Mixed up my primers

[mugsie]

I was loading some .308 the other day using IMR 4895. Well, somehow (now this couldn't have been my error because I always check everything multiple times - it was obviously someone elses error - just taking the lead from our glorious commander in chief) I mixed up the primers. Instead of taking large pistol primers, I (most likely someone else grabbed them and handed them to me) somehow grabbed Large Pistol Primers. After loading 20 rounds, I went off to the range and shot 'em out looking for the best group at 100 yards. They shot great! Groups were all sub 1 moa. I went home, thinking I'd stabilize on the amount of powder (I believe it was 42.5g under a 168 HPBT Nosler bullet) I used. I checked my log sheet and discovered I had used large pistol rather than large rifle. I just loaded another batch using the proper primer, but I guess a primer is a primer is a primer. It didnt' seem to make much difference at all!

Any of you had a similiar experience?

 

[cougar1717]

Are you sure your log sheet is correct and you didn't mistakenly write pistol instead of rifle? If in doubt, you should be able to check the height of the primer since large rifle primers are taller than large pistol primers. Another differentiating point is that sometimes the color of the priming compound is different. I'm glad nothing happened, but for safety, please use the correct primer.

 

[Mal H]

"Are you sure your log sheet is correct and you didn't mistakenly write pistol instead of rifle?"

... just like you did in your opening post, mugsie?

"Instead of taking large pistol primers, I (most likely someone else grabbed them and handed them to me) somehow grabbed Large Pistol Primers."





No - a primer is most definitely not a primer if you are implying that you can substitute pistol primers for rifle primers all the time. The cup thickness (and perhaps the metal alloy) is different, the brisance (flame energy) is different, etc. You just got lucky with that particular (easy to ignite) powder.

 

[rcmodel]

It didnt' seem to make much difference at all!

You were lucky!

As cougar1717 noted, there is a difference in primer cup height between Lg Pistol & Rifle primers.

Not to mention the fact pistol primers are softer and thinner to insure reliable ignition in handguns.

You are fortunate you didn't get pierced primers, which can quickly erode and ruin a firing pin tip.

... just like you did in your opening post, mugsie?

I was thinking the same thing!

rc

 

[GP100man]

A primer is`nt a primer that is a primer !!!

Try this seat a couple of large pistol then large rifle , point em up & pop em in low lite !!!

do the same with a 357 revolver with sp then sr !!!!

 

[mugsie]

OK, I'm properly admonished! Forgive me.

(they still shot great!)

 

[Millwright]

Don't waste any money on lottery tickets, lad ! You've used up your quota of luck for some time..........As others have "splained", there's major differences twixt large rifle and large pistol primers. Not least of which is dimensional.

OTOH, 'the glass is half full' ! None of those pistol primers "blew out" ! Or, you could have put rifle primers in a pistol and had a "slam fire" due to a high primer !! >MW

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Looks like there's nothing left here for me to do. Glad you were lucky and nothing bad happened...