Reloading Primers

Primers are a key ammunition reloading component. They are needed to ignite the powder charge. There a seven primer sizes which differ by use (pistol vs. rifle ammunition), size (small vs. large) and force (normal vs. magnum): SP = Small Pistol Primers | SPM = Small Pistol Magnum Primers | LP = Large Pistol Primers | LPM = Large Pistol Magnum Primers | SR = Small Rifle Primers | LR = Large Rifle Primers | LRM = Large Rifle Magnum Primers.

Filter
CCI BR 2 Large Rifle (LR) Primers
CCI BR-2 Large Rifle (LR) Primers

Manufacturer number: BR-2

CCI BR 4 Small Rifle (SR) Primers
CCI BR-4 Small Rifle (SR) Primers

Manufacturer number: BR-4

CCI No. 200 Large Rifle (LR) Primers
CCI No. 200 Large Rifle (LR) Primers

Manufacturer number: No. 200

CCI No. 300 Large Pistol (LP) Primers
CCI No. 300 Large Pistol (LP) Primers

Manufacturer number: No. 300

CCI No. 34 Large Rifle (LR) Primers
CCI No. 34 Large Rifle (LR) Primers

Manufacturer number: No. 34

CCI No. 400 Primers
CCI No. 400 Small Rifle (SR) Primers

Manufacturer number: No. 400

CCI No 41 Small Rifle (SR) Primers
CCI No. 41 Small Rifle (SR) Primers

Manufacturer number: No. 41

CCI No. 450 Small Rifle (SR) Primers
CCI No. 450 Small Rifle (SR) Primers

Manufacturer number: No. 450

CCI No. 500 Small Pistol (SP) Primers
CCI No. 500 Small Pistol (SP) Primers

Manufacturer number: No. 500

Federal GM100M Small Pistol (SP) Primers
Federal GM100M Small Pistol (SP) Primers

Manufacturer number: GM100M

Federal GM150M Large Pistol (LP) Primers
Federal GM150M Large Pistol (LP) Primers

Manufacturer number: GM150M

Federal GM205M Gold Medal Small Rifle Match Primers
Federal GM205M Small Rifle (SR) Primers

Manufacturer number: GM205M

Federal GM210M GoldMedal Large Rifle Match Primers
Federal GM210M Large Rifle (LR) Primers

Manufacturer number: GM210M

Federal No. 100 Small Pistol (SP) Primers
Federal No. 100 Small Pistol (SP) Primers

Manufacturer number: No. 100

Federal No. 150 Large Pistol (LP) Primers
Federal No. 150 Large Pistol (LP) Primers

