Giant flash holes in .45 ACP brass...

[Maximumbob54]

If it is a known issue that Speer uses a little bit larger than average flash hole in their cartridges then the size I mean is that same increase over again than even the Speer. I have read about opening the flash hole for powderless rubber bullet or wax bullet loading but that seems like a strange thing in .45 ACP brass. Unless there is someone out there going to all the effort to do this and then not pick it up. I’m finding them when picking up range brass and so far they are all Winchester. Is this a known issue the same as the NT small primer issue? Wouldn’t this be a safety issue with primers igniting too much powder? What is the deal on this one?

EDIT: This isn't the Winchester NT brass with small primer pockets that I am talking about. This looks just like any other regular Winchester brass you find but with about 1/8th inch flash holes.

[bmcgilvray]

I learned something as I wasn't aware that Speer flash holes were larger. I always figured that there was some small lack of uniformity in flash hole diameters from brand to brand but never worried about it for moderate hand loads for range use.

Different primers have different ignition characteristics which of course influence pressures. It certainly is another good reason to work up a load carefully if using different cases if one is loading near max and using different cases from a previous effort with the same load.

Perhaps Winchester has adjusted the size of the flash hole to work well with the formulation of the priming compound they have designed.

I'm curious about this so I'll make a note to compare flash holes next time I de-prime a batch of mixed .45 ACP brass.

[Maximumbob54]

According to a buddy of mine, the flash hole in the Speer brass is bigger for their "Short Barrel" ammo to ignite more of the powder more evenly instead of using a magnum styled primer. When we discussed this latest issue he assures me that the original Winchester Non Toxic loads used this XL sized flash hole due to the difference in the non-lead primer. And then he swears they are safe to use for reloading and that due to the low PSI in .45 ACP unless you are hot rodding you can use them just fine. ME... I will continue to set them aside and maybe test that theory out someday when I run out of regular brass.

[ColtSnakes]

I don't know about XL primer holes, but I can tell you that small pistol primer's in .45 ACP brass are a pain in the neck. Speer is at least on manufacturer that makes the stuff. It really jams up the reloading process when you grab up one of those and feed it in to the press.