Remington handgun primers

[bottom shelf]

Hi all. I have just learned that I have been using the wrong primers for .40S&W. Whoops. I've been using Ramington 1 1/2, and see now that I should be using 5 1/2. Does anyone know if there is a pressure difference between the two, or if it's strictly a cup thickness issue? There's no info on the Remington web site.

I'm asking because all my workups were done with 1 1/2 and I need to know whether or not they need to be worked up and Chrono'd again. Folks at the range say to just start using the 5 1/2 and don't worry about it, but I don't know how experienced these guys are. What do you think?

 

[Walkalong]

The 1 1/2 is a small pistol primer. The 5 1/2 is a mag small pistol primer.

What loads are you using that need the 5 1/2 mag primer? 99% of my small pistol loads use standard small pistol primers, including .40 S&W.

Welcome to THR

 

[bottom shelf]

Oh! The 5 1/2 is a mag small pistol primer? I didn't know that. The only direction I could find on their site is this comment in a FAQ:

In pistol cartridges, the 1-1/2 small pistol primer should not be used in the 357 Magnum, 357 SIG or the 40 S&W. The 5-1/2 small pistol primer is the proper selection for these rounds.

But there's no information on the difference between the two. If the 5 1/2 is a mag primer, then the loads definitely have to be worked up again, right? Or just keep using the 1 1/2.

 

[CU74]

Well, damn, just damn!:banghead: I guess all of my .357 Magnum loads just don't know that the Unique powder can't be ignited with the Remington 1 1/2 primers, 'cus they all go bang. (That's what I get for not looking up the Remington FAQs......)

 

[bottom shelf]

Heh heh. It can be our secret. The .357s don't need to ever know.

So, if you're using 1 1/2 on .357 mag with no problems, then it sounds like it'd be just fine to continue using them on the .40S&W. Thanks fellers. Now, if I could just find some. None to be had at the last 2 gun shows.

 

[Jumping Frog]

. . . using 1 1/2 . . . it sounds like it'd be just fine to continue using them on the .40S&W.

If you used your booger hook to yank the go switch and the gun went BANG every time, I would cease worrying about the issue.