Manufacturer number: No. 150

Federal small rifle Primers
Federal No. 205 Small Rifle (SR) Primers

Manufacturer number: No. 205

Primer Size Table


CartridgeBullet DiameterPrimer Size
17 Hornet172SR
17 Javelina172SR
17 Mach 4172SR
17 Remington172SR
20 Tactical204SR
204 Ruger204SR
22 Cooper Centerfire Mag (CCM)221SP
22 Remington Jet223SP
218 Bee224SR
219 Donaldson Wasp224LR
219 Zipper224LR
22 BR (Bench Rest)224LR
22 CHeetah224LR
22 Hornet224SR
22 PPC224SR
220 Jaybird224LR
220 Russian224SR
220 Swift224LR
220 Weatherby Rocket224LR
220 Wilson Arrow224LR
221 Fireball224SR
222 Remington224SR
222 Remington Magnum224SR
22-250 Remington224LR
223 Remington224SR
223 Win Short Mag224LR
223 Win Super Short Mag (WSSM)224LR
224 Clark224LR
224 Weatherby Magnum224LR
225 Winchester224LR
240 Gibbs243LR
240 Page Souper Pooper243LR
240 Weatherby Magnum243LR
243 Catbird243LR
243 Win Short Mag243LR
243 Win Super Short Mag (WSSM)243LR
243 Winchester243LR
25 ACP251SP
25 Gibbs257LR
25 Remington257LR
25 Souper (25-308 Winchester)257LR
25 TCU257SR
25 Win Super Short Mag (WSSM)257LR
250 Savage257LR
25-06 Remington257LR
25-20 Single Shot257SR
25-20 WCF257LR
25-222 Remington Magnum257SR
25-284 Winchester257LR
25-300 Remington Ultra Magnum257LRM
25-300 Win Short Mag (WSM)257LR
25-35 WCF257LR
25-36 Marlin257LR
256 Winchester Magnum257SP
257 Roberts257LR
257 STW257LR
257 Weatherby Magnum257LRM
260 Remington264LR
264 Winchester Magnum264LRM
270 Gibbs277LR
270 Weatherby Magnum277LRM
270 Win Short Mag (WSM)277LRM
270 Winchester277LR
270-284 Winchester277LR
270-308 Winchester277LR
276 Pedersen284LR
280 Remington and 7mm Express284LR
284 Winchester284LR
28-30 Stevens285SR
30 BR (Bench Rest)308SR
30 Carbine308SR
30 Gibbs308LR
30 Herrett308LR
30 Luger308SP
30 Mauser308SP
30 Remington308LR
300 Dakota308LRM
300 H&H Magnum308LRM
300 Jarrett308LRM
300 Lapua Magnum308LRM
300 Pegasus308LRM
300 Rem Short Action Ultra Mag308LRM
300 Remington Ultra Magnum308LRM
300 Savage308LR
300 Weatherby Magnum308LRM
300 Win Short Mag (WSM)308LRM
300 Winchester Magnum308LRM
30-06 Springfield308LR
30-223 Remington308SR
30-284 Winchester308LR
303 Savage308LR
30-30 Winchester308LR
30-338 Lapua Magnum308LRM
30-338 Winchester Magnum308LRM
30-378 Weatherby Magnum308LRM
30-40 Krag308LR
307 Winchester308LR
308 Baer308LRM
308 Norma Magnum308LRM
308 Winchester308LR
30-8mm Remington Magnum308LRM
308x1.5”308LR
308x1.75”308LR
32 ACP309SP
303 British312LR
32 H&R Magnum312SP
32 S&W Long312SP
32 S&W Short312SP
32-20 WCF312SR
32 Short Colt313SP
310 Cadet316SR
32 Remington320LR
32-40 WCF320LR
32 Winchester Special321LR
325 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM)323LRM
33 WCF338LR
330 Dakota338LRM
338 Lapua Magnum338LRM
338 Marlin Express338LR
338 Remington Ultra Magnum338LRM
338 Winchester Magnum338LRM
338-06 A-Square338LR
338-284 Winchester338LR
338-300 Win Short Mag (WSM)338LRM
338-300 Winchester Magnum338LRM
338-378 Weatherby Magnum338LRM
338-8mm Remington Magnum338LRM
340 Weatherby Magnum338LRM
348 Winchester348LR
351 Winchester Self-Loading351SR
38 Super355SP
380 ACP355SP
357 Sig356SP
356 Winchester357LR
357 Automag357LP
357 Herrett357LR
357 Magnum357SPM
357 Maximum357SPM
38 Long Colt357SP
38 Special357SP
38-45 ACP357LP
35 Remington358LR
35 Whelen358LR
35 Winchester358LR
350 Remington Magnum358LRM
35-284 Winchester358LR
358 Norma Magnum358LRM
358 Winchester358LR
35-8mm Remington Magnum358LRM
38 S&W359SP
375 Dakota375LRM
375 H&H Flanged Magnum375LRM
375 H&H Magnum375LRM
375 Remington Ultra Magnum375LRM
375 Ruger375LR
375 Weatherby Magnum375LRM
375 Whelen375LR
375 Winchester375LR
375-284 Winchester375LR
375-338 Winchester Magnum375LRM
375-350 Remington Magnum375LRM
376 Steyr375LR
378 Weatherby Magnum375LRM
38-55 WCF376LR
38-72 WCF378LR
41 Long Colt386SP
10mm Auto401LP
38-40 WCF401LP
40 S&W401SP
40 Super401SP
400 Cor-Bon401LP
40-50 Sharps Bottle Neck403LR
40-50 Sharps Straight403LR
40-70 Sharps Bottle Neck403LR
40-70 Sharps Straight403LR
40-90 Sharps Bottle Neck403LR
40-90 Sharps Straight403LR
40-60 WCF404LR
450-400 Nitro Express 3”405LR
401 Winchester Self-Loading406LR
40-65 WCF406LR
40-82 WCF406LR
41 Remington Magnum410LP
405 Winchester411LR
10.3x60mm Rimmed Swiss415LR
416 Dakota416LRM
416 Hoffman416LRM
416 Remington Magnum416LRM
416 Rigby416LRM
416 Taylor416LRM
416 Weatherby Magnum416LRM
416-300 Remington Ultra Magnum416LRM
404 Jeffery422LRM
425 Express423LRM
44-40 WCF427LR
44 Russian429LP
444 Marlin429LR
44 Remington Magnum430LP
44 Special430LP
445 Super Magnum430LP
425 Westley Richards435LR
43 Spanish439LR
11x59mm Rimmed French Gras 43 Mauser445LR
45 ACP451LP
45 Auto Rim451LP
45 GAP451LP
45 Winchester Magnum451LP
45-100 Sharps Straight451LR
45-110 Sharps Straight451LR
45-120 Sharps Straight451LR
45 Colt (Long Colt)452LP
454 Casull452SR
45 S&W Schofield454LP
455 Webley454LP
45-60 WCF454LR
45-75 WCF454LR
45-90 WCF (45-85 WCF)457LR
450 Ackley Magnum458LRM
450 Dakota458LRM
450 Marlin458LR
450 Nitro Express458LR
450 Number 2 Nitro Express 3-1/2”458LR
45-70 Government458LR
458 Lott458LRM
458 Winchester Magnum458LRM
458x2” American458LR
Ammunition primers are a crucial component in modern firearms. They are responsible for igniting the gunpowder in a cartridge, which ultimately propels the bullet down the barrel of a firearm. In this article, we will take a closer look at how ammunition primers work, the components they consist of, and how they are produced.

