Small pistol primers=small rifle primers?

[GeoDudeFlorida]

It's an old WISE adage, and applies to way
more firearms related SOP's than just
primer selection and use.
Unfortunately, there's several points I've
made comments about around various
sites, and some get bent out of shape
so I've just about quit trying to say anything
about others bad ideas
Oh well. . .

This is one of them, “Don’t do what I do..” topics. I keep wanting to tell newbies to reloading that if they make it 45 more years handloadind and working up loads for themselves, THEN they can take crazy chances. But I don’t cause that kinda talk just eggs them on.

 

[AK Hunter]

Well now I'm thoroughly confused!
I have Federal small magnum pistol primers # 200 in abundance.
Can use or do not use?!

I don't know about Federal just the CCI.

The manufacturer disagrees and recommends against it.

That's strange the manufacturer was the one that said it was the same. You sure it was CCI that recommended against it??

I have been using them in .223s & 6.5 Creedmoor & they have worked fine so far.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I don't know about Federal just the CCI.



That's strange the manufacturer was the one that said it was the same. You sure it was CCI that recommended against it??

Yes. See Walkalong’s post. And the link he posted. Don’t skim it or pick through looking for pull quotes, read it. All of it. Twice. This isn’t the time to be giving bad advice to inexperienced reloaders. If you think you’re sure, be very damn sure. You could get somebody killed.

 

[AJC1]

I don't know about Federal just the CCI.



That's strange the manufacturer was the one that said it was the same. You sure it was CCI that recommended against it??

There have been different emails. I believe different techs respond differently based on their understanding of company policy. I had this same type of experience when calling ramshot about siholloette data. The first guy was helpful curious and provided data. The second guy was useless and wanted who I talked to so he could "have a talk with him" .

 

[DynoDan1]

So what are you going to do with all those spm primers you don’t need?
A primer swap would be nice, but not practical with hazmat shipping issues.

Oh. don't worry, I got "toys" for my stash of spp's. I just thought I could use them in my AR reloads.

 

[Atavar]

If they were the same and interchangeable they would just be called “small primers”

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

If they were the same and interchangeable they would just be called “small primers”

Yup. Under a very limited set of circumstances it is possible, can even be advantageous, to use standard small rifle primers in a small pistol case. In an even more limited set of circumstances it’s even possible to use magnum small pistol primers for a small rifle case. But it’s not a good idea without knowing the pressures involved or actual internal ballistics of the full load. That’s why I personally wouldn’t recommend it. Too many variables.

 

[DynoDan1]

Another question.
I've picked a bunch of range brass in the 5.56/.223 caliber over the last few years in anticipation of owning a gun that shoots this caliber (5.56).
Of the .223 brass, can I reload that brass as a 5.56?
I bought my AR so I could shoot 5.56 and .223 as I desired but when I get into reloading 5.56/.223 I'd rather not have to load for two calibers.
I'd like to just load it all to 5.56 specs. Is that possible or wise.
I don't own a .223 rifle and am aware of the caution/warning not to shoot 5.56 in a rifle chambered for just .223

 

[Walkalong]

Of the .223 brass, can I reload that brass as a 5.56?

Yes. Case eights with .223 and 5.56 vary a fair amount, and overlap. Loading 5.56 is kind of like +P .223 in a way. Work up slow and be careful. And actually, since you are new to it, I would recommend you stick with .223 pressure levels to start. It will do anything you need done.

 

[DynoDan1]

Yes. Case eights with .223 and 5.56 vary a fair amount, and overlap. Loading 5.56 is kind of like +P .223 in a way. Work up slow and be careful. And actually, since you are new to it, I would recommend you stick with .223 pressure levels to start. It will do anything you need done.

Ah, good to know.
I got a bunch of .223 brass and soon to have a bunch more 5.56 brass and I'd like to set all of them as if they were 5.56 but I will be sure to start low and work my way up.

 

[AJC1]

Ah, good to know.
I got a bunch of .223 brass and soon to have a bunch more 5.56 brass and I'd like to set all of them as if they were 5.56 but I will be sure to start low and work my way up.

Sort and load them separately. Military brass is thicker for durability, and will generate higher pressure with the same load. There are brand capacity charts that really help make better decisions.

 

[Jackiesman]

This is a "hot" topic these days, discussed hundreds of times on reloading forums. A google search will give a lot of info (along with reloading manuals)...
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=reloading+primer+substitutions,+primer+data&t=chromentp&atb=v275-1&ia=web
https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/ammunition_st_mamotaip_200909/100079
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/a-primer-on-primers.6936610/
https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/reloading-primers/

One of the most comprehensive posts that I've read on primers. Thank you.

 

[Walkalong]

Sort and load them separately.

Never bad advise.

Military brass is thicker for durability,

This is true with .308/7.62X51, but not .223/5.56, where case weights overlap a good bit.

With mixed cases for plinking/playing, I work up a load that is safe in the heaviest/least capacity cases used. I have seen the occasional case slip through (One in a few hundred), where the powder came up much higher in the neck when loading, and I have just pulled those and scrapped them.

For fine accuracy? Buy a lot of good brass, or sort Lake City military brass, or sort commercial brass.

 

[AJC1]

Never bad advise.

This is true with .308/7.62X51, but not .223/5.56, where case weights overlap a good bit.

With mixed cases for plinking/playing, I work up a load that is safe in the heaviest/least capacity cases used. I have seen the occasional case slip through (One in a few hundred), where the powder came up much higher in the neck when loading, and I have just pulled those and scrapped them.

For fine accuracy? Buy a lot of good brass, or sort Lake City military brass, or sort commercial brass.

 

[n2omike]

SRP and SPP are dimensionally the same, but SRP are thicker to hold higher pressures. If your pistol has no problem setting off a SRP, then they are fine to use. For loads on the far edge of pressure, it may be wise to drop them back a tenth of a grain or so.

I used Winchester and Federal SRP to load my last batch of 9mm. Zero misfires, and my new Canik digested them with zero issues.

So SRP in pistols? No problem, as long as your firing pin system is strong enough.

SPP in rifles? Maybe low pressure subsonic, but anything more is risky and NOT reccomend.

On a side note LRP and LPP are the same diameter, but LRP are a tad bit taller, and may not seat flush when used in pistols.

Good Luck