Primer boo-boo

[bensdad]

I went downstairs to load some 45acp, and there were primers left in my primer tray. They look dementionally the same as small pistol and small rifle.

Can I use these anywhere? Should they just be thrown away? Are they color-coded? Please advise.

 

[rcmodel]

Only you can tell if they are color coded.

Look at your boxes of remaining SM Rifle & Pistol primers and see if they are.

But if you can't positively ID them, throw them away!
A SM Rifle primer in a pistol load probably isn't going to hurt much.

But a SM Pistol primer in a rifle cartridge could be disastrous!

rcmodel

 

[Mal H]

What brand and how many are you talking about? If you use several different brands and don't know what they are, I wouldn't take a chance firing a SR primer in a handgun load.

[Added]
rcmodel and I were simulposting.

rcmodel - To my mind the opposite is true, i.e., no rifle primers in pistol loads (except where specified). The extra pressure might be too much extra if the powder load isn't reduced.

A pistol primer in a rifle round wouldn't have as much oomph and may fail to fully ignite all the powder, but disastrous? How so? This is, of course, assuming a reloader knows when to stop firing after a squib.

 

[ants]

Maybe RC is talking about the strength of the copper sheet from which the primer is made. Pistol primers don't have to resist much pressure, and must be ignited by relatively weak firing pin springs. So the sheet is fairly thin and soft. If used in a rifle cartridge at 50 to 60k pressure, it could blow the poor primer to smithereens.

 

[Schleprok62]

bensdad... do you rememebr what it was you last reloaded?? If so, that should give your answer as to what they're likely to be.

 

[rcmodel]

Maybe RC is talking about the strength of the copper sheet

That is exactly what I meant.

Pistol primer cups are not strong enough to withstand rifle pressures.

Unless you are loading maximum loads to start with, the extra power of a rifle primer in a pistol cartridge will not increase pressure enough to cause dangerous problems.

rcmodel

 

[The Bushmaster]

If in doubt...Chuck'em...They're cheap...

 

[zxcvbob]

I would use them up loading pistol rounds; reduce the powder charge about 5% if it's anywhere near maximum.

When I first started reloading, all I bought was small rifle primers (Federals) and I developed my pistol loads with them. I didn't want to take the chance of accidently getting a pistol primer in high-pressure rifle cartridge. (Now I buy both and just pay attention to which one I am using)

 

[Mal H]

Pistol primer cups are not strong enough to withstand rifle pressures.

While that's not an absolute, your caution is absolutely correct. I was focusing only on the strength of the primer compound and not the cup itself.

 

[bensdad]

Thanks everyone. I'll discard them. I don't know what I last loaded, I don't have the box they were in, and I'd rather ere on the side of caution.

 

[zxcvbob]

How are you going to discard them? (correct answer is burn them, but that has its own challenges)

 

[ftierson]

I probably don't have to point out that with careful record-keeping, you'd know what they were...



Forrest

 

[bensdad]

I probably don't have to point out that with careful record-keeping, you'd know what they were...

Thanks. Yes, you DID have to point that out. I must have too much on my mind right now. I went and checked the log books. Yeah, they're small pistol.

ftierson, you just saved nearly a full tray of primers from a fiery doom.

 

[WayneConrad]

One thing I've learned to do, when I've got stuff out on my bench, is to keep the package they came from is out on the bench (and no other packaging on the bench). If primers, the empty box is on the bench. If powder, the canister is on the bench (and I drop a card in the hopper with the powder type written on it, too). That makes it easy to answer the questions "what's in the hopper?" and "what's in the tray?".

 

[socaldan]

If you have a revolver you can press them into EMPTY cases and cycle them thru...kinda like the cap guns we used to have as kids.
...OR..Get some of those RUBBER BULLETS I've seen advertised and shoot CATS with them.
..O-Oh..I think P.I.T.A. is coming...
Sorry..I gotta run !!!

Dan

 

[bensdad]

Thanks Wayne. While I am keeping good logs on load data and subsequent performance, I am beginning to realize that I'm not being meticulous enough about the reloading room and the process in general. I believe I'll turn it up a notch.

I'm going to make it a rule that I don't leave anything out at the end of a work session. Tools and components will all be put away.

 

[DWARREN123]

Never take a chance when reloading!

 

[MDW GUNS]

Right, better safe then sorry!
I assume you are talking about maybe 4-5 of them?
I would load them into pistol cartridge without powder or bullets and fire them in a pistol off.
It's actually sort of fun to see how much noise primers make (wear ear protection)!

 

[LotI]

It's actually sort of fun to see how much noise primers make (wear ear protection)!

And Flame!

 

[charadam]

Could you narrow it down by a dimensional check?

I recall that rifle primers are .006" "longer" than pistol.

Just a thought - from a Scotsman, living in an expensive country, where I now have to show my firearms certificate to buy primers - and pay ridiculous prices - so I'm not going to waste any!

Charles