Which primers?

[Stschil]

I am very new to reloading and am in the process of trying to purchase supplies and equipment to get me on the way.

I want to reload .380, .40, .45, and .223 so, my question is what primers do I need to get?

I have read and read about large/small pistol and rifle primers, but am still very confused.

Your input is appreciated in advance. Thank you

 

[Cowboy1629]

Your first item should be a good reloading manual which will tell you what primers, powders, and bullets you can use for each round. As far as size the .380 and .40 take a small pistol primer. The .45 ACP takes a large pistol primer. The .223 takes a small rifle primer.

There are also some online manuals that will tell you the components for each round but not as good as a quality load manual.

 

[jonny4523]

Your first item should be a good reloading manual which will tell you what primers, powders, and bullets you can use for each round. As far as size the .380 and .40 take a small pistol primer. The .45 ACP takes a large pistol primer. The .223 takes a small rifle primer.

There are also some online manuals that will tell you the components for each round but not as good as a quality load manual.

Good info.

What equipment are you looking at?

 

[Aszerigan]

As far as size the .380 and .40 take a small pistol primer. The .45 ACP takes a large pistol primer. The .223 takes a small rifle primer.
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This.

 

[melensdad]

Your first item should be a good reloading manual which will tell you what primers, powders, and bullets you can use for each round. As far as size the .380 and .40 take a small pistol primer. The .45 ACP takes a large pistol primer. The .223 takes a small rifle primer.

There are also some online manuals that will tell you the components for each round but not as good as a quality load manual.

Yup these are your answers above.

Bear in mind that you can get "magnum" primers and "bench rest" primers in addition to regular primers. For basic reloading you will want to avoid the magnum and bench rest primers, just get the regular primers. You may also find some "military" primers, these require harder firing pin strikes and are not very common, but again, typically you can avoid anything other than standard primers.

Get some loading manuals.

Bullet companies sell loading manuals.
Powder companies sell loading manuals.

Take your pick but you may want to buy a couple different manuals. Also be careful that you don't substitute data. For example a 230 grain copper jacked bullet from manufacturer X may be safe with one load but the same load my not necessarily be safe with a 230 grain lead bullet, or visa versa. Its really not hard, but you need to FOLLOW THE LOAD RECIPE no differently than you would follow a cooking recipe to make a cake.

You may also want to buy LOAD BOOKS that are cartridge specific.

45acp => Loadbooks USA "45 ACP" Reloading Manual - MidwayUSA
223 => Loadbooks USA "223 Remington" Reloading Manual - MidwayUSA
40 short & weak => Loadbooks USA "40 S&W and 10mm Auto" Reloading Manual - MidwayUSA
380acp => Loadbooks USA "380 ACP" Reloading Manual - MidwayUSA

The loadbooks are a compilation of load data from several different manufacturers, powder makers, brass suppliers, etc and put it all in 1 book per caliber. I really like these.

 

[billybob44]

^^^+1 On the Load books. They seem to me to give the best cross-reference to all loads.

 

[boyscout]

Does anyone do .458 SOCOM? I know it's a pistol load and uses large pistol primers. Heard that Bullseye powder does a good job. Feedback?

 

[Stschil]

Your first item should be a good reloading manual which will tell you what primers, powders, and bullets you can use for each round. As far as size the .380 and .40 take a small pistol primer. The .45 ACP takes a large pistol primer. The .223 takes a small rifle primer.

There are also some online manuals that will tell you the components for each round but not as good as a quality load manual.

Good info.

What equipment are you looking at?

I bought and read through the 'ABC's of Reloading' book before I even considered purchasing any equipment. Then I decided that the Hornaday LnL single stage kit was a good set up for me to start with since it came with quite a few of the needed pieces of equipment suggested in the ABC's book. I also bought the four sets of dies that I needed as well.

This.

DHolder has recommended that I take one of your classes as soon as I can. Unfortunately, my schedule won't let me make it to any of your November dates, so I'm anxiously waiting for a December schedule

 

[Stschil]

BTW: Thanks for the feedback, folks. I'm 'on the road' at the moment, and using some of my spare time to get a Midway order together. So I needed the info fairly quickly to avoid paying shipping costs on multiple orders.

 

[rockhopper46038]

Aszerigan will definitely get you squared away.