magnum by accident

[jhei88]

Hello, This last weekend or two ago I went to a gun show and bought small pistol primers but incidentaly bought magnum small pistol primers. Can i use those magnums in my 9mm or .40 guns, or do i need to try and sell them.

ps all my loads are on the light side of data

Thanks

 

[beatledog7]

Start at the low end of the load data and work up as you always would. They'll be fine.

 

[Starter52]

I've interchanged standard and magnum pistol primers for years without any problems. Go ahead and use your magnum primers with your normal loads. No worries.

 

[Master Blaster]

I read somewhere that magnum primers can increase the pressure by 3-5,000 PSI in a small case, so start at the minimum and work up and you should be fine. I would not start out with a max load though in 40 S&W as that would be asking for trouble.

 

[Walkalong]

Can i use those magnums in my 9mm or .40 guns....................ps all my loads are on the light side of data

Yes, you can use them. Expect a slight increase in pressures and velocities.

 

[lono]

I have used magnum and non magnum in 45 acp depending on availability with no issues and no change in loads.

 

[chhodge69]

It depends on the powder. I've had some bad pressure problems doing this exchange. Either trade them to a friend, save them for later or work up a new load with them. It's NOT SAFE to assume they will interchange with no problems. Maybe they will, maybe they won't.

 

[megaton]

Thanks for the info, good stuff to know.

 

[Walkalong]

With fast or medium speed powders, that I assume you are using in your light loads, it is perfectly safe to substitute the mag primer.

 

[gamestalker]

Going up in primer application can be easily accomplished. But when using a slow burning powder in a magnum application, the standard primers don't function properly.

On a related note, the last time we had the big shortage of reloading components one of the primary areas that suffered was primers. There were plenty of standard primers on the shelves, but magnums were almost impossible to locate.

 

[MtnCreek]

With fast or medium speed powders, that I assume you are using in your light loads, it is perfectly safe to substitute the mag primer.

More info please. I would have assumed a faster powder would be more sinsitive to a mag primer than a slower powder would.
Thanks!

 

[Walkalong]

Fast and medium powders download well. He is using light loads, so he has room for the slight increase in pressure he will see.

But when using a slow burning powder in a magnum application, the standard primers don't function properly.

Yep.

 

[Hondo 60]

As long as you're at a "less than max" load, they'll be fine.

Same thing happened to me 2 years ago.
I bought them at Cabela's, drove 75 miles to get home & then realized the clerk gave me MAGNUM primers, when I specifically asked for "Small Pistol Primers"
(and he checked me out at the gun counter, so I never handled 'em til I got home)