The basic principle behind an ammunition primer is that it contains a small amount of sensitive explosive material that is designed to ignite when struck by a firing pin or other impact. The primer is located at the base of the cartridge case and is typically a small metal cup that is either crimped or pressed into the case. When the primer is struck, it ignites the gunpowder in the cartridge case, which in turn creates the energy needed to propel the bullet out of the barrel.

There are three primary components that make up an ammunition primer: the primer cup, the primer mix, and the anvil. The primer cup is typically made of brass or a similar metal and is formed into a small cup shape that is designed to hold the primer mix. The primer mix is a sensitive explosive material that is made up of a mixture of chemicals such as lead styphnate, barium nitrate, and antimony sulfide. The anvil is a small metal piece that sits at the base of the primer cup and is designed to help transfer the force of the firing pin to the primer mix.

The primer mix is the most critical component of the ammunition primer. It is made up of several sensitive chemicals that are combined in precise proportions to create a material that will ignite when struck by a firing pin. The most common chemicals used in primer mixtures are lead styphnate, barium nitrate, and antimony sulfide. Lead styphnate is the primary explosive material in most primer mixes and is responsible for creating the initial spark that ignites the rest of the mixture. Barium nitrate is an oxidizer that helps sustain the burn of the primer mix, while antimony sulfide acts as a fuel that helps maintain the reaction.

The production process for ammunition primers is complex and requires specialized equipment and expertise. The first step in the process is to create the primer cups. This is typically done by forming small pieces of brass or other metal into cup shapes using a series of dies and presses. The cups are then cleaned and inspected for defects.

The next step is to create the primer mix. This is typically done in a separate facility using specialized equipment and safety protocols. The chemicals used in the primer mix are carefully measured and combined in precise proportions to create a mixture that will ignite reliably when struck by a firing pin. The mix is then formed into small pellets or granules that can be loaded into the primer cups.

Once the primer cups are created and the primer mix is prepared, the two components are assembled together to create the finished ammunition primer. This is typically done using automated machinery that places the primer mix into the primer cup and then adds the anvil. The assembled primer is then inspected for defects and tested to ensure that it will ignite reliably when struck by a firing pin.