Fiocchi primers, anybody used them?

[knucklehead0202]

So i got my Graf's mailer today and they now list Fiocchi primers. Denominations are a little weird but prices seem commensurate with other major brands, perhaps a tad less if you buy the larger amount. You either get 1,500 or 12,000, which seemed quite a jump. Anyhow, just wondering if anybody has used them and if they worked well. I know Fiocchi has been around forever and makes quality ammo, but i've been fooled by that sort of thing before.

Bought 5,000 S&B primers a few years ago when i couldn't find anything else, and the price was better too i think. Anyhow, loaded 25rds of .338 Lapua Mag. 5 did not go bang after multiple strikes. After pulling them down, i found the primers in those rounds had no priming material in them, just a cup and anvil. Have pulled random flats from all the boxes and thus far haven't seen any that look empty, but still scared to use them again. Hate to invest in a ton of another brand i've never used and have a similar experience.

[koehn,jim]

I have used their shotgun primers for years and never had a problem, they are a couple of thousands bigger than standard though. I don't know about the rifle and pistol.

[the86d]

I prefer CCI to everything, but also got 7k mixed S&B SPP and SRP on sale a few years ago.

The Dillon XL 650 seems to have more issues with non-nickel plated primers (Winchester/Remington). Nickel-plated cups are slicker than brass cups, aiding in feeding and seating...

I have loaded over 1000 rd of S&B primers in .223, .38 SPL, .357 Magnum, and 9mm with no real ill effect, but did notice I had like ~3-5 duds per 1000. This doesn't seem far off from another make. I do think I have fewer duds with CCI than any other brand, but this just be my recollection being faulty.

[knucklehead0202]

3-5 duds in a thousand is something i could accept. The fact that i had 5 in 25 really upset me. Like i said though, looking at a bunch of the others, i couldn't see any that were obviously no good.

I've used Win primers for years with never a single dud. Never used CCI myself but my dad swore off them after receiving duds consistently. Like everything, i suppose your experience may vary.

[sargenv]

I've used about 2 cases of Fiocchi primers and find that they load just like Winchesters. All of the data that I've recorded suggest they are one of the softest primers in regards to ignition capability (Not soft as in they work with guns with lightened trigger springs like the Federal #100's). Almost all of the data has them at the bottom of velocity when tested against domestic and other foreign primers.

I do know a local USPSA Master class competitor who uses Fiocchi's exclusively with Accurate #5 and jacketed bullets and he's getting a std deviation in the single digits. They are inexpensive compared with most primers save Wolf/Tula/Unis Ginex/S&B which are in various forms of unavailability.

I had 0 failures to fire for any primer. I tested more that these here. For the 9mm I tested 13 primers, for the 40 S&W, I tested 19 separate primers.

In 40 S&W with 5.0 gr of 231, Winchester brass and Jacketed 180 FP's loaded to SAAMI Max OAL of 1.135" this was my data compared to Winchester, Federal #100's, and CCI #500's. Average of 6 rds each.

All were batch loaded on a Dillon 650 by me. The 650 I loaded on was manufactured in 1998 and has cycled easily 250,000 rounds in 10 calibers.

Para P16-40
Fiocchi - Avg Vel - 853
Winchester Avg Vel - 896
Federal #100 Avg Vel - 908
CCI 500 Avg Vel - 907

Rock Island P16-40 Clone
Fiocchi - Avg Vel - 923
Winchester Avg Vel - 941
Federal #100 Avg Vel - 930
CCI 500 Avg Vel - 949

Sig 229
Fiocchi - Avg Vel - 835
Winchester Avg Vel - 881
Federal #100 Avg Vel - 880
CCI 500 Avg Vel - 863

Glock 35
Fiocchi - Avg Vel - 914
Winchester Avg Vel - 935
Federal #100 Avg Vel - 943
CCI 500 Avg Vel - 939

In 9mm I tested using 3 guns. A 929, Para 9mm LDA and a Ruger P94. Load data was Starline brass, 4.0 gr of Titegroup, and Blue Bullets which weighed out an average of 118 gr. This was an earlier test and I didn't use the CCI #500's. Avg of 8 rds.

LDA 9
Fiocchi - Avg Vel - 1109
Winchester Avg Vel - 1119
Federal #100 Avg Vel - 1131

Ruger P94
Fiocchi - Avg Vel - 1066
Winchester Avg Vel - 1072
Federal #100 Avg Vel - 1070

Stock S&W 929
Fiocchi - Avg Vel - 1099
Winchester Avg Vel - 1122
Federal #100 Avg Vel - 1132

[tonyjr]

the86d
Like you I prefer CCI
They seem to be harder / thicker / whatever .
I prefer them mainly because I never had a problem
finding them except last dry-up . Then I / we bought
a bunch of br's . I have told nephews and nieces to
only buy in bricks and none of us has had a problem .

[knucklehead0202]

Hrmmm. I'm just looking at 12,000 primers for under 300 bucks as a pretty good deal. I won't go so far as to call it a lifetime supply, but probably not far off given what stock i already have. Only downside is they don't have LRM, which is what i use a lot of. Oh well, i'm not out of anything currently so not really an issue, more a curiosity. Thanks for the input gents.