Primer Substitutions

[Swampman]

I'm not defending it as a best practice, but I've used CCI small pistol magnum primers to load M1 Carbine ammo in the past.

I got them mostly for loading .357 Sig, which has 40,000 psi max chamber pressure, the exact same as the .30 Carbine.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I'm not defending it as a best practice, but I've used CCI small pistol magnum primers to load M1 Carbine ammo in the past.

The most popular powders for .30 US Carbine dating back to the 50-n-60's up through present day are 2400 and 4227 - both of which are best known as "magnum pistol powders" that also do double-duty as small game, small bore rifle powders. IMHO it's debatable whether the .30 Carbine is a rimless magnum pistol cartridge or a rifle cartridge.

 

[Walkalong]

Would using a small rifle primer help get a cleaner burn in pistols?

Depends, not necessarily, the milder primer may have done as well as needed.

 

[milsurpguy]

The guy I learned to reload from only used rifle primers in everything after the 1993 primer shortage.