small pistol primers vs. small rifle primers

[nedsum49]

When reloading 256 Win Mag with Unique Powder for a Marlin Rifle, will small pistol primers work as well as small rifle primers ? I am reloading 38 Special and use small pistol primers for that. Being new to reloading, I am trying to keep it as simple as possible. RPM

[PA-Joe]

No, the firing pin may punch a hole in the pistol primer.

[mehavey]

Do not use pistol primers for rifle work. For one, they are not rated to rifle pressures (60-70,000psi+). Second, pistol primer heights are different from rifle primers (EX: 0.120" vs 0.126" for large pistol; 0.120" small pistol vs 0.114" for small rifle -- weird, huh?) (I just measured some. `Surprised me.)

#2 above is just a problem w/ reliability
#1 is a problem w/ safety

[nedsum49]

Thanks for the replies.

[reloader28]

You can use them in rifles up to about 35-40000 pressure.
Past there, you really have to pay attention cause you will start piercing primers.

Pistol primers are made for lower pressures than rifles.
You have to know what your doing and pay attention.

[zplinker]

Some incorrect information being put out. Those two are the same height. Large pistol and large rifle are ~.010" different.

I have loaded thousands of .357 Mag. loads with 6 1/2 Remington primers...a small 'rifle' primer, with nearly identical balistics when compared to most small pistol magnum primers.

Where you might run into a problem with the small rifle primer, in pistol loads, is with 'tuned' revolvers, which have a lighter hammer strike. PPC shooters will almost exclusively use Federal small pistol primers for their tuned revolvers, as it is the 'softest' primer available.

[GP100man]

In my exp with small primers I`ve extensively researched & disassembled many & CCI 550 & 400 small primers use the same cup but not the same charge , the 400 is much more brillant !!

This is the only instance where I found common parts or similarities.

Take it for what it is , I`m just a curious Redneck

[Loader9]

Yes, you can use pistol primers with no issues. The 256 is not a high pressure round with SAAMI max at 43,000CUPs which is 357 mag territory. The original 357 mag data had pressures at 47,500CUP but then the lawyers got on board.....But the primers will operate at that level- no problem if you do your part right.

[mehavey]

Yes, you can use pistol primers with no issues.

Which is, of course directly contradicted w/ my actual pistol primer experience in the S&W 500 Mag.
I counsel you not to use pistol primers at rifle pressures

As noted in previous post:

You can use them in rifles up to about 35-40000 pressure. Past there, you really have to pay attention cause you will [emph added] start piercing primers.

+1 (Ibid) when I crossed the 43ksi threshhold

[Shootest]

I am trying to keep it as simple as possible.

I think using rifle primers for rifles and pistol primers for pistols IS as simple as it gets. Easier than worrying about proper pressures when you have no way of checking them for yourself.