I decided to load some 357 to be used in my lever action. Problem I have no mag primers--
Question-- Will I encounter any problems if I use my cci 500 small pistol primers that I use for 38 special loads? Finding primers here is getting harder and hardes as every one knows.
I had intended to load only a box or two to use for plinking and small game in the lever action. THANKS

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charles hawkins

I decided to load some 357 to be used in my lever action. Problem I have no mag primers--
Question-- Will I encounter any problems if I use my cci 500 small pistol primers that I use for 38 special loads? Finding primers here is getting harder and hardes as every one knows.
I had intended to load only a box or two to use for plinking and small game in the lever action. THANKS

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charles hawkins

It depends on rather or not your powder calls for a magnum primer.

I use standard primers to ignite both 2400 and Unique in .357.

+1

I think the rifle primer is made for the heavier strike of a rifle hammer. It is probably very individual-gun related, but I am not thinking that handgun primers used in a rifle is a good idea.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

We have been loading 357 mag. with small pistol primers since 1992 and have used them in rifles and pistols without any problems using winchester 296

In a .357 size case, standard primers will work beautifully for any but VERY slow ball powders.

Any reasonable load (for .357) will work fine.

Rifle use doesn't have anything to do with it, unless loaded to way over 35,000 psi.

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NRA Instructor

My local Gander Mt store has both small and large pistol magnum primers, but is out of stock on regular primers. If I get some of these mag primers to tide me over until new stock comes in, how much if any should I reduce the powder load using either 700-X or Unique?

I've loaded a great many 357s for my lever gun with small primers over the years. I started reloading in 1972 for a pistol but aquired a rilfe later on. When I load for my rifle I always color code the cases for safety but but I use the same primers in all of them. I have never had any problem with them.

I'm with buck460XVR and using CCI 500 primers and 2400 and Unique all the time with no problems for both my .38 special and .357 mag loads.

Have loaded 357 Mag for 40 years. Never used a Magnum primer from 2400 to AA#9.

Like said above, just because you are loading .357 Magnum brass doesn't mean you need a Magnum primer. If you are duplicating a .38 Special load in the longer brass there's probably no need for a Magnum primer since the powders generally used in a .38 Special aren't hard to ignite. Unless you are using W296/H110, Lil'Gun or another hard to ignite "Magnum" powder don't worry about Magnum primers. As a matter of fact, I've found loads made with 2400 and a standard primer are usually more consistent than when loaded with a Magnum primer.

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