Yes, Federal Gold Medal Small Pistol primers and "regular" SP primers are interchangeable

[JimGnitecki]

I have been using Federal Gold Medal small pistol primers in my loading but cannot find anymore anywhere here in Canada. I did find some Federal "regular" small pistol primers though. So I emailed Federal and asked if I could use the regular ones without having to make any adjustments to my loading. (I speculated that the Gold Medal primers were merely a bit more consistent)

Here is what Federal said in its response:

"
James:

They are the same primers, the Gold Medal primers are held to a tighter accuracy spec. You can use them and will not have to adjust your loading.

Thank You

Federal Ammunition
Tech Services

"


Jim G

 

[mcb]

We have had several similar threads recently. Some of us have used small rifle primers in place of small pistol primers at times. With small primers as long as your handgun will reliable ignite them you can use small pistol, small pistol magnum and small rifles in your loads.

 

[JimGnitecki]

We have had several similar threads recently. Some of us have used small rifle primers in place of small pistol primers at times. With small primers as long as your handgun will reliable ignite them you can use small pistol, small pistol magnum and small rifles in your loads.

Do any of those variants require any changes to the load recipe? (grains of powder, COAL, etc)

Jim G

 

[mcb]

Do any of those variants require any changes to the load recipe? (grains of powder, COAL, etc)

Jim G

From his testing it appeared not. In my limited experience I agree not much changed. I ran allot of 40S&W with Winchester small rifle and never changed my load and my velocity was pretty much the same as Federal small pistol.

 

[fxvr5]

We have had several similar threads recently. Some of us have used small rifle primers in place of small pistol primers at times. With small primers as long as your handgun will reliable ignite them you can use small pistol, small pistol magnum and small rifles in your loads.

People, keep in mind that compared one caliber, one bullet weight, one load and just those three primers.

There are a million other combinations that have not been compared.

 

[mcb]

People, keep in mind that compared one caliber, one bullet weight, one load and just those three primers.

There are a million other combinations that have not been compared.

It would be interesting to see if you got similar results with a larger case and harder to ignite powder. ie Try the same experiment with H110/W296 in 357 Mag would be interesting.

Like I said earlier I have done it in 40S&W with out issue and little measurable change Though not exactly the same thing I have use the same load with both small and large pistol primers in 45 ACP with no real difference in performance. I found a few articles out there that have said similar for 45 ACP small vs large primer.

If in doubt, back off your powder charge and work up again with the different primer watching your velocity.

 

[fxvr5]

I've seen significant differences in 45 ACP velocity with the same load but using different primers.

 

[mcb]

I've seen significant differences in 45 ACP velocity with the same load but using different primers.

How big of difference? I did not see much but with the load I was shooting, but it was practically a bunny fart.

The following article saw very little difference to:

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/small-vs-large-pistol-primers-45-acp/99626

 

[fxvr5]

How big of difference? I did not see much but with the load I was shooting, but it was practically a bunny fart.

The following article saw very little difference to:

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/small-vs-large-pistol-primers-45-acp/99626

Here's another resource:

https://www.starlinebrass.com/articles/small-pistol-primers-vs-large-pistol-primers/

They found some big differences.

I've seen up to a 40+ fps difference in speed using a standard CCI 300 versus a WLP primer. Load the same time, shot the same day for the purpose of testing primer diff on speed. It's not all powders but some.

 

[JimGnitecki]

Hmmm, interesting variances in reports from different sources. Maybe it IS powder dependant, or case depth dependant.

Jim G

 

[mcb]

Here's another resource:

https://www.starlinebrass.com/articles/small-pistol-primers-vs-large-pistol-primers/

They found some big differences.

I've seen up to a 40+ fps difference in speed using a standard CCI 300 versus a WLP primer. Load the same time, shot the same day for the purpose of testing primer diff on speed. It's not all powders but some.

Starline's test seems to support my idea that with slower and harder to ignite powders difference were bigger than with fast powders. In my own experience I was using either Vihtavuori N320 or Hodgdon Titegroup most of the time when I was swapping primers. Both are fast powders and likely why I never saw any real difference.

 

[JimGnitecki]

The Vihtavouri 3N38 I am using is a slow powder, designed for Action Shooting, where the shooter wants high velocity and good compensator activation, both of which required SUSTAINED pressure versus too-high peak pressures, and enough residual gas velocity past the muzzle to activate the compensator. So, IF mcb's theory is correct, I may notice a difference when using the different primers.

Jim G

 

[fxvr5]

The Vihtavouri 3N38 I am using is a slow powder, designed for Action Shooting, where the shooter wants high velocity and good compensator activation, both of which required SUSTAINED pressure versus too-high peak pressures, and enough residual gas velocity past the muzzle to activate the compensator. So, IF mcb's theory is correct, I may notice a difference when using the different primers.

3N38 pressure will peak and drop off before the bullet exits just like faster powders. Because it uses more charge weight than faster powders, it will have more gas pressure at the muzzle than faster powders, but it ain't magical.

 

[JimGnitecki]

3N38 pressure will peak and drop off before the bullet exits just like faster powders. Because it uses more charge weight than faster powders, it will have more gas pressure at the muzzle than faster powders, but it ain't magical.

But if mcb's theory is correct, I COULD see a difference in muzzle velocity, and could experience a different peak pressure but I have no way of detecting that difference in pressure of course. My Labradar would pick up the difference in muzzle velocity though if it exists.

Jim G

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've seen significant differences in 45 ACP velocity with the same load but using different primers.

Folks please bear in mind that the OP is discussing possible differences between a Match vs a non-Match SPP from Federal

I've used both in 9mm, .45ACP and .38Spl and haven't seen any differences reflected in chrono results

 

[JimGnitecki]

Folks please bear in mind that the OP is discussing possible differences between a Match vs a non-Match SPP from Federal

I've used both in 9mm, .45ACP and .38Spl and haven't seen any differences reflected in chrono results

That is helpful info based on actual personal experience. Thanks!

Jim G