Substitute primers

Dennis6474 · March 11, 2012, 09:43 AM

I found my primer inventory is out of balance:>) I have way more large rifle primers than large pistol primers. But when I run out of one I would like to be able to use another.

Which primers can be substituted for which? Would I have to work up a new load or stay with the original one? I don't substitute magnum for standard but are there other substitutions that can be made?

kraigwy · March 11, 2012, 09:56 AM

NORMALLY, Rifle primers have a harder cup then pistol primers. So you may get pierced primers when using pistol primers in a rifle, and failure to fires using rifle primers in a pistol.

Also I think there is a difference in the mixture, more for the rifle needed to get the larger powder supply to burn properly.

That's the reason they make different primers.

Sure you may get them to work, but chance are they wont work properly.

Even the same type primers aren't the same. Meaning all Small Rifle for an example aren't the same.

An example: When I first got my 204 Ruger I started loading using the "accuracy" load listed in the Sierra manual. Did everything by the book. The accuracy sucked and velocity wasn't near what it was suppose to be.

I switch from Federal Match primers to CCI Standard primers and got the velocity where it was suppose to be, and accuracy improved greatly.

On the other hand Federal Match primers work much better the CCI in my 223 High Power match loads.

With pistol primers, I don't use rifle primers at all, but I can't shoot good enough with a pistol to tell the difference between one brand of pistol primers over another.

beex215 · March 11, 2012, 10:01 AM

large rifle primers are taller so, using them for pistol will stick out some. they wont go off every time. ive tried.

243winxb · March 11, 2012, 10:06 AM

No substitutions

m&p45acp10+1 · March 11, 2012, 10:22 AM

I have just taken the word of experinced reloaders that large rifle will not work in large pistol.

Though I have used tens of thousands of small rifle primers in small pistol loads. In fact I do not buy small pistol primers anylonger. They work just the same. With my shooting I can not tell a differance in groups. I do not own a chrono so I could not tell you the velocity differance. (Note none of my pistol loads are anywhere near max. Most are middle of the road. Some are low end of middle of the road. All go bang every time.)

Dennis6474 · March 11, 2012, 12:57 PM

Thanks for the info. I guess that I will just have to shoot more rifle for a while. I figured that there would be problems, that is why they make different primers.

March 11, 2012, 09:43 AM	#1
Dennis6474 Member Join Date: October 6, 2011 Location: Florida Panhandle Posts: 84	Substitute primers I found my primer inventory is out of balance:>) I have way more large rifle primers than large pistol primers. But when I run out of one I would like to be able to use another. Which primers can be substituted for which? Would I have to work up a new load or stay with the original one? I don't substitute magnum for standard but are there other substitutions that can be made?

March 11, 2012, 09:56 AM	#2
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	NORMALLY, Rifle primers have a harder cup then pistol primers. So you may get pierced primers when using pistol primers in a rifle, and failure to fires using rifle primers in a pistol. Also I think there is a difference in the mixture, more for the rifle needed to get the larger powder supply to burn properly. That's the reason they make different primers. Sure you may get them to work, but chance are they wont work properly. Even the same type primers aren't the same. Meaning all Small Rifle for an example aren't the same. An example: When I first got my 204 Ruger I started loading using the "accuracy" load listed in the Sierra manual. Did everything by the book. The accuracy sucked and velocity wasn't near what it was suppose to be. I switch from Federal Match primers to CCI Standard primers and got the velocity where it was suppose to be, and accuracy improved greatly. On the other hand Federal Match primers work much better the CCI in my 223 High Power match loads. With pistol primers, I don't use rifle primers at all, but I can't shoot good enough with a pistol to tell the difference between one brand of pistol primers over another. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

March 11, 2012, 10:01 AM	#3
beex215 Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2010 Posts: 317	large rifle primers are taller so, using them for pistol will stick out some. they wont go off every time. ive tried. __________________ my youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/beehasagun1?feature=mhee

March 11, 2012, 10:22 AM	#5
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I have just taken the word of experinced reloaders that large rifle will not work in large pistol. Though I have used tens of thousands of small rifle primers in small pistol loads. In fact I do not buy small pistol primers anylonger. They work just the same. With my shooting I can not tell a differance in groups. I do not own a chrono so I could not tell you the velocity differance. (Note none of my pistol loads are anywhere near max. Most are middle of the road. Some are low end of middle of the road. All go bang every time.) __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

March 11, 2012, 10:06 AM	#4
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	No substitutions

March 11, 2012, 12:57 PM	#6
Dennis6474 Member Join Date: October 6, 2011 Location: Florida Panhandle Posts: 84	Thanks for the info. I guess that I will just have to shoot more rifle for a while. I figured that there would be problems, that is why they make different primers.