rifle primer in a pistol case??

[original]

i was just priming some 40s&w cases and just noticed i had loaded about 20 cases with the small rifle primers and now they are mixed in with about 150 good ones.  i cant tell from the looks of them because the primers are all the same color.   is it safe to continue with the loading and fire the small rifle primers in the pistol?  thanks.   

[Dill45]

You should be able to find the rifle primers as they should be seated out farther than the case head.  If I remember right, rifle primers are longer than pistol primers and because of that, won't seat flush.

As far as being safe...I know that rifle primers tend to be a bit hotter and if the primer is protruding a bit, you might pierce the primer when you try to set it off.  Personally I wouldn't, but that's me.

If possible see if you can find them and pull the bullets and save the powder/primers.

[tacklebury]

Agreed.  I wouldn't because you can quickly increase case pressures to an unsafe point.  Especially true if you are using them near max loads.

[HAMMERHEAD]

You should be able to find the rifle primers as they should be seated out farther than the case head.  If I remember right, rifle primers are longer than pistol primers and because of that, won't seat flush.

I thought that was only true of large rifle primers, not small.

I've loaded small rifle primers in .38 Super and never noticed them being high. They are slightly more potent, avoid max loads by 10% and you'll be fine. There are many recipes that call for small rifle primer with the Super and the data follows the same power curve as small pistol primers. They use the rifle primers because they have thicker cups and are less likely to be pierced.

I've been guilty in the recent past about having components on the bench that I'm not using and grabbed the wrong thing, now I only have the components I need for the load within arms reach.

[Lloyd Smale]

I was told that the cci small rifle standard primer is the same primer they call a small pistol mag just in a differnt box. If you are using a warmer load the hotter primer might cause pressure problems but if you are loading on the mild side they will probably go bang just fine.

[Dezynco]

I think as long as you have not loaded the rounds up to max, you should be fine.  Rifle primers have a harder material and are a little harder to crack.  Because of this, some of them might not go bang, I would think this is about the only problem you might have.  I don't think there will be any significant pressure issues.

I'm just saying this for reference:  I had to load pistol primers in my Contender 30-30 because the little hammer on the Contender wouldn't crack the large rifle primers.  No problems, but the 30-30 isn't too hot anyway.  I wouldn't do that in a cartridge like the 308 or 30-06, might burn through the primer.

You might get two different groups on paper with the different primers, so I wouldn't use them for any target matches.

[indymadcaster]

I was always wanting to try  standard  large rifle primers  in 44 mag loads with H110 in extremely cold temps  say under 25 degrees
just for ignition purposes   any one else have any thoughts?

[indymadcaster]

to ONLY be used in 44 mag rifles   NOT pistols

[original]

hello.  thanks for the input.   the primers pretty much are all seated the same and i cant tell from just looking at them.  i am just using the rounds for plinking some hardcast bullets and are not loaded to max anyway.   from what some have said it seems as though i will be ok firing them.  thanks again guys. 

[buck460XVR]

I was always wanting to try  standard  large rifle primers  in 44 mag loads with H110 in extremely cold temps  say under 25 degrees
just for ignition purposes   any one else have any thoughts?

WHY? Can't get large pistol magnum primers in your neck of the woods? I use LPM in my .44 mag and .460 S&W mag loadings with H110/W296 in temps well below zero with no problems what-so-ever. Can't see what advantage there would be in using LR primers.

BTW...around here 25 degrees is not "extremely" cold.

to ONLY be used in 44 mag rifles   NOT pistols

Again....WHY? Like the cartridge is gonna know whether or not it is chambered in a rifle or a handgun? Like a .44 mag shell is harder/easier to ignite in a rifle than in a handgun? One advantage of having matching calibers in rifles and handguns is to use the same ammo. IMHO.....I suggest going with what your reloading manuals tell you.

[1sourdough]

 We started off with small & small, both the same size(in this thread). If I was below max a bit I would just shoot them.

[searlock]

I have my vihtavuori load manual in front of me and it lists wsr primers in 357 mag pistol and wlr primers in 44 mag pistol.

[Dill45]

I thought that was only true of large rifle primers, not small.

Ah my mistake.  I knew I heard something about them being different sizes some where.

Either the case, proceed with caution.

[Lloyd Smale]

buy yourself some cci 350s. there the primer of choise for 110 in the mags and especially in cold weather.

I was always wanting to try  standard  large rifle primers  in 44 mag loads with H110 in extremely cold temps  say under 25 degrees
just for ignition purposes   any one else have any thoughts?

[SHOOTALL]

Rifle primers are the choice for the 454 casull . That tells me there is a difference in thhe SR and SP primers . Rifle primers are said to be of thicker metal and require a harder strike also.

[Tommyt]

Rifle primers are said to be of thicker metal and require a harder strike also.

This was my thought
 I also felt there wasn't much in the ignition end to the round as the Hit and if you had a hard primer and a Light hammer no Ignition

Please don't use me as the Guide

Tommyt

[gypsyman]

I've used small rifle in small pistol cases, just made sure that the load was started from the bottom. After all, you use small rifle primers in .30 carbine, wether it's in an M-1 or T/C Contender, or even the old AMT(?) Hardballer.(I think that's who made the 30 Carbine semi-auto pistol) gypsyman

[SHOOTALL]

in the case here he has some mixed in so he has little to look forward to really. At best he can expect open groups . If all cases were the same it would have been better . The carbine and 454 were made to use the rifle primer , cases were constructed for their use. I see a difference.

[original]

thanks again guys.   i am new to reloading and just wanted to confirm it would be safe with a less than max charge.  i figured it would be i just wanted to check before i did any damage. 

[SHOOTALL]

some say to light a charge with a mag primer can set the charge off all at once instead of a burn you detonate it with a high spike in pressure instead of building pressure as the bullet moves expanding combustion area . There is a Colt PM with the side of the cyl blown out in a near by gun shop some say was caused this way . Others say it was a double charge of bullseye . Mag primers were used .
Don't go lower than min. charge weight as less is not always safer.

[HAMMERHEAD]

some say to light a charge with a mag primer can set the charge off all at once instead of a burn you detonate it with a high spike in pressure instead of building pressure as the bullet moves expanding combustion area . There is a Colt PM with the side of the cyl blown out in a near by gun shop some say was caused this way

Detonation is not caused by primers. The theory is that lighter than recommended charges of slow burning pistol powder (H110, 2400, 4227 etc..) don't fill the case properly and allow the primer spark to ignite across the top of the charge, creating a spike. There needs to be enough powder to restrict the spark to the rear of the charge.

That's why you never go below the recommended charge with those powders.

[SHOOTALL]

that is true but if you induce a hoter fire it can cause it.

[Ruskin]

With the difficulty in getting primers, I had small rifle, WSR.  I use them in my .38, .357, .357 max, .223.

No problem.  It makes it less complicated to try and have small pistol, small rifle, Large rifel, large piostol on hand.

[HAMMERHEAD]

that is true but if you induce a hoter fire it can cause it.

Not if you're at the minimum charge or better. Many of the recipes will call for magnum primers and they are perfectly safe.