[jt1]

Today I tried some Speer plastic training rounds in .38 Special. I was using Speer large magnum pistol primers #350. Using my S&W 642, my problem is that only four of the 25 rounds I loaded fired. They were all loaded correctly and all had the primers indented, I tried multiple times but these primers will not fire. I tried some Winchester large magnum pistol primers with the same result. This revolver works perfectly with all types of live ammo. Is there a problem using magnum primers or is there something else going on? I just fired five rounds of live ammo with no problems. Thanks for any input.

[Steve C]

I'm assuming that you are using the plastic cased Speer ammo that you push the primer in the cup and a plastic or rubber bullet in the other end. I'd guess that the plastic case are the problem. Are they all brand new or have they been used before? If your pistol is reliable with brass cased ammo but not with the practice stuff I'd personally just put it into the "lessons learned" box and do all my practicing with live ammo.

[willsnipe]

The plastic cases don't offer as solid a base for your primer as brass. Try using standard (not magnum) primers. They tend to be a little softer and might work for you.

[NVMM]

Try Fereral LP #150

[jt1]

Hey guys, Thanks for the info. I tried some federal standard primers and now everything works just fine! I'm surprised there is that much difference between them but I am not a reloader so I don't know much about it. Thanks again.

[FieroCDSP]

Federal primers are hotter than most others. They'll give more oomph.