Pistol primers in rifle reloads

[jeeptim]

Shooting a lot more rifle then pistol and have a ship load of pistol primers
my question is will large pistol work in .308
will small pistol primers work in .223

Thanx

 

[ReloaderFred]

No in both cases. The large pistol and large rifle primers are different heights, but the same diameter. The cup on a pistol primer is also thinner and softer than a rifle primer and won't take the pressure. A pistol primer that is made to work in a cartridge of around 20,000 psi will have a hard time containing pressure in a rifle cartridge that runs around 52,000 psi.

The same holds true for the small pistol and rifle primers, though they are the same size in both diameter and height. Some have used them in .223, but I wouldn't for the same reasons of differing pressures.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[gamestalker]

There are some acceptable substitutions with pistol or rifle primer used, such as a small pistol being substituted for a small pistol magum, and same for rifle. But not when going from rifle to pistol, or pistol to rifle. The flash may be significantly different to, rifle powders require more flash to ignite and pistol less.

 

[Steve C]

Generally you should use rifle primers for rifles and handgun primers for pistols. There are some specific primers like the Federal 200's that are marked as small rifle primers and high velocity pisotl (IE magnums).

 

[Cherokee]

I have unintentionally used CCI SP primers in 223 medium loads in my AR, could tell no difference in performance at 100 yd and no problems with the primers. However, I do not recommend it.

 

[RidgwayCO]

The only rifle cartridge I know of, where some powder and bullet manuals (but not all) recommend small pistol primers instead of small rifle primers, is the .22 Hornet.

 

[kingmt]

I use pistol primers in rifle cartridges when I'm using fast powder in them. My only reasons are to quickly identify the load. I just don't have enough different colors of Sharpy. I also shoot more rifle the handgun so it helps even out the primer usage. I have never used them for slow powder but with the fast they seem to flatten the same amount at the same pressure.

If the question is "Is it safe" then all I can say is I can't find a reason it wouldn't be. Ware your safety glasses in case you pop a primer.

If you have a Chrono use it to see what kind of difference you get. The people that I have talked to that have tested them side by side said they didn't show enough difference to verify results.

 

[rcmodel]

Don't do it!!!

Not only is pressure containment an issue in the rifle calibers if you are loading full-power loads.
But Lg Pistol and Lg Rifle are not even the same size.

Lg. rifle primer pocket depth (min/max): .125"/.132"
Lg. pistol primer pocket depth (min/max): .117"/.123"

Lg. rifle primer cup height (min/max): .123"/.133"
Lg. pistol primer cup height (min/max): .115"/.125"

rc

 

[Walkalong]

If Reloader Fred and rcmodel were not enough to convince you, I'll chime in and say they are right for the reasons they posted.

The LP primer will sit too deep in the rifle brass's primer pocket, and neither LP or SP are designed to handle rifle pressures.

 

[Grumulkin]

The risk of a blown primer is theoretical. If you're not on the ragged edge of high pressure it's pretty unlikely you'll blow a handgun primer by shooting it in a rifle. I would also like to point out that initially, handgun primers were initially used to light 460 S&W Magnum loads and said round has a maximum SAMI pressure of 65,000 psi.

Though there is a height difference between rifle and handgun primers, if interchanged, they'll usually work just fine.

Perhaps ya'll don't know that handgun primers are used to load the 458 SOCOM and, GASP, it's a rifle!

 

[kingmt]

"Lg. rifle primer pocket depth (min/max): .125"/.132"
Lg. pistol primer pocket depth (min/max): .117"/.123"

Lg. rifle primer cup height (min/max): .123"/.133"
Lg. pistol primer cup height (min/max): .115"/.125"

rc"


I learned something & wasn't even trying. Thanks for the info. I'll have to look into it when I get time.

 

[cobb]

Perhaps ya'll don't know that handgun primers are used to load the 458 SOCOM and, GASP, it's a rifle!

And rifle primers in a 454 Casull pistol case.

Not saying you should substitute, but there are exceptions.

 

[George1951]

Thanks for the difference between rifle & pistol primers. I was wondering about that...