Small Pistol/Rifle/Magnum/NATO Primers, How interchangeable?

[1KPerDay]

Bumping this....

I can only find Winchester small pistol magnum primers. Can I load 9mm with these or not? I've read the thread and it only confused me.

Winchester large pistol primers say for large pistol, standard or magnum, but the small primers they make a "standard" and a "magnum".

 

[1KPerDay]

BTW I usually load low-to-midrange data, never max.

 

[Walkalong]

You'll be fine with midrange loads in 9MM with SPM primers, or small rifle primers for that matter if your gun will set them off OK. Accuracy is another story, and you'll just have to test that, but it will probably be just fine as well.

 

[bigdaa]

What are your thoughts on useing small rifle primers instead of small pistol primers?

My thoughts are I won't do it.

Period.

 

[Walkalong]

Llike many others, I use small rifle primers in hot .38 Super loads.

 

[bigdaa]

Llike many others, I use small rifle primers in hot .38 Super loads.

Now why would you not settle on small pistol magnum primers for the application?

 

[Walkalong]

Pressures. Using small rifle primers is pretty standard when going over normal .38 Super pressures.

There are reports of small rifle primers leaking and causing breechface damage with low pressure loads. I have not experienced it, but have not used SR primers in anything but full pressure .38 Super loads.

What pressure is needed to keep this from happening? Does it always happen? I don't know.

The question was:

I can only find Winchester small pistol magnum primers. Can I load 9mm with these or not? I've read the thread and it only confused me.

BTW I usually load low-to-midrange data, never max

And the answer is yes.

 

[USSR]

Worse case scenario with using small rifle primers in a handgun case: they won't go off. I use small rifle primers in my S&W 686 .357 Magnum loads, and they work fine. According to reports, they are less hot than small pistol magnum primers.

Don

 

[1KPerDay]

thanks walk.

 

[1KPerDay]

Follow up; I tried a couple loads with Bullseye and 115 grain Berry's plated as well as MBC smallball. The P226 liked both of the BE 115 loads, the Beretta 92 liked one. Both pistols liked a smallball load (one hole groups at 10 yards) but they didn't like the same one. Interesting, that. I wouldn't imagine there'd be such obvious preferences among similar pistols.

Thanks for the input.

 

[HOODLUM]

Ok, I think I have finally had my question answered with research. I want to use the #41 and m34 CCI primers for my AR weapons. They are magnum primers as stated by CCI. I can't find load data for .223/5.56 with magnum primers. If I have this right, I can safely do this as long as I back the charge off a little and work up to my accuracy node while watching for pressure signs...... right?

 

[zxcvbob]

@hoodlum: That should be fine. But you might want to back off the powder quite a bit (back to a starting load) and work up again -- not because of the pressure, but because the accuracy load might have totally changed. [theoretically, anyway. I'm not a good enough rifle shooter yet to where it makes any difference ]

 

[GLOOB]

http://www.sellier-bellot.cz/ammo-components-primers.php

Check out Sellier and Bellot's chart. Between 9mm, 40SW, and .357 mag, they specify 3 different primers.

The difference is partly in the hardness of the cup. If the cup is too hard for the application, it might not seal gases effectively. If the cup is too soft, it might blow out. It's not all about brisance and sensitivity.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I'm another one who uses small rifle primers in high pressure handgun rounds, specifically 38 Super and 9x23.


Hoodlum, yes. Simply back off your charge and work up a new load for the different primer.

 

[HDMF04]

So if I used Winchester small pistol magnum primers in place of small rifle primers in loads for 223 would there be any problems?

 

[steve4102]

Prolly, the pistol primer may pierce or rupture due to it's thinner cup.

 

[Walkalong]

Right, they are not designed for rifle applications. You have to consider the cup strength as well as the amount/power of the priming charge.

 

[Electron]

OK I admit to skipping most of the replies to this question and if it has been discussed I apologize for my laziness in advance. My first thought is why substitute? Availability?

 

[Walkalong]

Yes, that drove many to use small pistol mag primers in place of standard pistol primers during the time when primers were so scarce and over priced when found.

 

[Dudedog]

Rifle in pistol ok, reduce charge, may or may not work (fire) depending on the pistol. Accuracy may or may not be up to snuff.
Pistol in rifle cartridges...Bad, big difference in pressure. (some exceptions here) The rifle cartrides S+B lists with .357 are low presure .22 Hornet etc.

I have use the V360152 the regular SP primer in .357 with no issues but if I was loading 296/H110 I would be sure to use SP Mag primers.

I use Tula .223 (small rifle mag) for my .223 - Min14/AR use so I like the thicker less sensitive cup.