CCI 550 versus CCI 500 small pistol primers

iluvlabs1 · Feb 19, 2012

I have been reloading 38 Special for a few years for target shooting. I normally use 158 grain, .358 diameter SWC above 4.0 grains of Bullseye and a CCI 500 small pistol primer. The rounds are shot in either a S&W or Ruger .357magnum revolver. The loading manual data is based on use of a CCI 500 primer.

I was recently given a quantity of CCI 550 small pistol primers. The manual shows these for some .357 magnum rounds, but not for the 38 Special.

Should I be concerned, or does anyone see a safety issue, if I use these CCI 550's instead of the CCI 500's for reloading as described above?

Thanks.

blujax01 · Feb 19, 2012

CCI says you should not use them in other than loads specifying magnum primers.
Primer Usage Chart

My advice is to buy a .357. Explain to the wife that you need to do so in order to keep from having to throw them away. Actually, you will be saving money!

You're welcome.

iluvlabs1 · Feb 19, 2012

Thanks blujax01. The wife has her own 357's, but, it never hurts to get another.

Alk8944 · Feb 19, 2012

There is no safety issue in using Small Pistol Magnum primers in .38 Special. There are some powders that require the SPM for optimum performance even in .38 Special, HS-6 being one.

The only way you will see any difference between satndard and magnum primers is if you have a chronograph and do a direct comparison between loads with the only variable being the primer. Generally the only difference you will see is a slight, but statistically insignificant, increase in velocity, with a higher extreme spread and standard deviation with the magnum primer compared to the standard one.

Rule3 · Feb 19, 2012

This chart shows the difference in primer energy. Can you use them? Yes, but error on the side of lower powder charge until you see what your results are. There is more energy in a SPM than in a SRM. Read the "notes".

alwslate · Feb 20, 2012

My results differ from those of other handloaders apparently. I see a
slight increase in velocity and a decrease in extreme spread when I use
mag. primers rather than std. primers in moderate pressure 38 spl and
357 mag loads. I see this in fast burning powders like Bullseye, Titegroup and W231 that are not normally thought to require magnum
primers.

dirty gary · Feb 20, 2012

The magnum primers will show a bit more velocity and usually will lower ES. It seems that you would expect a pressure increase, probably slight. Shouldn't be a problem, but I agree with Rule 3, start with a lower charge and see how it responds.

ArchAngelCD · Feb 20, 2012

I agree with the above suggestions, go ahead and use the magnum primers. There should be no safety problems at all.

Many reloaders think magnum primers are required for magnum ammo, that's not true. The use of magnum primers is dictated by which powder you use, not the caliber. Hard to ignite ball powders like HS-6, HS-7 W296/H110 are better when a magnum primer is used. Don't worry, use them...

iluvlabs1 · Feb 21, 2012

Thanks everyone, for the replies. I'll back off on the load a bit and try the 550's.

Thanks again!

ArchAngelCD · Feb 22, 2012

iluvlabs1 said:
Thanks everyone, for the replies. I'll back off on the load a bit and try the 550's.

Thanks again!

There's no reason to back off on a .38 Special load that will be fired in a .357 Magnum. You can double a .38 Special's pressure and still not match the max pressure of a .357 Magnum. If your original load is within standard .38 Special pressures using a CCI-550 primer won't even elevate that load to +P pressures.

CCI 550 versus CCI 500 small pistol primers

iluvlabs1

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blujax01

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iluvlabs1

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Alk8944

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Rule3

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dirty gary

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ArchAngelCD

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iluvlabs1

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