Can I use CCI 550 small pistol primers in 38 spl cases?

[Bullseye]

Can I use CCI 550 magnum small pistol primers in 38 spl cases?

I went to the LGS today and picked up 600 CCI 550's by mistake, (which I could use in 357 but) I wanted to load up some 38 spl and have zilch CCI 500's.
If this is OK, I'd like to get busy.
I'll be using middle of the road powder loads using Alliant Unique.

Also wondering if I can use these in 40 S&W while I have your attention.
Thanks!

 

[IraqVet1982]

Yes you can

 

[BSA1]

You sure can.

 

[Bullseye]

for both 38 spl and 40 S&W ?

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

I've loaded CCI 550's in the 40 S&W, I just stayed on the low end of the charge scale and they worked fine.

 

[Rule3]

Yes and yes

 

[Bullseye]

Thanks fellers

 

[Rodentman]

Just to clarify that mag primers are not always required with mag calibers. Depends on the powder, not the name of the cartridge.

Hope this helps.

 

[Reloadron]

Just as a side note. When loading for example 357 Magnum you do not necessarily need to use a Magnum primer. The primer selected is based on the powder used. If you read a manual you will note it's the powder that determines the best suggested primer and not the case name. Anyway, as everyone mentioned, the CCI 550 Magnum Small Pistol Primers can be used just fine in lieu of CCI 500 Small Pistol Primers. It just a slightly hotter primer than the standard.

Ron

 

[Crashbox]

As others have said, yes they can be used. It would be a good idea to work up your loads from the lower end again with this component change. Some folks use a rule of thumb of backing off their regular charge by 0.3 to 0.5 grains or so, but of course it's always best to do the first recommendation I mentioned.

 

[Jim Watson]

A statistically minded PhD friend once graphed .38 Special velocity vs powder charge for standard and magnum primers. There WAS a difference.
But not a P vs Plus P difference.
If your gun is sound, you will be ok.

 

[Reefinmike]

In 38spl, i see a 7-10fps difference when using a magnum or small rifle primer over a standard small pistol primer. As others have said... Have at it.

 

[Dudedog]

If any loads are close to the max you will probably need to work them up again, if they are middle of the road you are probably good to go.

Load, shoot, repeat.

 

[Rule3]

Just as a side note. When loading for example 357 Magnum you do not necessarily need to use a Magnum primer. The primer selected is based on the powder used. If you read a manual you will note it's the powder that determines the best suggested primer and not the case name. Anyway, as everyone mentioned, the CCI 550 Magnum Small Pistol Primers can be used just fine in lieu of CCI 500 Small Pistol Primers. It just a slightly hotter primer than the standard.

Ron

I agree.
Unless you are using Hodgdon data which has a mag primer for any and all powders listed for magnum data use.(IE: HP 38)

I called them a long time ago on that and they stated it was only so the data was consistent.

 

[gamestalker]

I do it all the time, in fact, I just loaded a bunch of 38 spcl. +P Longshot loads a couple days ago with CCI-550's. I either ran out of 500's and didn't notice, or one of my sons grabbed the brick I thought I had.

Anyway, yes, and yes, I've used them in 38 spcl, .40 cal, and also 9mm, all full tilt Longshot loads.

GS

 

[ku4hx]

I recently bought a few thousand CCI SPM primers because they were available and because they were at a very good price.

Just last week, I worked up 9mm and 40 S&W loads with the SPMs. As I expected, I found the same I did a couple of years ago: they worked just fine and there were no pressure signs, no harsher recoiling and accuracy was a good as I've ever gotten with any load.

There are divergent opinions all over the web on this practice of magnum primers in non magnum cases. However, note the lack of reports of magnum primers alone being blamed as the cause of blowing up guns or otherwise causing problems. The may have a stronger or longer burn, but they are not little nuclear bombs just waiting to wreak havoc on unsuspecting hand loaders. My loads were, and will remain, at or near starting load charge levels. But then, pretty much all of them are anyway. If you are loading at the ragged edge of maximum, one powder granule away from chamber bursting, then yeah switching to magnum primers would likely increase your chances of a problem. But then we all know we should redo the load workup when we change a component.

As is the usual case, caution is advised and YMMV.

 

[IMtheNRA]

They're thicker than standard SPPs, so if your guns tend to strike lightly, then you may have some of these primers fail to activate.