Small Rifle/Small Pistol Primers

Acronin

New member
Do you get the same performance out of your handgun ammo using small rifle primers? I guess what my question is are they synonymous? Can you use either, for either?
 
II've never used rifle primers in pistol loading, but have very good results using small pistol primers in 22 hornet and 6mm PPC. YMMV.
 
Originally Posted By: AcroninDo you get the same performance out of your handgun ammo using small rifle primers? I guess what my question is are they synonymous? Can you use either, for either?



Me thinks you need to go back and reread your loading manual.
 
They are the same, loaded the same. But pistol primers have thinner cups, subjecting you to pierced primers if used in a rifle. They may work, in a pinch, but I'd not make a habit of it.
 

Me thinks you need to go back and reread your loading manual. [/quote]


We all know that reloading manuals do not cover every option that is available to reloaders, such as using a small magnum rifle primer for the .204 ruger. You can use one, but you can also use a regular small rifle primer. I know of people that use a small pistol magnum primer in their .40 S&W with good results, but you won't find a reloading manual that says that's an option. All I'm trying to do is find out weather you can interchange them and get a useful reply. I now know the difference and will not interchange them thanks to the other poster.
 
Originally Posted By: Acronin
Me thinks you need to go back and reread your loading manual.


We all know that reloading manuals do not cover every option that is available to reloaders, such as using a small magnum rifle primer for the .204 ruger. You can use one, but you can also use a regular small rifle primer. I know of people that use a small pistol magnum primer in their .40 S&W with good results, but you won't find a reloading manual that says that's an option. All I'm trying to do is find out weather you can interchange them and get a useful reply. I now know the difference and will not interchange them thanks to the other poster. [/quote]

Why do you think they have different names like SMALL PISTOL / SMALL RIFLE or LARGE PISTOL / LARGE RIFLE and some have MAGNUM after PISTOL or RIFLE
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Always remember too, that corporate attorney's are the last to proof read any published documents.

I mean, who else would warn you to always wear a jock strap when you are mowing your lawn?
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Originally Posted By: AcroninDo you get the same performance out of your handgun ammo using small rifle primers? I guess what my question is are they synonymous? Can you use either, for either?





Rifle primers will not reliably function in semi-auto hand guns because of the lack of firing pin force, and higher, taller cup height. Hammerless pistols are the worst. [strikers]


Having said that, the CCI SR [400] and the SP Magnum [550] are interchangeable. The small mag pistol primer from CCI was made for the .357mag and uses the same cup and charge as the small rifle. This is the only place I know of that there is straight across interchange.


Another problem with using rifle primers in a pistol is cup height. Rifle primers are slightly taller than pistol counter parts. In a revolver, this will cause some slight drag as the cylinder cycles. In semi-auto's it is a bad thing.
 
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