To use, or not to use; that is the question

[DaveH14]

I have "finally" located small magnum pistol primers in stock. CCI 550. I have several pistols that use small pistol primers. Sig P365 xl 9mm, Glock 22c .40 S&W, Sig P226 MK25 9mm, Astra 600/43 9mm in fine working order. None have the trigger/hammer/firing pin altered. I don't anticipate light striking problems with any of these firearms. If you have had light strike problems I would like to know. Are there any negatives to using the CCI550 primers as I've been unable to locate standard small pistol primers for months. All loading I'll be doing will be at starting loads initially. Currently I have Accurate #5 on order.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I have "finally" located small magnum pistol primers in stock. CCI 550. I have several pistols that use small pistol primers. Sig P365 xl 9mm, Glock 22c .40 S&W, Sig P226 MK25 9mm, Astra 600/43 9mm in fine working order. None have the trigger/hammer/firing pin altered. I don't anticipate light striking problems with any of these firearms. If you have had light strike problems I would like to know. Are there any negatives to using the CCI550 primers as I've been unable to locate standard small pistol primers for months. All loading I'll be doing will be at starting loads initially. Currently I have Accurate #5 on order.

one way I test primer / fire pin function is to load primers in sized case (no powder or bullet obviously) and see if they will pop the primers

 

[film495]

CCI claims their magnum primers are no more or less sensitive than regular CCI Small Pistol Magnum Primers | cci small pistol primers (charter-arms.com)

 

[armoredman]

Never had any issues with using mag primers in 9mm, no matter the brand.

 

[Cheesemaker]

Don't confuse Magnum SPP with Small Rifle Primers (std or mag). Rifle primers usually have a thicker cup due to higher pressure in rifle cartridges.

Start low and work up - looks like you are doing that. You should be good to go.

 

[Remington1911]

Don't confuse Magnum SPP with Small Rifle Primers (std or mag). Rifle primers usually have a thicker cup due to higher pressure in rifle cartridges.

Start low and work up - looks like you are doing that. You should be good to go.

I think I saw somewhere that if loading pistol you are ok going to a rifle cartridge, but rifle using a pistol is a non starter, because as you stated the pressure and the thicker material. Not sure if any of it is accurate or not.

I can tell you what my general rule of thumb is for it, largely induced by this current shortage deal.

Me rifles get rifle primers, and pistol gets pistol primers....and I am leaving flat stupid things out, like the 50bmg hand gun stupidity.....one thing is different.

My 45-70 is a springfield trapdoor, loads for thins thing are to stay under 18k, the load I am currently using is around 14k. This is well under magnum pistol pressures so I have been using mag pistol primers for a little over a year, with the shortages there has not been as much shooting until lately, so I am guessing around 200 rounds in the last two years with no problem, I have seen nothing indicating any kind of primer issue, FPS numbers are the same over the large rifle primers I had been using before the stupid, and the bullet and powder are the same. For me the load had a pressure listed and I checked that number with quick load, and we are in the same ballpark so I figured green light. Primers look fine, so sign of trying to leave the case or any signs of pressure....doubted there would be, 44mag pressures are much higher than 14k.

Not saying do anything I talked about here, just saying what I did.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I would stay away from +P loading data unless you have a strain gauge and testing receiver to measure pressures. The magnum primers do raise pressure and do have a thicker cup so by the time you realize you’re in blow up range, the ambulance is already on the way.
Start low, work up to an accurate load within published velocity/charge, and stay away from maximum loads; you should be fine.

 

[gwpercle]

If your gun(s) will reliably fire small pistol primers ... then they will reliably fire small magnum pistol primers .
Both use the same thickness cup ... the only difference being the priming compound inside the cup .
Using starting or middle range load data is a good idea. Maximum Load data + magnum primers may boost pressures a little too high ... better safe than sorry .

I'm going to start a new hobby ... Reloading Primers !!!
Gary

 

[n2omike]

All of my pistols work just fine with small rifle primers... so unless your pistol is known to come from the factory with a weak hammer spring, about anything should be fine. Do you have any fired cases from those guns? You can check and see how strong the firing pin imprint is. Unless it's just barely getting things done with regular SPP, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[WeekendReloader]

If you have had light strike problems I would like to know.

My S&W Bodyguard 380 (double action only) will light strike CCI 500 SPP. A second strike would usually set off the round. I have to use Win, Fed or Rem SPP in it for 100% reliable operation. This is the only one I have had light strike problems in.

I suggest loading a few test loads and try it. You may or may not have any issues. The only way to know is to try them in each of your pistols.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

one way I test primer / fire pin function is to load primers in sized case (no powder or bullet obviously) and see if they will pop the primers

This is a good idea. It’s well worth a couple of primers to be sure before adding powder and projectile.

 

[Mark_Mark]

This is a good idea. It’s well worth a couple of primers to be sure before adding powder and projectile.

that’s what I do, I’m always lighting my hammer springs. Another test I like is the pencil test. Stick a pencil down the gun barrel (UNLOADED CLEARED… obviously) eraser side in, you can get an idea of the firing pin power by how far it shoots the pencil.

 

[Bcwitt]

I have used mag primers in several 9x19 pistols. Never noticed a difference.

 

[mdi]

I have used CCI SP Mag primers in my 9mm and 38 Specials a few times, but I did a new load work up. No "formula", no problems...

 

[oldschool45]

The Sig 365xl and the P320/M17 will light those primers(CCI Magnum Small Pistol) fine. I haven't noticed any excessive pressure signs using the CCI magnum small pistol primers and my usual loads (W231 & Autocomp).
They(Sigs) do not like Magnum Small Rifle primers sometimes won't set them off with 2 or even 3 hits. Those primers(Magnum Small Rifle) I save for my 38/357 and small primer pocket 45ACP.

 

[twarr1]

The CCI 550’s were developed specifically for hard-to-light ball powders like Winchester 296. It’s unfortunate they’re named ‘magnum’ because they aren’t needed in magnum-named cartridges like 357. Extensive studies have shown SPM to consistently underperform regular SPP except with certain propellants or at very low temperatures. These same tests showed substitution of magnum primers raised pressures, raised pressures without increasing velocity or raised pressures and lowered velocities, depending on multiple factors.
As the OP indicated, and others suggested, start low and work up, but don’t go to near max loads and all should be ok, but consistency won’t be as good as the non magnum primers.

 

[DaveH14]

Finally have found Federal S pistol magnum primers in stock. I like to work up on loads and am thinking about getting 1000 of these for my 9mm and 40 S W with medium loads. I suspect sometime SPP will become available again.