? re: primer usage

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lucznik

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So I have a problem for which a solution has been suggested which involves a practice about which I have been heretofore ignorant. I'm looking for some confirmation/guidance/contradiction/whatever...

I am down to my last 100 small pistol magnum primers for use with my .357 Magnum. In trying to find a solution, a member of another forum I sometimes frequent (whose advise has generally been pretty accurate in the past) suggested that I could successfully, and without really any other alterations, substitute small rifle primers (of which I have 3000) for the small pistol magnum primers.

He tells me that this is a common practice in IPSC competitions, especially with competitors firing the .38 Super.

I trust the guy, but I would love to get some additional/independent confirmation of what he is telling me. So, what say y'all...?
 
Why don't you buy some more primers? I am seeing them everywhere around me and on-line.
There are folks who will say go ahead, just reduce your loads and work back up. I'm not a big fan of mixing components to that degree....YMMV
 
It's going to change your loads, so I wouldn't do it unless you have supporting load data worked up with the rifle primer.

A much better idea is to simply stockpile a few bricks of primers of each size you need. There are other excellent reasons for doing this as well.
 
Buying more primers is indeed the ideal - and if I could find any, I would do exactly that. However, I have found no one that has small pistol magnum primers in stock. Actually, I have found no one that has primers in stock; period. I'm sure that my location makes me pretty far down on the supply chain so; perhaps if I'm just a little more patient, maybe I will start seeing some in my local market...

I have enough ammo already made currently that I'm not in a terrible rush, but I'm close enough to the end that I need to actively find a solution.
 
You should put in an online order and get in line.

As for component changes I would say it depends how close you are to maximum. I would use small rifle in my 38 plinking loads with no change at all since I shoot them in a 357 mag and I am waaaaay far away from max load.

In a full house 357 mag load...well, I would back off a grain or even two and not work up too much. Without a chronograph I am stuck being extra cautious.

J.
 
Lower your and work back up using small rifle primers in pistol cartridges. No big thing unless you insist on loading to the max and not work up a load. Primers are not a stick of dynamite.
 
There isn't a huge difference. Certainly less than the difference from one brand to the next. Like any component switch you are back to load development. All bets are off between large pistol and large rifle primers. In them, the rifle primers are quite a bit higher.
 
I thought primers were slightly different lengths so people wouldn't do this very thing. I'd wait for more primers myself, but that's just me.
 
I have seen several posts recommending small rifle primers for 38spl and 357 rounds. As noted, stay below max loads until you get some experience. I ended up buying a 1000 small rifle primers that I later found out are not recommened for .223 loads (the only rifle round I currently load), so I plan to use then in 38spl rounds.
 
Will try to clear things up a little.

Small rifle and Small pistol primers are the same size, both in length and in dia. Rifle primers can be used in a pistol if the load is adjusted down to make up for the slightly higher charge of the rifle primer. If one is not using max loads anyway it should cause no problem.

Using Small pistol primers in a rifle cartridge may creat a problem with slam fire or whatever you wish to call it because of a softer cup compined with a floating firing pin. Also again with the softer cup and the higher pressures in a rifle cartridge one may experience pirced primers with gas being blown back into the action, not good.

Large rifle and Large pistol primers are both the same dia. but the large rifle are longer than the Large pistol. This can cause a slam fire or whatever you wish to call it as the primer will not seat below flush by a few thousands as the pistol primer will. If used in a revolver it may keep the cylinder from revolving as it should as the primer may touch the recoil shield.

Hope this helps!
 
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I have seen several posts recommending small rifle primers for 38spl and 357 rounds. As noted, stay below max loads until you get some experience. I ended up buying a 1000 small rifle primers that I later found out are not recommened for .223 loads (the only rifle round I currently load), so I plan to use then in 38spl rounds
Click to expand...

Why were they not recommened for a .223? Being used in a semi-auto?
 
The issue is the hardness the primer cup and the potential for a slamfire. With .223 it is better to get primers with harder cups and that are designed for that application (Remington 7 1/2, Wolf for 5.56, CCI 41). The ones I bought were Remington 6 1/2's and specifically not recommended for 223.
 
The issue is the hardness the primer cup and the potential for a slamfire. With .223 it is better to get primers with harder cups and that are designed for that application (Remington 7 1/2, Wolf for 5.56, CCI 41). The ones I bought were Remington 6 1/2's and specifically not recommended for 223.
Click to expand...

True if for a semi auto which I assume is what you're talking about being as you mention slam fire. If used in an action other than a semi auto ie: bolt action, should make no difference as long as it a rifle primer.
 
Paradox, what kind of SR primers are not recomended in .223. I'm still learning alot every day. As for SP primers I saw quite a few bricks last time I was in to my local dealer and they had more showing up as i was on my way out! Patients is a virtue that is learned, so I am still learning!:banghead:
 
I don't know the OP's location, or whether the store will ship hazmat, but Sportco in Fife, WA has a good supply of SP magnum primers, and will sell them by the brick instead of limiting you to 200 or 300 of the other primer sizes per sale.

Just an FYI if it's a reasonable location for him, or any of the others.
 
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