small shotgun primers in small pistol?

scooter-2 · February 25, 2013, 01:12 PM

i have reloaded for 25 years. ihave heard of using small shotgun primers in place of spp. i am curious if anyone has done this, and any comments about the subject. i would like pro and negative comments if possible. this is just for curiosity reasons. thanks. scooter-2

Shootest · February 25, 2013, 01:58 PM

I never heard of a small shotgun primer. Unless you speak of the old Remington type I think they were # 57 if memory serves, they would never fit into a SPP pocket. If you meant to say a small rifle primer in place of a small pistol primer, it can be done but you might have problems with light hammer falls/fireing pin strikes.

Pongo · February 25, 2013, 02:00 PM

I don't believe there is such a thing as a small shotgun primer.

david_r · February 25, 2013, 02:04 PM

shotgun primers work great ...

as blanks

for shooting wax/plastic bullets

Navy joe · February 25, 2013, 02:09 PM

Small rifle in small pistol, yes, but need full power springs in your lockwork since the cup is thicker.

dmazur · February 25, 2013, 02:10 PM

The only reference I can find, including an old patent, is to use LPP to rebuild 209 primers.

There used to be a CCI #157 primer, smaller than the 209, but it is no longer made. I'm reasonably sure this isn't made to SPP dimensions, even if you could find a stash of them in someone's attic.

I'm not sure what a small shotgun primer is. They're all 209 now, I believe.

scooter-2 · February 25, 2013, 02:13 PM

thanks for reminding me. i should have said small rifle primers instead. i need my afternoon nap. i do not load rifle or shotgun. only pistol. any comments would be appreciated. i hope this clearifies the matter. thanks. scooter-2

oldpapps · February 25, 2013, 02:45 PM

This has been discussed before.
The gist is:
Rifle primers are; harder, hotter and sometimes longer.
Yes, in some cases, during the load building process, rifle primers could be used (if they will seat deep enough in the primer pocket and the weapon has enough fall to ignite them). Just don't switch back and forth indiscriminately. The results could/would be greater than switching between standard strength and magnum strength primers.

If that's all you have or can get, try it but work your loads slowly and with great care. It appears that powder is loosing up a little. I suspect primers will also.

Always error on the side of safety,

OSOK

david_r · February 25, 2013, 03:27 PM

I believe Brian Pfleuger posted recently that CCI SRP are the same primer as CCI small magnum pistol primers.

edit: sorry for the misspell, Brian.

Mobuck · February 26, 2013, 10:03 AM

Your gun
Your face
Your call
I've read articles that related instances of dismantling 30 carbine ammo for the powder and primers to load 357 magnum.
In an absolute emergency survival situation, using small rifle primers for small pistol MIGHT be necessary. For myself, I haven't reached that level of desparation yet.

Rebel · February 26, 2013, 10:32 AM

+1@Mobuck

Brian Pfleuger · February 26, 2013, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david_r

I believe Brian Fleuger posted recently that CCI SRP are the same primer as CCI small magnum pistol primers.

I did indeed. The information actually comes from COSteve, in this thread.

Primers that are all labeled as "small pistol" or "small rifle" are hardly identical anyway. I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that one companies "regular" small pistol primer is as powerful (or more than) some other companies "magnum" primer.

Check this article... look at the picture of the different primer test about 1/2 way down.

BigJimP · February 26, 2013, 11:09 AM

I wouldn't use small rifle primers ..in lieu of small pistol primers.../ no reason too...

If you're trying to do it ...because primers are in short supply right now ...just wait until the right ones show up. There are a lot of small pistol primers available in my area...but price is up around $ 70/1,000 which I refuse to pay...

I'm waiting until the prices come down to something reasonable...after all the hoarders that are causing this run out of money / which may have already happened...because I talked to Brownells yesterday and they hope to have inventory on primers to ship in March...

TimW77 · February 27, 2013, 04:42 PM

There was an article (I think) in Handloader Magazine last year about this.

According to the article there is NOTHING WRONG with using SR primers in handguns. Although SR primers are slightly taller than SP primers they are still close enough.

As with ANY COMPONENT change you have to work up the loads with these primers.

Actually READ your reloading manuals and you just might find that some reloading data actually calls for RIFLE primers in handgun cartridges.

The same is NOT true of rifle primers, they are too tall to be safely used.

T.

