magnum small pistol primers?

[judgedelta]

.357 Gurus:

I've got a .357 (4" 686 Smith) coming in and some Starline brass on order, which I just noticed the website says "magnum small pistol primers".

1. Is this a different size from a regular small pistol primer (SMP), of which I have plenty?

2. If the same size, can the SMP be used in .357 loads, and if so under which powder and load type?

I have unique, 231, 800X and AA#9 and some Missouri 140 gr. Zingers...

Thanks...

 

[RainDodger]

Same size. I use small pistol in .357 Mag all the time, with 231 and unique. No problems.

 

[mahansm]

You should be fine with regular small primers with those powders. Some powders, notably H110/Win 296 require a magnum primer for reliable ignition with light bullets, especially in cold weather.

 

[gamestalker]

There just a few that might need a magnum primer, but of those powders you have, a standard primer is all you need.

GS

 

[judgedelta]

magnum small pistol primers

Thanks all. I couldn't find a definitive answer just searching. My search did turn up the opinion that a small rifle primer was "pretty much" the same as a magnum small pistol primer. What to you think??

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I've been using Win small pistol primers in .357 Mag for 30+ years with no problems of any kind. Stay away from the really slow stuff like H110 and you won't have any problem.

It's funny, Winchester only sells one large pistol primer now and says it's for standard and magnum loads both.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks all. I couldn't find a definitive answer just searching. My search did turn up the opinion that a small rifle primer was "pretty much" the same as a magnum small pistol primer. What to you think??

In reality even though they are the same size the small pistol magnum primer is probably a little hotter than the small rifle primer. The small rifle primers has a slightly thicker cup and might not reliably ignite if you have a pistol with a light strike.

 

[BYJO4]

As already mentioned, some powders require a magnum primer. Your loading manual will indicate what primer to use with what powder. If you don't have several manuals for reference, I highly suggest buying a couple.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As already mentioned, some powders require a magnum primer. Your loading manual will indicate what primer to use with what powder. If you don't have several manuals for reference, I highly suggest buying a couple.

That used to be true but no longer. It seems every manual you look at these days lists a magnum primer for everything with magnum in it's name no matter which powder they use.

 

[Walkalong]

I have unique, 231, 800X and AA#9

None of those need magnum primers.

 

[rcmodel]

My search did turn up the opinion that a small rifle primer was "pretty much" the same as a magnum small pistol primer. What to you think??

I think whoever said that is wrong.

Think about it?

If they were the same the manufactures wouldn't go to the trouble of making & packaging them separately.

There would only be Sm Magnum Pistol & Rifle primers sold in the same packages.

rc

 

[BSA1]

judgedelta,

Invest in several different reloading manuals and read them. They will answer most of your questions.

 

[USSR]

Rather than buy small pistol primers for the few .357 Magnum loads I shoot that I feel need them (HS-6 and 4227), I simply use small rifle primers.

Don

 

[beag_nut]

Good topic.
I deliberately tested both small and small magnum primers in my .357 Mag SP101 about a year ago, just to find out what difference they make. I chose to use the SP because any change in recoil would be more noticeable than in my GP100. (I don't have a chronograph. Yet)
The result: I could detect no difference. Therefore, it must be as others have said, that the magnum primers are to aid ignition of some powders in .357 Mag. I wouldn't substitute them in a gun rated for .38 Special, just to be safer than safe.

 

[judgedelta]

As Teddy Roosevelt once said: "Everything you read on the inter-net may not be true."

 

[billybob44]

I think whoever said that is wrong.

Think about it?

If they were the same the manufactures wouldn't go to the trouble of making & packaging them separately.

There would only be Sm Magnum Pistol & Rifle primers sold in the same packages.

rc

rc, you are correct (as far as I'm concirned) about 99.99% of the time.

With that said, think about this: Mfgs. are in business to sell their product. Joe Blow has plenty of Small Rifle primers-BUT-He is now loading up his .357Mag. PISTOL with a full case of 2400, or H-110 to light up??

Now we NEED to SELL 'Ole Joe' a 'Brick' of Small Pistol Magnum primers..
Oh, wait, 'Ole Joe' is now loading up some target loads in that .357 Blaster with Unique or HP-38/WW-231 powder, NOW we NEED to sell him some Small Pistol primers??..And the list goes on...Bill.

