Using rifle primers in 9mm loads

[hans471]

Serious question:

I shoot a lot of 9mm. Besides several 9mm pistols I have four 9mm carbines. (Two AR's, a Beretta Storm, and a Marlin Camp). I only shoot my own reloads in these. After forty years of loading I have a perfect safety record and wish to keep it that way.

My question is I have been reading about using small rifle primers in 9mm reloading. I have read that the rifle primers are "harder" and will not work in some pistols. Well, I am not concerned about the pistols, its my rifles. The 9mm AR rifles beat the primers. I mean they slam then hard and leave a major crater in the back of that primer. A harder primer (or softer hammer spring) seems like a fair idea.

I ended up with an extra 1000 Rem 6-1/2 primers. I got these by mistake for my .223 rifles. I have since learned that Remington says NOT to use these in the .223 due to its higher pressure. They say use the 7-1/2's which are listed as "Small Rifle Magnum" primers. Now, manuals tell us NOT to use Magnum primers in loads unless the powder manufacturer tells you to. How confusing! Others say don't use the magnum primers at all. However, many have said that they use these in 9mm loads with great results.

My main concern here is safety. I don't want to be the one to start popping primers but it seems from what I have read that many have used the rifle primers in their Pistol Caliber Carbines with good results. Most agree to start with minimum loads and work up from there. But this is what I always do anyway. I tend to do lower to mid-range loads as its easier on my firearms.

Anyone have any real world experience with this?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

SPP are just fine for both handgun and Carbine 9mm ammo. You probably won't pierce a primer unless you exceed the SAAMI pressure limits, even in your Carbines. It's my opinion you are not doing anything unsafe using SPP for 9mm Carbine ammo and they are unnecessary BUT, if you do have 1000 SRP you have no other use for you can give them a try and see if they will work in your 9mm Carbine. The only way to know is try just be careful if you get a no-fire or hang-fire with the rifle primer. Personally, I would trade them off to someone who needs them for primers I use.

 

[JDGray]

My RRA 9mm doesn't beat the primers for me, they look like they were fired from a non Glock handgun. Maybe your 9mm AR needs some attention. Check the breechface hole for being excessive, or too big, allowing the primer to flow into it.

 

[Walkalong]

My 9MM AR doesn't do anything unusual to primers either, and I am using CCI and Winchester small pistol primers. Those Remington 6 1/2 primers should work fine. They are made for small rifle calibers like .22 Hornet. The only problem might be a pistol that can not set them off. A lightly sprung revolver for instance. Try them and see. You may have to back off on the charge .1 or .2 Grs.

 

[hans471]

The 9mm AR hits them a bit hard. I have not been overly concerned as its not that bad. Fact is, I just see a lot of pistols that seem to hardly strike them enough to set them off. Its just clear that the hammer in this rifle has a bit more thump than what many pistols do. I will now have to pay closer attention to my other three 9mm rifles and see what they look like. Before this I never gave it much thought as everything was working fine. After reading about people using the rifle primers the thought just clicked to make use of these in the rifle.

I have plenty of primers and don't feel the need to HAVE to use the SRP's, I had just been reading about people using them and was wondering if anyone had tried them.

 

[sansone]

rifle primers are safe to use. Just a little harder cup like you stated.

 

[ny32182]

My Rem 7.5's are called "benchrest" primers; I don't see anything about magnum on them.

 

[billybob44]

Rem. 6 1/2 primers

About a year+half ago, when some primers were hard to find, I found Rem. 6 1/2's at my local gun club, at a good price.
I have used those 6 1/2's in 9MM,.38spl., and .357mag. loads since then.
I usually load the higher density powders(Power Pistol,HS-6,Unique,2400,etc) and back down the charge a little(.1-.2gr.)
I have had 1 failure to fire on my CZ-75B, and hit it again,+fired. Other than that they have worked 100%. Bill.

 

[Jim Watson]

I believe the 7 1/2 was introduced specifically for the original .222 and will do fine in .223.
There is not much magnum about it.
It and other small rifle primers are routinely used in overloaded .38 Supers for IPSC.
I loaded 9mm P with various small rifle primers during the Obama shortage with no misfires.

 

[FROGO207]

I also load for a half dozen 9MM firearms. One or them is a MP40. I use the SRP in the rounds for this and have had no problems with it in 12K reloads. I also use the same reloads in a Ruger Blackhawk with a 9MM cylinder. All the others I use SPP. I have tried various brands of primer and find they all work OK for my firearms. Also note the SMG ammo is +P loading due to cycling needs. If you choose to try this load a few up to try before any large batches to be sure your rifle will have a firing pin that is strong enough. I agree with the others in that you may want to see if there is anything up with your hard firing pin strikes and think it may be beneficial to rectify this if it is so.

 

[hans471]

In my Lyman 47th edition reloading manual the primer chart shows the Rem 6-1/2 as a "standard" primer and the Rem 7-1/7 is listed in the column for "magnum" primers. Since that book was printed Remington has now warned people about the 6-1/2 primer. I think Remington could have done more to prevent this misunderstanding. They did finally put a very small note, like really fine print, off on one of the sides of the box. To some this seems like too small a warning. After all, if you look at the volume of primers used .22 Hornet is tiny at best while .222, .223 and others are 98 of that market. Meanwhile we have all these "Don't use magnum primer" notices. Of course now Remington refers to the 7-1/2 primer as a "bench rest" primer.

Anyway, moot point. It sounds as if others are using the 6-1/2 primers in their rifles, some even in their pistols, with good results. Since I have four of the 9mm carbines I think I might like to try these SRP's in the carbines if my buddy with the Hornet doesn't want them.

 

[DBR]

A while ago I saw pictures of the flash from several different brands of primers. Remington 7 1/2 looked very hot. Hotter than some magnum primers. I think this maybe to reliably ignite some ball powders.

The CCI milspec primers are also considered to be magnum primers. Whether hotter primers actually increase peak pressure depends a lot on the powder and fill % in a particular load.