SMALL MAGNUM PISTOL VS SMALL RIFLE PRIMERS

[Bowenbuilt]

There is an intersting conversation going on in the reloading section but I think this would be an interesting topic for general discussion. I have seen this discussed in the past but have never seen any proof one way or the other just mostly opinions. CCI has stated there is no difference between their small rifle magnum and small pistol magnum primers in mixture or cup thickness but their printed data shows a distinct difference. I have used small magnum pistol primers by mistake in my 454 with no problems or differences I could see in accuracy or velocity. So what is the real deal?

[AxeHandle]

It is all well over my head but. Those small rifle primers seem awful hard to me. They even seem to kill my Lee Auto Prime quick too.

[bud]

however my Retrival system sucks. Meaning I don't care to keep track of separate loadings category by PSI...its hard enough just to keep different bullets apart. All my 454s get Rem 7 1/2 no matter the PSI.

[ebg3]

For what it's worth, I've shot around 400,000 small rifle primers loaded in 40 S&W and 38 Super over the years with no issues to speak of. The loads I've used were not for maximum velocity they were just to make a certain power factor for USPSA competition. I do use extended firing pins in my 2011 style guns to help ignite the harder primers. I still use small pistol primers when shooting light 9mm loads in striker fired guns. I have been loading small pistol primers in my flat top 357 with cast bullets....I tried small rifle and they seemed to work fine but I have not compared the two for velocity and accuracy. I've been under the impression that small rifle primers have a harder cup than small pistol and a little more "power". I seem to get a little more velocity with the same powder charge using SRP vs. SPP.
EG

[bobwright]

I've always been under the impression that rifle primers had thicker cups to better contain the higher pressures generated by rifle cartridges. For this reason they might not give reliable ignition in handguns having a lighter blow on the primers.

Seems this something I read on a cave wall, or something like that.

Bob Wright

[Bowenbuilt]

The big question in my pea brain is pressure. Will a small magnum pistol primer stand up to the pressures of a top loaded 454? If what CCI seems to say is true, their primer cups are the same but are they really? I would like someone that knows for sure to make a definitive statement in this regard. I have called them with this question and received a slightly different answer depending on who you talk to on all 3 occasions. It would be comforting to know for sure and I am reasonably sure someone here knows the answer.

[benware]

I worked at CCI 1961-1969 during that time the mixture used in small rifle and small pistol was differant. The cups in small rifle are
harder than small pistol. I made the primer mixture and also charged the primers and .22 lr cases during my time with CCI. Modern day
primers might be differant.

[Ken O'Neill]

Sept 21, 2012 20:55:38 GMT -5 benware said:

I worked at CCI 1961-1969 during that time the mixture used in small rifle and small pistol was differant. The cups in small rifle are
harder than small pistol. I made the primer mixture and also charged the primers and .22 lr cases during my time with CCI. Modern day
primers might be differant.

Man, I LOVE IT when a man with real knowledge speaks up!
Lots of folks with real first hand knowledge on various topics on this site.

[Deleted]

I often use small rifle primers in place of small pistol magnums with ball powders, but since I use small rifle primers for .223, have never tried it the opposite way. I still have a bunch of Remington 6-1/2s that I have been using in .357 because Remington now cautions against their use in .223.

[dougader]

Sept 21, 2012 7:23:30 GMT -5 Bowenbuilt said:

CCI has stated there is no difference between their small rifle magnum and small pistol magnum primers in mixture or cup thickness but their printed data shows a distinct difference.

Yeah, I don't know why CCI would say this, and then go out of their way to suggest using small rifle primers in 327 Federal Magnum due to high operating pressures.