 

[Steve C]

As mentioned the powders you list are all powders that a magnum primer isn't needed or necessary to ensure reliable ignition though using a mag primer is perfectly acceptable and will work.

Small Rifle Primers are the same height and size as small pistol primers but generally have a thicker metal cup to work in the higher pressure rifle cartridges without piercing or flowing. This may cause failure to fire due to the weaker firing pin strike of a handgun.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Therefore, it must be as others have said, that the magnum primers are to aid ignition of some powders in .357 Mag. I wouldn't substitute them in a gun rated for .38 Special, just to be safer than safe.

I must disagree completely. Magnum primers burn a little hotter and a little longer but they will not create a nuclear explosion. When I load .38 Special FBI replica loads I use HS-6, one of the hard to ignite ball powders. I use a magnum primer all the time with HS-6 and it has no ill effects on a .38 Special revolver, none at all...

 

[joneb]

I find SPP work fine with AA#9, But in cold temperatures I prefer F-200.

 

[USSR]

Regarding the use of small rifle primers as a substitute for small pistol primers (magnum or otherwise), I saw some research done on this and it was determined that the small rifle primer's brisance falls between a regular small pistol primer and a magnum small pistol primer. Worst case scenario, your handgun does not have a strong enough spring to set them off. Personally, I don't use them in rounds intended for use in striker fired handguns, but they seem to go off each and every time in my hammer fired S&W Model 686.

Don

 

[judgedelta]

Gentlemen, I thank you very much for sharing your experience. For those suggesting that I but several manuals and read them; I have several from P. O. Ackley and Ken Waters to Hornady, Speer and Sierra. I have read most of all of them. The new manuals all seem to be published by companies selling their goods and the info pertains to said goods. Companies casting bullets and manufacturing brass by and large don't put out manuals. I have been loading for rifles for quite a while, but am new to handguns, most especially revolvers. This is much different from .308, 30-06 and 5.56 and somewhat more difficult. I appreciate the shortcut of learning from others' experience and again, for those willing to share, I thank you... JD

 

[billybob44]

+1 ussr..

About 6 years ago, or so, primers in this area (Mid-West) became VERY hard to find. I could not find Small Pistol for the longest time.
My local supplier had a shipment of Remington 6 1/2's come in and I jumped on them.

I have loaded that Small Rifle primer in 9MM, .38Spl., .357Mag., .40 S&W, and Small primed .45acp.

I had 1 or 2 fail to fire (On first strike) with my CZ-75 9MM (This pistol makes a VERY SMALL primer strike to start with), but NO other problems at all. For me-great for target use.

Since the primer supplies have come back (@ a price increase!!), I went back to Small Pistol primers for most use, but I still have the Rem. 6 1/2's to fall back on....Bill.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

About 6 years ago, or so, primers in this area (Mid-West) became VERY hard to find. I could not find Small Pistol for the longest time.
My local supplier had a shipment of Remington 6 1/2's come in and I jumped on them.

I have loaded that Small Rifle primer in 9MM, .38Spl., .357Mag., .40 S&W, and Small primed .45acp.

I had 1 or 2 fail to fire (On first strike) with my CZ-75 9MM (This pistol makes a VERY SMALL primer strike to start with), but NO other problems at all. For me-great for target use.

Since the primer supplies have come back (@ a price increase!!), I went back to Small Pistol primers for most use, but I still have the Rem. 6 1/2's to fall back on....Bill.

In reality I have no idea why Remington is still producing their 6 1/2 primers. They are only recommended for use in the 22 Hornet and should never be used in the .223 Rem. even though they are marked SRP they are nothing more than a good small pistol magnum primer.

 

[billybob44]

In reality I have no idea why Remington is still producing their 6 1/2 primers. They are only recommended for use in the 22 Hornet and should never be used in the .223 Rem. even though they are marked SRP they are nothing more than a good small pistol magnum primer.

Yea, you're right Arch.
The 5K that I was able to get helped me get through until the CCI-500's showed back up on the market.

Kind of funny (NOT really), I have bought K's of 6 1/2's off of Noob reloaders that bought them for their AR loads, UNTIL they read the FINE PRINT. Probably average price that I have paid around $20.00 per K. They make 'Dandy' primers for small pistol loads @ that price..Bill.

 

[CraigC]

Follow your data.