Large Pistol Primers

[jimmyj]

Can large pistol primers be used instead of large rifle primers in a rifle case ?

[CH4]

Sorry
Large pistol primers are too small.

[Golphin]

I found this. Large pistol primers in large rifle cases

[Golphin]

Originally Posted by CH4

Sorry
Large pistol primers are too small.

I don't believe that is true.
There are two sizes and four types of primers. Pistol primers have thinner and somewhat softer primer cups than their rifle counterparts. Small pistol and rifle primers utilize a cup 0.175" in diameter, while large pistol and rifle primers measure 0.210" across.Jan 15, 2018

[Sevens]

Small pistol and small rifle have the same physical dimensions.

Large pistol and large rifle have only the same diameter — the large pistol aren’t tall enough to be properly used in rifle and using large rifle in a handgun round results in a primer far too tall and won’t allow the cylinder (or slide) to close or go in to battery.

Furthermore, large pistol primers should not be subjected to rifle type pressures.

[SMSgt]

Follow established reloading data. Period.

[CH4]

Originally Posted by Sevens

Small pistol and small rifle have the same physical dimensions.

Large pistol and large rifle have only the same diameter — the large pistol aren’t tall enough to be properly used in rifle and using large rifle in a handgun round results in a primer far too tall and won’t allow the cylinder (or slide) to close or go in to battery.

Furthermore, large pistol primers should not be subjected to rifle type pressures.

This is my understanding too. In a pinch I’ve substituted small rifle primers for small pistol, but not large pistol for large rifle.

[pantannojack]

Pressure, Scotty, Pressure. I had read years ago that pistol primers expecting lighter FP strikes were made softer and may not withstand higher rifle pressures.

[Cdog]

I've spent several evenings recovering primers from previously primed brass and loaded rounds from calibers that I no longer have, and don't intend to replace.

Handloaders definitely have a well earned reputation for being "scroungers." I never dreamed after 35+ years of loading I'd be doing such.

I've loaded 300 .38 Special using Winchester SP primers recovered from a bag of RTL(Ready To Load) .40 S&W brass. I used 150 of a pile of recovered CCI 200 primers to load .308 Win FMJ rounds.

So far, not a single issue.

Funny thing is, I have plenty of each.

Just going through junk and finding treasure.

[mikerjf]

Hypothetical question: Could a SP primer case be modified (drilled) to take a LP primer? Obviously a 25acp case probably no, but something like a 357 case?

I mean, we have people remaking primers using roll caps...

[Luke Duke]

Originally Posted by SMSgt

Follow established reloading data. Period.

Could not agree more.

[Charlie Foxtrott]

Originally Posted by Luke Duke

Could not agree more.

This does not mean that you should do it.

[mikld]

Originally Posted by Golphin

I don't believe that is true.
There are two sizes and four types of primers. Pistol primers have thinner and somewhat softer primer cups than their rifle counterparts. Small pistol and rifle primers utilize a cup 0.175" in diameter, while large pistol and rifle primers measure 0.210" across.Jan 15, 2018

Actually, large rifle primers are .008" taller then large pistol primers, both standard and magnum...

[SweetMK]

Originally Posted by mikerjf

Hypothetical question: Could a SP primer case be modified (drilled) to take a LP primer? Obviously a 25acp case probably no, but something like a 357 case?

I mean, we have people remaking primers using roll caps...

I like to experiment,, if people like some Elmer guy didn't, we would all be shooting 25ACP, and 44 Special,,
and, last of all, we would be washing our guns with soap, and water after shooting the black powder,,

Anyways, looking at this pic,, it may be possible to open a primer pocket,,



I would only load plinking loads,, but, I only load plinking rounds for any pistol I shoot.

[Nevada Ed]

What is that.................... ?

IMR4064 powder in that 9mm case.....??

Elongated powder...................... ?
How old is that picture ?

[Sevens]

HAHAHA, I swear I said damn near the same thing!

"What the heck, extruded powder?! Why not just go whole hog and fill that sucker with cordite?!"

[SweetMK]

Originally Posted by Nevada Ed

What is that.................... ?

IMR4064 powder in that 9mm case.....??

Elongated powder...................... ?
How old is that picture ?

Originally Posted by Sevens

HAHAHA, I swear I said damn near the same thing!

"What the heck, extruded powder?! Why not just go whole hog and fill that sucker with cordite?!"

It could be liquid nitroglycerin,, it would not matter,, look at the primer,,,

[mikld]

Looking at that sectioned 9mm case I would try modifying for a large pistol primer, if I had a lathe. There appears to be plenty of metal for a primer pocket about .035" larger in diameter. I'd start with lighter loads and standard primers...

I too saw the green logs in that pic and figgered they were only there for looks, not an actual load!

[jjfitch]

Here is a detailed primer on "primers"!

Primer Info & Chart + Milspec Primers for Semi-Autos & Other Primer Applications

Smiles,

[PapaWheelie]

Originally Posted by jjfitch

Here is a detailed primer on "primers"!

Primer Info & Chart + Milspec Primers for Semi-Autos & Other Primer Applications

Smiles,

Thanks for the link. I spent some time reading this and it's answered a lot of questions and concerns.

[Nemo288]

Originally Posted by jjfitch

Here is a detailed primer on "primers"!
Primer Info & Chart + Milspec Primers for Semi-Autos & Other Primer Applications

Totally excellent.
That one got saved in my general reloading file.

Originally Posted by mikerjf

Hypothetical question: Could a SP primer case be modified (drilled) to take a LP primer? Obviously a 25acp case probably no, but something like a 357 case?

Never heard of anyone doing that.
It would weaken the base too much IMHO.
Not saying it can't be done but risky and requires good machines and skills.
A few calibers have been made with both so it's not impossible with the larger bases.
However looking at the 45ACP they went the other way from large to small.
I have a vague memory of reading about little rings that allowed one to do that.
Not very common, those.

BUT.. You can drill a LP deeper to take a LR primer.
I have done so with the Starline .445 brass as they suggest on their website.
There are nifty primer pocket uniforming tools that do it easily.
The .445 started life as a wildcat made from rifle brass and many of us prefer to use just the one kind of primer for them.
They also get loaded past 44 magnum pressures up to lever/break action rifle levels of 45kpsi max.
The Dan Wesson large frame revolver was designed to fire the rifle primers as are the X frames and other high pressure revolvers.
The SAMMI height tolerances for the large primers are ludicrously large and most manufacturers hold them a lot tighter than that.