.223 using small pistol magnum primmers?

wwmkwood · February 25, 2009, 01:12 PM

Has anyone tried this? Besides the start low warnings will the magnum pistol primmers have a hard enough cup?

MaineColt · February 25, 2009, 02:10 PM

mis-read

kraigwy · February 25, 2009, 02:34 PM

Pistol primers have thinner cups, good way to get primer piercing and gas in your face.

Use rifle primers for rifles, pistol primers for pistols.

FrankenMauser · February 25, 2009, 08:33 PM

In an AR, you're likely to have slam-fires.

In an AR, you're likely to have pierced primers.

In anything else, you're likely to have pierced primers.

It's not really worth the effort / risk.

sourdough44 · February 26, 2009, 05:56 AM

Not that I suggest it but here is what I did. I got a bunch(1000) SP mag primers for $10. I shoot more rifle than handgun. While thinking about all the potential problems I loaded up some modest loads for my bolt action 204. My loads were in the lower/mid range for powder charge. I shot about 10 of the loads with not a one problem. I wouldn't make a habit of it & my plan is to use them in a 357.

Sevens · February 26, 2009, 08:05 AM

I don't even know why I need to post another of the same thing... but I will anyhow.

A rifle round that's producing 40-60,000 psi is like a plasma cutting torch, and a good cheek weld on the stock puts your face very near that action.

Don't do something stupid. Primer cups on pistol primers are very well known to be much thinner.

MADISON · February 26, 2009, 10:25 AM

Rifle primers are harder than pistol primers.
I have a "squib" load [About 1850 fps] for .223 and one for 22 Hornet.
So far the only way to get consistant ignition in the squib Hornet is with Small Pistol Primers.

FrankenMauser · February 26, 2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADISON

Rifle primers are harder than pistol primers.
I have a "squib" load [About 1850 fps] for .223 and one for 22 Hornet.
So far the only way to get consistant ignition in the squib Hornet is with Small Pistol Primers.

If you are having light primer strikes in your Hornet; get a new firing pin spring.
1850 fps is a bit slow, but not a squib load for the Hornet.

I am having a hard time seeing how you could justify going from a rifle primer to a pistol primer to increase 'consistency' with ignition. If anything, it should have caused more problems; if you were having ignition issues. (The Hornet rarelly encounters ignition problems, anyway. The small case volume and fast powders used, typically mean poor ignition was caused by contaminated powder, contaminated primers, or a light firing pin strike.)

Rifle (small or large) primers are 'hotter', and designed to ignite larger powder charges than their Pistol primer counterparts. The .22 Hornet has a case capacity lower than that of many large pistol cartridges, and almost all magnum pistol cartridges.

.22 Hornet reloaders typically only go to small pistol primers to squeeze a little more velocity out of a load, where rifle primers were giving pressure signs prior to a calculated attainable velocity. In theory, the cooler burning pistol primer gives better ignition time, and a cooler flame front to avoid pressure spikes seen with instantaneous ignition of the entire powder charge while using small rifle primers.

Because the .22 Hornet runs at lower pressures than it's 'big brothers', small pistol primers can usually be used safely with lighter bullets.

Prince55 · February 27, 2009, 12:24 AM

Shouldn't about 12gr of Lil Gun and a 45gr bullet be ok with a regular small
pistol primer in a CZ 527 Hornet ?

Thanks

zxcvbob · February 27, 2009, 01:07 AM

Should work fine for cast bullet loads in a bolt-action or single-shot. Just keep the pressure below 40000 psi. I wouldn't try it in an automatic (slam fire.) Watch for pierced primers. Don't even think about it for full-tilt .223 loads. (Cast bullets in a .223?)

February 25, 2009, 01:12 PM	#1
wwmkwood Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 110	.223 using small pistol magnum primmers? Has anyone tried this? Besides the start low warnings will the magnum pistol primmers have a hard enough cup?

February 25, 2009, 02:34 PM	#3
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	Pistol primers have thinner cups, good way to get primer piercing and gas in your face. Use rifle primers for rifles, pistol primers for pistols. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

February 26, 2009, 08:05 AM	#6
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I don't even know why I need to post another of the same thing... but I will anyhow. A rifle round that's producing 40-60,000 psi is like a plasma cutting torch, and a good cheek weld on the stock puts your face very near that action. Don't do something stupid. Primer cups on pistol primers are very well known to be much thinner. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 26, 2009, 10:25 AM	#7
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Using pistol primers on rifle reloads Rifle primers are harder than pistol primers. I have a "squib" load [About 1850 fps] for .223 and one for 22 Hornet. So far the only way to get consistant ignition in the squib Hornet is with Small Pistol Primers.

February 27, 2009, 01:07 AM	#10
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Should work fine for cast bullet loads in a bolt-action or single-shot. Just keep the pressure below 40000 psi. I wouldn't try it in an automatic (slam fire.) Watch for pierced primers. Don't even think about it for full-tilt .223 loads. (Cast bullets in a .223?) __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

February 25, 2009, 02:10 PM	#2
MaineColt Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 222	mis-read

February 25, 2009, 08:33 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	In an AR, you're likely to have slam-fires. In an AR, you're likely to have pierced primers. In anything else, you're likely to have pierced primers. It's not really worth the effort / risk.

February 26, 2009, 05:56 AM	#5
sourdough44 Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: WI Posts: 621	Not that I suggest it but here is what I did. I got a bunch(1000) SP mag primers for $10. I shoot more rifle than handgun. While thinking about all the potential problems I loaded up some modest loads for my bolt action 204. My loads were in the lower/mid range for powder charge. I shot about 10 of the loads with not a one problem. I wouldn't make a habit of it & my plan is to use them in a 357.

February 27, 2009, 12:24 AM	#9
Prince55 Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2007 Posts: 472	Shouldn't about 12gr of Lil Gun and a 45gr bullet be ok with a regular small pistol primer in a CZ 527 Hornet ? Thanks