Looking for Hard Primer 9x19 Ammo

[revchuck38]

I want something tough to set off to see if a light hammer spring is good to go in my PX4 D. Carry load is HST, so it's probably overkill. Thanks!

[willie]

S&B, IMI, and perhaps Lawman which uses CCI caps.

[pangloss]

The last case or two of 115gr Brown Bear that I bought had some hard primers. That was 12-18 months ago, I think.

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[Rock185]

Revchuck, I've used a whole bunch of different factory 9mm, and have loaded 9mm for years using standard small pistol primers, and for testing purposes, small pistol magnum primers, and small rifle primers. The hardest 9mm primers I've personally come across, are those used in the factory Winchester Q4318 9MM NATO ammo. Primer indents are shallower in my guns when using this ammo, and I got instant misfires in one gun when I tried to go to a slightly lighter mainspring. The Winchester NATO is the one I would use for a test such as you describe......ymmv

[Darth_Uno]

Revchuck, I've used a whole bunch of different factory 9mm, and have loaded 9mm for years using standard small pistol primers, and for testing purposes, small pistol magnum primers, and small rifle primers. The hardest 9mm primers I've personally come across, are those used in the factory Winchester Q4318 9MM NATO ammo. Primer indents are shallower in my guns when using this ammo, and I got instant misfires in one gun when I tried to go to a slightly lighter mainspring. The Winchester NATO is the one I would use for a test such as you describe......ymmv

Same. I bought a case of this and ran across multiple FTFire across 4 Glocks in one range session. Even had the same issue with what looks like light strikes, but I’m running Fiocchi, Remington UMC, and Hornady with zero problems. I don’t think it’s “bad” per se, just something to be aware of, and probably exactly what you’re looking for.

[BN]

I use Wolf for that.

[ST911]

Winchester SP and CCI 500s are a good baseline for me.

[TiroFijo]

S&B are hard...

[revchuck38]

Revchuck, I've used a whole bunch of different factory 9mm, and have loaded 9mm for years using standard small pistol primers, and for testing purposes, small pistol magnum primers, and small rifle primers. The hardest 9mm primers I've personally come across, are those used in the factory Winchester Q4318 9MM NATO ammo. Primer indents are shallower in my guns when using this ammo, and I got instant misfires in one gun when I tried to go to a slightly lighter mainspring. The Winchester NATO is the one I would use for a test such as you describe......ymmv

I've got about a box and a half of this left from the last case I bought. It worked fine in my TDA PX4s with 12 lb. hammer springs. I'm optimistic that it'll work with the 11 lb. one too, I'll probably see tomorrow.

[Rock185]

Good deal. You don't even have to go out and buy ammo for your test;) I'd be interested in your results.

[perlslacker]

Do you reload? Find some Tula primers and reload those.

[revchuck38]

Do you reload? Find some Tula primers and reload those.

I do, but the 550 is set up for .40 S&W and I need to finish those first. I have tried Federal 205s with the other PX4s and they work fine.

[perlslacker]

I do, but the 550 is set up for .40 S&W and I need to finish those first. I have tried Federal 205s with the other PX4s and they work fine.

No I meant those primers are very hard, and if your PX4 ignites them you’re g2g.

[revchuck38]

No I meant those primers are very hard, and if your PX4 ignites them you’re g2g.

I understand that, but I'd have to switch out the dies for 9x19 and find those primers somewhere online (I live in BFL and have a hard time finding SP primers of any kind in a store). It's not a cost/time-effective option.

[revchuck38]

Well, horse pucky. Out of 36 rounds of Winchester NATO-spec hardball, two took two trigger pulls. That makes it a no-go at this station. D spring goes back in it, at least until I can order another 12 lb. spring.

[falar]

Glad I found this thread as I'm currently wanting to "proof" several pistols as well.

I dug out this ranking somewhere else (from lightest to hardest):

Federal
Winchester
S&B
Remington
CCI

However, I find some claims that S&B is even harder than CCI. Currently the overwhelming majority of my ammo is still Winchester and Federal, but that will be changing as I shoot through it as I will be transitioning to Prvi Partizan/Fiocchi/IMI/S&B. Knowing where those primers fall in line with Federal/Winchester/CCI would be nice.

I have some IMI on hand as I use their 158 grain stuff. I have some Winchester NATO stuff on hand as well and this is the first I've seen that it uses a harder than usual primer from Winchester.

Hopefully I can test my guns on my IMI and Winchester NATO and if they're good to go then they'll be good with any quality European ammo. I like the looks of that Prvi NATO load as well as the current stuff that is labeled S&B but is made by RUAG in Germany.

[RevolverRob]

I understand that, but I'd have to switch out the dies for 9x19

Why?

If you have a hand primer, just prime a dozen empty cases.

You'll know if it sets the primer off when you pull the trigger.

May still be faster to buy loaded ammo, of course. Just saying, you don't have to get the dies out.

[revchuck38]

RevolverRob - I've got a hand primer. It's been so long since I've used it that that didn't even occur to me. It's been at least 25 years since I've used it to load handgun ammo and I'm not sure I even have a shell holder for 9x19 anymore. Loading a dozen cases might not have worked, since the gun functioned fine with more than that before it hiccupped.

I've run almost 100 rounds of ammo loaded with Federal 205s (Small Rifle) through one of my other PX4s with a 12 lb. spring and those rounds functioned without issue. I'm going to get another 12 lb. spring and install it and keep on truckin' until I send it to Langdon.