Remington 6 1/2 primers (grrr!) in .357?

[jr_roosa]

So, I too fell into the 6 1/2 versus 7 1/2 trap. Worse yet, I picked them up for a friend's rifle...I don't even own anything that takes a small rifle primer.

First off...argh! How frustrating! OK, got that out.

So, I'm perfectly OK with using these in .38 special loads, especially since I only shoot them in a .357 magnum revolver.

What about in a .40 S&W or .357 magnum? It looks like chamber pressure in these exceeds that of a .22 Hornet.

Does anybody (RCModel?) know how a 6 1/2 compares to a small pistol magnum primer? First off, how "hot" is a 6 1/2 versus a small pistol magnum primer? Second, do you think that the pressure tolerance can handle magnum pistol pressures?

I'll be even sadder if I wreck my revolver with ruputured primers...can't just swap out the bolt in that.

Thanks!

-J.

 

[largemouth1]

Small rifle in 38-357

Small rifle primers are the same as pistol as far as power goes.The only difference is the cup metal thickness. I have traded all my small pistol for small Rem 71/2 primers. The only thing you need to do is load up some blank cases with the rifle primers and make sure all your pistols have enough oomph to set them off. I now have enough to last thru Obama.{hopefully} I don't mess with mag primers in any thing.
Largemouth1 [email protected]

 

[Byron]

I have been using the 61/2 quite successfully in my 223.I use Olin 748. I have recently used SPP using IMR 4227 in my 357 with good results. Byron

 

[rcmodel]

The Rem 6 1/2 has a .005" thinner cup then the 7 1/2 and is designed for lower pressure, small capacity rounds like the .22 Hornet / .218 Bee.

If you use them at full .223 pressure, and especially in a semi-auto rifle with a floating firing pin, you are treading on very thin ice. (Pierced primers & slam-fires)

rc

 

[Byron]

I do not load my 223 to max but have very good results in my Mini and AR. I did call Remington prior to buying the 6 1/2 and told I was reloading 223.He said it would not create a problem.I have put quite a few down range. I inspected many cases in regard to the fired primer and nothing abstact was shown. An old reloader,maybe 75, has been reloading 222 using the 6 1/2 for years before magnum primers came out. He advised he has never had a problem. I inspect all guns on cleaning. Again, no problems. Byron

 

[MutinousDoug]

I'm on the last 300 of my 4th brick of Rem 6 1/2's all shot in my AR at High Power targets. Until about 2 years ago nobody told me I was wasn't supposed to use them for 5.56mm so I only used 7 1/2's for my long range ammo. I had switched to Rem primers after I had a slam-fire using WSR's.
I've had zero problems with the 6 1/2's but, since learning that they are not recommended for 5.56, I've been inspecting my fired primers and saw occasional evidence that the firing pin indent was starting to turn inside out. I reduced my load by a 0.3gr and that seems to have gone away.
In the future, I'll be buying WSR's or Rem 7 1/2's (when I can find some!) but you will be fine using your 6 1/2's in a .357 or similar pressure cartridges who's SAAMI max pressures are close to that of the .22 hornet (i.e.<45kpsi) compared to 5.56mm which is closer to 60kpsi (as I recall; anyone, please feel free to correct these numbers if you have more accurate info).
Doug

 

[cougar1717]

I'm sure the 6-1/2's can be used for loading 40 S&W or 357 mag (it is a rifle primer), however, it would be wise to work up your loads again for the 6-1/2's since you have no idea how the new combination is going to react in your firearms. If an accident were to happen, the words "but the forum said that..." would mean very little.