Is there a visual way to differentuate between "RIFLE" and "PISTOL" primers? I just discovered one of my primer feeding tubes is full and I can't remember if I was loading for a rifle or pistol. It had to be 20 years ago when I last used that feature on my Rockchucker press.

They are dimensionally the same, if small primers. Just chuck it up to bad luck and throw them away properly (soak them with wd40).

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Contrary to popular belief, I've read numerous places that the priming mixture in pistol and rifle primers is the same, primer type for primer type. The chief difference is the thickness of the primer's cup as handgun firing pins are not as heavily sprung as a rifle's so the cups on those primers are thinner. While I've never loaded 100 rounds of handgun ammo with rifle primers, I have done it and my chronograph did not see the difference in muzzle velocity that a hotter mixture would cause. Some handguns may not strike a rifle primer hard enough to contact the anvil on the first try.

Ed

I agree with Nitequill, just soak them with WD-40 and toss them. Think about it, it's at most about 100 primers that cost less than a penny each 20 years ago. So, no huge loss in just throwing them out.

While true that you can use rifle primers in a pistol load safely, typically. The opposite is not true and can be catastrophic.

I would error on the side of caution and simply lose out on the ~$3 that will be spent disposing of them.

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I agree with all previous posts.

Toss Em'

If they're rifle primers and you use them in a pistol they may not go off.No big deal.
If they're pistol primers and you use them in high pressure rifle loads,you may pierce a few.Could be a problem !

Rifle primers are different height than pistol, as rifle cases have deeper primer pockets, so I'm told. I've never measured the difference, but 100 rifle primers vs. pistol, in a filler tube, they are obviously not the same. I have used small rifle primers in pistol cases, but they stick out a little more and may cause problems in a revolver, or especially in a semi-auto, when the slide picks up a round, it could cause an out of battery discharge, something you sure don't want! Also, their are differences in detonation duration, as rifle charges are usually larger and slower burning and the manufacturers have this down to a science. I agree, soak em. Safety is the primary concern in reloading. Don't mess with reloading information provided by powder manufacturers, they have access to expensive equipment for testing. Long post, but I have a Browning BLR in 243 and a Savage bolt action 16. Using the same load, the BLR blew the primer clear out of the case and extraction was extremely difficult. The Savage bolt had no problem with it. Needless to say, I only fired one in th BLR, the rest were delegated to the Savage. Live and learn!

Thanks for all the replys! I no longer reload for rifle. I only reload for 45ACP and 38SPL. I am considering trying one in my Colt Govn't Model since I read your helpful input. Thanks again!

I prime my cases with a hand primer in my La-Z-Boy. I found one primer on the floor, and having loaded both SPPs and SRPs, I looked up the dimensional specs and tried to measure it to see which it was. I couldn't determine any measurable difference to match the specs between either, so I tossed the 5 cent primer.

The small rifle primers I have are a different color than the small pistol primers I have so easy to tell apart. They are different brands, had I bought all the same brand perhaps they would be harder to tell apart.

I always put my primers back on shotgun, rifle and pistol when done.......... never know how long it will be until the next loading. Helps them form getting any moisture in them and back in the correct box is a good thing.

You could test them in a few cases w/o bullets just to see how they work in the pistol brass, but..............

A toss would be the best thing.

I would shoot them in revolver loads. If they are large rifle they are taller. Small rifle are the same size as has been noted. Several pistol loads I shoot mandate small rifle primers are to be used, 327 Fed is one example yet the same design is used for other cartridges and I do not believe the trigger spring is stronger. They are easily set off in my guns. The only hazard would be a fizzle or failure to fire and a bullet stuck in the throat or barrel. Shoot those loads only at a range.

__________________
Front sight and squeeze

If you need to kill a primer, water works as well as anything. Save the WD-40 for cleaning gum off the car.

Personally, if I were going to throw them away I'd skip the soaking - which may or may not work depending on which internet threads you read and what you actually do.

I'd load them into otherwise empty pistol cases and fire them.

Contrary to popular belief, not all brands of all primers are identical. Some brands have a difference in height from pistol to rifle. It is so small it that won't make any difference in the primer pocket. Since you have one tube full, measure the length of the column of primers in it, load a second tube of pistol primers of the same brand and measure them if there is a difference you're done if not, load a tube of sm rifle and measure. Again if the is a difference you know if not it only cost you 10 min and you can still pitch them. Have fun, Ivan

I must be the odd man out here....I would loan them in any of my large primer pocket handgun cartridges....if they ARE pistol primers ...no problem...if they ARE rifle primers still no problem.

Therefore I am destroying them one at a time!!

Randy

I guess they are large primers since you alluded to shooting them in a Govt. Model which implies a 45acp. You will find out right away if they are rifle or pistol as the height is different. Rifle are taller and will stick out of the pistol pocket. If you measure them with a caliper, the pistol will be about.118" tall and the rifle .128"
I would find a way use them