Pistol primer question

fireroad · April 16, 2009, 03:22 PM

New to loading pistol, will be starting with 40 S&W, I plan on loading Montana Gold 155 JHPs over Titegroup. The recipes I have (out of a manual) calls for Win small pistol primers. All I can get my hands on for now is Rem small pistol primers. I know from experience with rifle that primer brand makes a difference in load performance...is the same true for pistol ie can I use the Rem primers? Brass will be from my collection of once fired mixed headstamp. Loads will be light practice/plinking.

James R. Burke · April 16, 2009, 05:23 PM

You should be o.k. if it is the same size, and type needed. Just start at the min and work up. I use CCI for everything. If it calls for the reg thats what I use if it calls for a mag thats what I use, and always start at the begining and work up. Just dont substitude a reg for a mag.

fireroad · April 16, 2009, 07:06 PM

Turns out all they had was remington 5 1/2 primers.They are a magnum, but supposedly remington does not make the pellet fire any hotter, they just have a thicker cup. I looked on their website and noticed most of their UMC ammo for .40 is loaded with the 5 1/2's.

T. O'Heir · April 16, 2009, 09:35 PM

Small Pistol primers are all the same dimension. Any brand of primer will do nicely. However, if you buy another brand after working up the load, you'll have to work up the load again.
A Remington #5 1/2 is a regular small pistol primer. They don't list a magnum small pistol primer.

April 16, 2009, 03:22 PM	#1
fireroad Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2008 Posts: 126	Pistol primer question New to loading pistol, will be starting with 40 S&W, I plan on loading Montana Gold 155 JHPs over Titegroup. The recipes I have (out of a manual) calls for Win small pistol primers. All I can get my hands on for now is Rem small pistol primers. I know from experience with rifle that primer brand makes a difference in load performance...is the same true for pistol ie can I use the Rem primers? Brass will be from my collection of once fired mixed headstamp. Loads will be light practice/plinking.

April 16, 2009, 09:35 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Small Pistol primers are all the same dimension. Any brand of primer will do nicely. However, if you buy another brand after working up the load, you'll have to work up the load again. A Remington #5 1/2 is a regular small pistol primer. They don't list a magnum small pistol primer. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

April 16, 2009, 05:23 PM	#2
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	You should be o.k. if it is the same size, and type needed. Just start at the min and work up. I use CCI for everything. If it calls for the reg thats what I use if it calls for a mag thats what I use, and always start at the begining and work up. Just dont substitude a reg for a mag.

April 16, 2009, 07:06 PM	#3
fireroad Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2008 Posts: 126	Turns out all they had was remington 5 1/2 primers.They are a magnum, but supposedly remington does not make the pellet fire any hotter, they just have a thicker cup. I looked on their website and noticed most of their UMC ammo for .40 is loaded with the 5 1/2's.