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Old March 5, 2009, 11:05 PM   #1
btefft
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Is it okay to use magnum small pistol primers in .223 reloads?

Is it okay to use magnum small pistol primers in .223 reloads?

Seeing how there's no small rifle primers anywhere, I'm wondering if anyone has ever used magnum small pistol primers in .223 reloads?

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Old March 6, 2009, 12:03 AM   #2
bullspotter
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I like to use pistol primmers for pistol ammo, I have read that pistol primmers have thinner cups and may cause slam fires if used in the AR style guns. But im sure someone has made it work, personally i would need to be had up in a bad situation to swap componets. Just the way i am, no need to not follow published data.
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Old March 6, 2009, 12:37 AM   #3
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"pistol primmers have thinner cups and may cause slam fires if used in the AR style guns."

Floating firing pins and thin primer cups can be a bad combo. And unless the load was originally worked up with the pistol primer, the small pistol magnum primers will cause different pressure levels in the rifle case upon ignition. Personally, I would just wait untill I could find the right components.
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Old March 6, 2009, 01:25 AM   #4
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More importantly, the thinner pistol primer cups can be pierced or otherwise damaged by the rifle firing pin. At rifle pressures it will likely have trouble containing the pressure. That is why some of the very high pressure revolver rounds use rifle primers rather than pistol primers.
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Old March 6, 2009, 09:53 AM   #5
btefft
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Thanks guys,

Get this - I just read where someone called Federal and was told that Fed Mag Sm Pistol Primers were the same primers as Sm Rifle, just packaged differently - I'm gonna call Fed and see if its true.

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Old March 6, 2009, 11:55 AM   #6
btefft
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I just called Federal (1 800 322 2342, Option 4) and left a voicemail message, they're supposed to call me back.

Then I went online at
http://www.federalpremium.com/...pany/contact_us.aspx
And am awaiting their reply.

I'll let you all know when I know.

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Old March 6, 2009, 12:57 PM   #7
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I'm interested in knowing this also...
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Old March 6, 2009, 07:42 PM   #8
btefft
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Okay, Gary from Federal called me back.

He said NO, I should not use anything in 223 reloads except small rifle or mag small rifle primers - and definitely not small pistol primers of any kind.

He said the risk of slam fires and/or the risk of piercing the thin skin of a small pistol primer is why.

So, like many of you told me, it's a resounding "NO" to using small magnum pistol primers in 223 reloads.

He didn't say anything about reduced loads and I didn't ask. If you want to pursue it, the Federal's phone number is above this reply.

Thought I'd let you all know.

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Old March 6, 2009, 08:05 PM   #9
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thanks for the info
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Old March 6, 2009, 08:42 PM   #10
Dave R
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I tried using small pistol primers in another (wildcat) load. They ALL pierced.

So I can back up that resounding NO with my own stupidity--errrrr--personal experience.
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