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Federal .45 Manufactured with small pistol primers

Nevada carrier

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Has anyone tested or received the loading data for .45 ACP cartridge cases designed to be primed with SPP's coming from Federal instead of large? Would I need to add a few more grains of powder to achieve the same mussel velocity as a cartridge primed with a large primer? Right now I'm using 230 gn round nose, copper plated bullets, and a powder charge of 5.8 gn or Winchester 231? Will the small primers require more, less or the same powder charge?
 

Gunslinger

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I don't know that primer type has anything to do with muzzle velocity in handguns. Powder speed and volume determine velocity, assuming the primer is capable of lighting it off. But then, I don't handload.
 

Nevada carrier

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Have you tried calling Federal and asking them if they adjusted their powder loads to compensate for the primer difference?​

Yes, for liability reasons they will not offer any advise on reloading their ammunition. A local shop has suggested trying to load them with small pistol magnum primers.
 

Gunslinger

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Those are used for slow burning powder in magnum velocity revolvers. The .45ACP generally uses faster burning powder--intended for 5" barrels. Even +P 230 grain loads only go 900-925fps. You could call CCI and ask them what they think, as they are primer makers for Federal and Speer.
 
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