Originally Posted By: bmooreSo I am loading for 17 Hornet. First trip to the range was awesome, W296 with 15.5 NTX lead free and 25grn Vmax with H322 shot 1/3 and 1/2 inch. I am using CCI small rifle primers. My question is this. With a 25grn Vmax and 12.1 of H322 the pressure Hodgdon gives is 30,600..... which is lower than a max charge in 9mm. Can I safely use a small pistol primer for this particular load? Of the loads I shoot this is the only one that is in handgun pressure range. I never deviate from Reloading specs but it seems that this is well within pistol primer spec. I have a lot more pistol primers than I do rifle at the moment. Am I missing something? Will the firing pin spring be too strong?
Speer loading manual strongly suggests using a pistol primer in their 22 Hornet loads. I did read you loading for the 17 Hornet. Using a pistol primer is usually done because of pressures or shall we say to prevent over pressure. Depending upon different powders necessitates this sometimes. ex: hot summertime shooting. I have used pistol primers with 2200 in my 6.8...... I use pistol primers in my 22 Hornet. But I load with Lil Gun.
Firing pin too strong ? Should not experience pierced primers since pistol primers are not any softer than the regular rifle primers. The Remington 7 1/2 are harder or have a thicker
cup. These are recommended for the ARs.
A pistol primer throws a little shorter flame than a rifle primer and in a Hornet it should not matter. Try a few,,,, Even store some in the freezer and try them.