February 25, 2013, 01:58 PM	#2
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	I never heard of a small shotgun primer. Unless you speak of the old Remington type I think they were # 57 if memory serves, they would never fit into a SPP pocket. If you meant to say a small rifle primer in place of a small pistol primer, it can be done but you might have problems with light hammer falls/fireing pin strikes. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

February 25, 2013, 02:09 PM	#5
Navy joe Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2001 Location: VA, USA Posts: 1,804	Small rifle in small pistol, yes, but need full power springs in your lockwork since the cup is thicker. __________________ FY47012

February 25, 2013, 02:10 PM	#6
dmazur Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2007 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 1,310	The only reference I can find, including an old patent, is to use LPP to rebuild 209 primers. There used to be a CCI #157 primer, smaller than the 209, but it is no longer made. I'm reasonably sure this isn't made to SPP dimensions, even if you could find a stash of them in someone's attic. I'm not sure what a small shotgun primer is. They're all 209 now, I believe. __________________ .30-06 Springfield: 100 yrs + and still going strong

February 25, 2013, 02:13 PM	#7
scooter-2 Junior Member Join Date: November 29, 2012 Posts: 3	spp. thanks for reminding me. i should have said small rifle primers instead. i need my afternoon nap. i do not load rifle or shotgun. only pistol. any comments would be appreciated. i hope this clearifies the matter. thanks. scooter-2

February 25, 2013, 03:27 PM	#9
david_r Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Posts: 131	I believe Brian Pfleuger posted recently that CCI SRP are the same primer as CCI small magnum pistol primers. edit: sorry for the misspell, Brian. Last edited by david_r; February 26, 2013 at 11:04 AM.

February 25, 2013, 01:12 PM	#1
scooter-2 Junior Member Join Date: November 29, 2012 Posts: 3	small shotgun primers in small pistol? i have reloaded for 25 years. ihave heard of using small shotgun primers in place of spp. i am curious if anyone has done this, and any comments about the subject. i would like pro and negative comments if possible. this is just for curiosity reasons. thanks. scooter-2

February 25, 2013, 02:00 PM	#3
Pongo Member Join Date: October 26, 2009 Posts: 74	I don't believe there is such a thing as a small shotgun primer.

February 25, 2013, 02:04 PM	#4
david_r Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Posts: 131	shotgun primers work great ... as blanks for shooting wax/plastic bullets

February 25, 2013, 02:45 PM	#8
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 518	This has been discussed before. The gist is: Rifle primers are; harder, hotter and sometimes longer. Yes, in some cases, during the load building process, rifle primers could be used (if they will seat deep enough in the primer pocket and the weapon has enough fall to ignite them). Just don't switch back and forth indiscriminately. The results could/would be greater than switching between standard strength and magnum strength primers. If that's all you have or can get, try it but work your loads slowly and with great care. It appears that powder is loosing up a little. I suspect primers will also. Always error on the side of safety, OSOK

February 26, 2013, 10:03 AM	#10
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Your gun Your face Your call I've read articles that related instances of dismantling 30 carbine ammo for the powder and primers to load 357 magnum. In an absolute emergency survival situation, using small rifle primers for small pistol MIGHT be necessary. For myself, I haven't reached that level of desparation yet.

February 26, 2013, 10:32 AM	#11
Rebel Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Location: West Chester, Ohio Posts: 28	+1@Mobuck

February 26, 2013, 11:09 AM	#13
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I wouldn't use small rifle primers ..in lieu of small pistol primers.../ no reason too... If you're trying to do it ...because primers are in short supply right now ...just wait until the right ones show up. There are a lot of small pistol primers available in my area...but price is up around $ 70/1,000 which I refuse to pay... I'm waiting until the prices come down to something reasonable...after all the hoarders that are causing this run out of money / which may have already happened...because I talked to Brownells yesterday and they hope to have inventory on primers to ship in March...

February 27, 2013, 04:42 PM	#14
TimW77 Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2008 Posts: 485	There was an article (I think) in Handloader Magazine last year about this. According to the article there is NOTHING WRONG with using SR primers in handguns. Although SR primers are slightly taller than SP primers they are still close enough. As with ANY COMPONENT change you have to work up the loads with these primers. Actually READ your reloading manuals and you just might find that some reloading data actually calls for RIFLE primers in handgun cartridges. The same is NOT true of rifle primers, they are too tall to be safely used. T.