Small Pistol Primers - Page 2

74A95 · October 29, 2020, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoghornLeghorn

So one can use small rifle primers for powders like 2400 with no difference?

NO! This is absolutely false and has been covered in other threads. Those two primers are NOT the same.

Work your loads up separately and use only published data.

zxcvbob · October 29, 2020, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoghornLeghorn

So one can use small rifle primers for powders like 2400 with no difference?

Yes you can use small rifle primers. But you should assume they are different, and work up your loads again.

rc · October 30, 2020, 12:45 AM

Small rifle primers can work fine in many pistol loads as long as the firing pin strike will set them off. I know that 1911s will set them off just fine for 38 super loads and I'm sure many other handguns will also. My buddies K6 on the other hand didn't like them and my buddy needed to buy small pistol primers for his 38 reloads to ignite reliably. I took stock of my primers and powder the other day. I have more small rifle primers than small pistol primers on hand. I will load what pistol ammo I can with small rifle primers and save the small pistol primers for guns that need them for reliable ignition.

USSR · October 30, 2020, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Small rifle primers can work fine in many pistol loads as long as the firing pin strike will set them off.

Exactly! However, if your loads are on the bleeding edge pressure-wise, drop back a bit and work back up to ensure a safe load.

Don

FoghornLeghorn · October 30, 2020, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Yes you can use small rifle primers. But you should assume they are different, and work up your loads again.

Thanks. I shoot ~minimum velocity loads anyway, when I can. In semi auto pistols, I'll use factory specs as "minimum" might not allow for proper cycling. But then again, I wouldn't use 2400 in those loads.

Thanks again.

Jim Watson · October 30, 2020, 10:07 AM

Historical example. Before Federal even made magnum pistol primers, they recommended their small rifle primer for .357 Magnum.

robhic · October 30, 2020, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Ditto with Foghornleghorn, I requested notification from MidwayUSA for small and large pistol primers and last Sunday night I got an email from them,and I jumped on it like a duck on a June bug.

I did the same some time back. I asked for notification from 3-5 different places. As of today, I've gotten exactly ZERO notifications from any place. Maybe I'm down further on a list (if they have one) than others. I feel cheated!

Twinsig · October 30, 2020, 10:44 AM

3-5? Think I'm around 12, lost count.

cdoc42 · October 31, 2020, 06:46 PM

I have small pistol primers for9mm, .380 Auto, and .38 special. I use small pistol MAG primers for .357 Mag with 2400 powder.

Like everyone here, I am running out of SPP. So e-mailed CCI and asked if I decrease the charge ( and I gave the details) can I use SP Mag primers in .38 special?

Contrary to what was expressed by Unclenick above, the reply was - to obviously avoid liability - "just stick with established recipes."

Reviewing various .38 Special loads relative to CUP and PSI pressures it became obvious that .357 pressure are much more elevated than .38 Special. If my Ruger GP 100 can handle .357 loads it should be able to safely handle a .38 special load made with a mag primer. So I tried it and I found ZERO evidence of high-pressure effects and the accuracy at 25 yards was excellent.

Now the question is, can I use SP MAg in 9mm rounds?

USSR · October 31, 2020, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Reviewing various .38 Special loads relative to CUP and PSI pressures it became obvious that .357 pressure are much more elevated than .38 Special. If my Ruger GP 100 can handle .357 loads it should be able to safely handle a .38 special load made with a mag primer. So I tried it and I found ZERO evidence of high-pressure effects and the accuracy at 25 yards was excellent.

Yep. In fact, some powders, such as HS-6 in .38 Special +P loads like The FBI Load, need the little extra "umph" provided by small pistol magnum primers to perform at their best.

Don

Geezerbiker · October 31, 2020, 10:27 PM

I've used small rifle primers in my .357 Mag loads and in my daughter's Makarov. However I did work up loads for them.

My 2 S&W revolvers have no problems setting them off and I think small rifle primer worked better with the Mak since it's designed for a harder shell primer.

YMMV...

Tony

hounddawg · November 1, 2020, 07:10 AM

some of you guys with a bunch of rifle primers needing pistol primers or vice versa might want to get the word out through the local gun clubs and small mom and pop gun shops that you would do a little bartering.

I traded 2K pistols the other day for 2K rifle, A guy down at the range said he needed some pistol so we met the next day and did a one for one swap. I have a fair supply of both but I do shoot 10X more rifle than I shoot pistol and he was down to his last couple of hundred pistol and was considering using the rifle

rfdillon · November 2, 2020, 09:45 AM

Where are you in Texas?

rebs · November 23, 2020, 10:05 AM

are the people bidding for primers on gunbroker actual shooters willing to pay that much or are the people with the listing bidding up the prices to make more money ? I know it happens on Ebay a lot

**Unclenick** · November 23, 2020, 03:45 PM

As I mentioned in another thread on primers, my call to CCI was over a decade ago and primers do change formulations periodically without notice. So I called them again more recently and they contradict what I was told back then, claiming it was "playing with fire" to interchange the SPM and SR standard primer.

