Like some others, I have recently found non-magnum pistol primers hard to come by, especially small CCI pistol primers. I have some magnum pistol primers on hand. I understand that magnum primers generate a more ferocious flame at ignition and can increase pressures.
My question is whether there is a safe way to use them as a substitute. I generally do not load anywhere near max, prefering to load either a midrange round or the softest load that will operate a gun reliably. Since I am not near the limit, would it be prudent to try a small run of magnum-primered loads and check for pressure signs? Or is even that too risky?
If it makes a difference to your answer, 9mm and .38 spl are what I load with small pistol primers. Both of them get shot out of full size guns with slides and frames originally engineered for more powerful rounds (an S&W M&P 9mm and a S&W Model 19 .357, respectively).
My question is whether there is a safe way to use them as a substitute. I generally do not load anywhere near max, prefering to load either a midrange round or the softest load that will operate a gun reliably. Since I am not near the limit, would it be prudent to try a small run of magnum-primered loads and check for pressure signs? Or is even that too risky?
If it makes a difference to your answer, 9mm and .38 spl are what I load with small pistol primers. Both of them get shot out of full size guns with slides and frames originally engineered for more powerful rounds (an S&W M&P 9mm and a S&W Model 19 .357, respectively).
