONE for ALL of THE ABOVE.

And to continue, Federal Small Pistol and Large Pistol are the easiest for ignition.  Small and Large Pistol Magnum are interchangeable.  Small Rifle are a Suitable Substitute for Small Pistol.  Large Rifle ARE NOT suitable for substitute.

At this point in time, Any Primers you can find of the Shelf are suitable, except perhaps for some foreign stuff.  Changing to a heavier Main Spring may be necessary for some primers (CCI).  Main Springs are Cheap, Primers are Not.

[Abilene]

...  Changing to a heavier Main Spring may be necessary for some primers (CCI).  Main Springs are Cheap, Primers are Not.

CCI primers are no longer hard like they used to be.  I used CCI small rifle in my tuned CAS guns with no problem.  The dent in the primer was just a tiny bit less than Federals.

Now, I always heard that Winchester primers were "mid-range" in primer hardness.  But a shooter at a match Saturday was having a lot of misfires in pistols and rifle with some ammo from a commercial reloader with Winchester primers, and his pistols were stock new Vaqueros.  So who knows what was going on there. 

[Coffinmaker]

  Well Heck 

I must admit to being a creature of habit.  I have not tried using primers other than Federal for many Lustrum.  No real desire to dispute with success.  Hence, my rather jaded opine of CCI primers.

I will, in this instance, defer to Abilene as I have not even been tempted to "try" CCI following my initial foray which resulted in very poor performance.  At some point, I may well purchase a single package of 100 just for grins and giggles.  Maybe not.  I was up to join the National Procrastinators Anonymous but decided to wait until Spring.  Still looking for my 'round tuit.

[Hair Trigger Jim]

Still looking for my 'round tuit.

Yer sure yer lookin' and not just hopin' it'll turnip?