So, I got some wax bullets and drilled out a 38 Special case's flash hole to 0.125" to prepare to do a test comparison. I have a strain gauge on a 223 rifle to check pressure readings on a catsneeze load, too. But, of course, I can't buy recent production of the two primers to compare because of the shortage. When it ends, I will try to discern the difference in the 400 and 550 by measurement.

FoghornLeghorn · November 24, 2020, 09:08 PM

Quote:

my call to CCI was over a decade ago and primers do change formulations periodically without notice. So I called them again more recently and they contradict what I was told back then, claiming it was "playing with fire" to interchange the SPM and SR standard primer.

Are you saying your post #21 on this thread was >10 years ago? The post that starts

Quote:

If you call CCI and ask, as I did, the nice lady on the other end

Now CCI is saying small rifle standard primers are not suitable, for what? Magnum pistol loads?

What about using small rifle standard primers for minimum loads of 2400 in 357 magnum, for example?

Just for clarification.

USSR · November 24, 2020, 09:40 PM

Unless you're on the bleeding edge pressure-wise with a load, subbing a SRP for a SPP of any persuasion ain't gonna amount to a hill of beans.

Don

October 30, 2020, 10:44 AM	#33
Twinsig Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: East Alabama Posts: 235	3-5? Think I'm around 12, lost count. __________________ I also have Fire Extinguishers, hope I never need those either.

November 1, 2020, 07:10 AM	#37
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	some of you guys with a bunch of rifle primers needing pistol primers or vice versa might want to get the word out through the local gun clubs and small mom and pop gun shops that you would do a little bartering. I traded 2K pistols the other day for 2K rifle, A guy down at the range said he needed some pistol so we met the next day and did a one for one swap. I have a fair supply of both but I do shoot 10X more rifle than I shoot pistol and he was down to his last couple of hundred pistol and was considering using the rifle __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

November 23, 2020, 03:45 PM	#40
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	As I mentioned in another thread on primers, my call to CCI was over a decade ago and primers do change formulations periodically without notice. So I called them again more recently and they contradict what I was told back then, claiming it was "playing with fire" to interchange the SPM and SR standard primer. So, I got some wax bullets and drilled out a 38 Special case's flash hole to 0.125" to prepare to do a test comparison. I have a strain gauge on a 223 rifle to check pressure readings on a catsneeze load, too. But, of course, I can't buy recent production of the two primers to compare because of the shortage. When it ends, I will try to discern the difference in the 400 and 550 by measurement. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 24, 2020, 09:40 PM	#42
USSR Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2017 Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY Posts: 1,442	Unless you're on the bleeding edge pressure-wise with a load, subbing a SRP for a SPP of any persuasion ain't gonna amount to a hill of beans. Don __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor

October 30, 2020, 12:45 AM	#28
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,767	Small rifle primers can work fine in many pistol loads as long as the firing pin strike will set them off. I know that 1911s will set them off just fine for 38 super loads and I'm sure many other handguns will also. My buddies K6 on the other hand didn't like them and my buddy needed to buy small pistol primers for his 38 reloads to ignite reliably. I took stock of my primers and powder the other day. I have more small rifle primers than small pistol primers on hand. I will load what pistol ammo I can with small rifle primers and save the small pistol primers for guns that need them for reliable ignition.

October 30, 2020, 10:07 AM	#31
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Historical example. Before Federal even made magnum pistol primers, they recommended their small rifle primer for .357 Magnum.

October 31, 2020, 06:46 PM	#34
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,687	I have small pistol primers for9mm, .380 Auto, and .38 special. I use small pistol MAG primers for .357 Mag with 2400 powder. Like everyone here, I am running out of SPP. So e-mailed CCI and asked if I decrease the charge ( and I gave the details) can I use SP Mag primers in .38 special? Contrary to what was expressed by Unclenick above, the reply was - to obviously avoid liability - "just stick with established recipes." Reviewing various .38 Special loads relative to CUP and PSI pressures it became obvious that .357 pressure are much more elevated than .38 Special. If my Ruger GP 100 can handle .357 loads it should be able to safely handle a .38 special load made with a mag primer. So I tried it and I found ZERO evidence of high-pressure effects and the accuracy at 25 yards was excellent. Now the question is, can I use SP MAg in 9mm rounds?

October 31, 2020, 10:27 PM	#36
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	I've used small rifle primers in my .357 Mag loads and in my daughter's Makarov. However I did work up loads for them. My 2 S&W revolvers have no problems setting them off and I think small rifle primer worked better with the Mak since it's designed for a harder shell primer. YMMV... Tony

November 2, 2020, 09:45 AM	#38
rfdillon Member Join Date: April 8, 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 60	Where are you in Texas?

November 23, 2020, 10:05 AM	#39
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	are the people bidding for primers on gunbroker actual shooters willing to pay that much or are the people with the listing bidding up the prices to make more money ? I know it happens on Ebay a lot