Small Primers

[wyofool]

I heard this at the local gun show, (I have a lot of salt) Can small rifle primers be used instead in place of small pistol primers for low to moderate loads in .38 spl. .40 sw and .45 acp ??
Small pistol primers seem to be back ordered in many places.
Thank you

 

[ArchAngelCD]

While the SRP are the same size as the SPP they are a lot harder so many handguns won't reliable set off the primers. In a pinch they can be used but i would avoid it if at all possible.

 

[zxcvbob]

Yes, but they might not be reliable in some guns because it takes a harder firing pin hit to set them off (at least it should.) When I first started reloading all I bought was Federal Small Rifle primers and I used them in everything.

They also will probably increase the pressure, so if you are loading max loads you need to back off the powder and work up again. If you are loading closer to starting loads, you should be good to go.

I still use SR primers in .357 Magnum.

 

[hentown]

By choice, I use Wolf small rifle primers, exclusively for my 9mm reloading, and I'm shooting striker-fired Glocks with standard f.p. springs. I never have a failure to fire.

 

[LiveLife]

During my Tula SP misfire investigation, some suggested my Glock striker spring might be weak so I loaded 9mm cases with CCI 400 SR, Tula SR and Tula .223 primers which are supposed to have harder cups to prevent slam fires - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7806985#post7806985

Guess what?

My Glock striker pin left deeper indent on the .223 primer cup than the Tula SP primer cup. Due to harder primer cup issue, I would use rifle primer loads just for range/practice loads.

Small rifle primers fired in Glock 17 (notice CCI 400 SR primer cup definitely left a shallower indent - but it did fire):

 

[Otto]

Using rifle primers in low pressure pistol loads can cause breech face erosion and pitting. Rifle primer cups are harder and can fail to expand and seal the primer pocket adequately at lower pressures. Just follow the published manual's recommendations and use the right components.

 

[dragon813gt]

I will use them in place of SP Magnum primers. But never for a standard SP primer. There are plenty of all primers in stock by me.


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[jmorris]

Not only can they be used they are the primer of choice for a lot of "major" pistol loads in USPSA open (these run on the "over hot" side of normal loads. Don't substitute on known loads unless your willing to roll the dice.

 

[jcwit]

Been using Small Rifle Primers in my handgun loads for years with no problems in my handguns. Back off the charge as you should with any change in components and work back up to your satisification.

Breech face erosion? Haven't detected it in any of my arms with hundreds and hundreds of rounds fired. Possible maybe but not in my experience.

 

[TonyT]

Te action pistol shooters who use "open" guns (high velicity loads with comps) tend to use the rifle primers in their hot loads with slow burning powders.

 

[wyofool]

Rounds 2 and 3

Just to find out for myself I loaded my 2nd and 3rd rounds. One with CCI ssp and the other with Tulammo srp.



The one on the right is the CCI

I used RP brass with 7 gr of Unique pushing a Hornady 155 gr XTP from my XDM .40 Standing, two handed, from 15yds slight breeze.


The middle one is the CCI the one on the right is an Ultramax re-manufactured unknown, the Tulammo is on the left.

The Tulammo is in the middle the CCI on the right



The Tulammo on the left CCI in middle

Not much to say as I really could not feel any difference between the three.

 

[LiveLife]

Holes on target speak volumes.

When I want to verify accuracy, I usually use several consecutive 5-shot groups to not only check shot group sizes to average but consistency and repeatability.

If I have a particularly accurate load, it will consistently group small on different range days. If I have a load that produces tight groups once in a while, I continue testing until it does or I deem the load not as accurate.

To test difference between primers, you could load several magazines marked on the base (numbered on a piece of masking tape) and mix them up behind your back so you won't know which magazine had which primer loads.

 

[wyofool]

Thank you BDS, I plan on doing this when I receive my shellholders for the auto prime get here. As things are now I have only reloaded 3 rounds because I have to put the primers into the primer lever by hand. ( don't really like to handle the primers that way)
May even set up a bench rest (maybe)

 

[coalman]

Using rifle primers in low pressure pistol loads can cause breech face erosion and pitting. Rifle primer cups are harder and can fail to expand and seal the primer pocket adequately at lower pressures.

This. I speak from experience. Run hot loads and it should be fine.

While the SRP are the same size as the SPP they are a lot harder so many handguns won't reliable set off the primers. In a pinch they can be used but i would avoid it if at all possible.

And this. I speak again from experience. Hammer-fired guns with original factory power springs will likely be okay, but striker-fired guns or "tuned" guns might not.