Primer Substitution?

dazlin · Sep 22, 2020

OK. I'll admit up front that this is probably not a good idea, but...
I've noticed that 50BMG primers are readily available. Could they be used in place of large rifle primers?

gwpercle · Sep 22, 2020

Small Pistol & Small Rifle = .175" diameter .
Large Pistol and Large Rifle = .210" diameter.

50 BMG = .3125" diameter (the diameter of a 30 cal. bullet)

How are you planning to seat them ... better check how deep the primer pocket needs to be also ! 50 BMG primers are large and tall ...
I ain't saying it can't be done ... anythings possible with a big enough primer pocket reamer !
Gary

mikld · Sep 22, 2020

Umm, nope!

One thought though; shotgun primers use a primer the same size as large pistol primers (or maybe large rifle, I haven't measured the height of any). I have, just out of curiosity, reloaded the battery cups of 209 primers with large pistol primers and they did work in my shot shell reloads. I see 209s at the gun store so maybe one could punch out the primers and use them in their hand gun or rifle reloads...

gwpercle · Sep 22, 2020

mikld said:
Umm, nope!

One thought though; shotgun primers use a primer the same size as large pistol primers (or maybe large rifle, I haven't measured the height of any). I have, just out of curiosity, reloaded the battery cups of 209 primers with large pistol primers and they did work in my shot shell reloads. I see 209s at the gun store so maybe one could punch out the primers and use them in their hand gun or rifle reloads...

Things is getting mighty desperate for sure ...
Interesting thought !
What could be done with available shot shell primers ... Yes you might have something to work with there ... I wish I had some to look into . Good Idea
Gary

AlHillahoif3 · Sep 25, 2020

Ok, in a more modest deviation. Small rifle primers in place of small pistol? If so to what limitations? What about magnum primers for standard ?

BC38 · Sep 25, 2020

AlHillahoif3 said:
Ok, in a more modest deviation. Small rifle primers in place of small pistol? If so to what limitations? What about magnum primers for standard ?

SRP can be used in place of SPP - BUT you may see more light strike issues in pistols & revolvers with tuned actions or lightened springs. The small rifle are closer to a small pistol magnum primer in terms of brisance (more or less how "hot" they are). A lot of people recommend a very slight reduction in powder charge when using either rifle or magnum primers in place of standard small pistol primers.

But in general, lots of people report having used both SRPs and SPMPs for years in their non-magnum handgun loads with no issues.

Kp321 · Sep 25, 2020

mikld said:
Umm, nope!

One thought though; shotgun primers use a primer the same size as large pistol primers (or maybe large rifle, I haven't measured the height of any). I have, just out of curiosity, reloaded the battery cups of 209 primers with large pistol primers and they did work in my shot shell reloads. I see 209s at the gun store so maybe one could punch out the primers and use them in their hand gun or rifle reloads...

Two items: Good luck on punching out the battery cup primers!
Also, the anvil for shotgun primers is built into the primer body. If used in place of a standard primer, there is no anvil for the firing pin to impact so ignition would be iffy if at all. I’m not that desperate, yet.

mmb617 · Sep 25, 2020

AlHillahoif3 said:
Ok, in a more modest deviation. Small rifle primers in place of small pistol? If so to what limitations? What about magnum primers for standard ?

With the standard disclaimer that my results may not reflect how they'll work for you, I'll say that with the current primer shortage I've come to treat magnum and standard primers as interchangeable in my M&P's with no ill effects. I've also used SRP in my pistols and haven't had any fail to light yet.

DWalt · Sep 25, 2020

For handgun use, SR (and SPM) primers are perfectly acceptable substitutes for SP primers. No need to reduce powder charges. The only issue is reliability in some guns. A weak firing pin strike may result in a misfire, because the metal used in the SR (and SPM) primer cups is slightly thicker (in fact, that is the principal difference between SP and SR primers). Best to load up at least 10 empty cases with SR primers first and try them in your gun. If they all pop, everything should be OK. Using LR primers for larger handgun cases is not recommended as LR primers are "taller" than LP primers and can't be seated flush with the cartridge case head. LP primers can be used in LR-pocketed rifle caliber cases, but only for very low pressure loads. By mistake, I once, long ago, loaded some 8x57 Mauser ammunition using LP primers, and didn't realize it until after I had fired all of them, but without mishap. Maybe I was just lucky.

For reloading some old odd rifle calibers cartridge cases using Berdan primers, I have actually drilled holes to allow insertion and use of shotshell primers. Again, very low pressure use only.

BC38 · Sep 25, 2020

DWalt said:
...For reloading some old odd rifle calibers cartridge cases using Berdan primers, I have actually drilled holes to allow insertion and use of shotshell primers. Again, very low pressure use only.

I did this too - for shooting wax bullet loads in 357 and 38 revolvers. The shotgun primers have a good bit more power than pistol or rifle primers. They pop about like a 22short - versus the pistol and rifle primers popping like a loud capgun. They make for some pretty energetic wax bullet loads!
A 6mm drill bit makes a hole the perfect size for 209 shotgun primer to fit into nice and tight. I also countersunk the hole a little so that the shotgun primer flange would sit flush with the cartridge head. Worked like a charm!

sourdough44 · Sep 25, 2020

The only possible primer substitution I see is SR into pistol cases, and that comes with things to watch out for. It can also depend on the pistol cartridge & how things are loaded. Next time I go back to 9mm loading, I plan to do a few with Win SR primers, for testing.

Using small rifle primers for my 9mm reloads. - YouTube

Here is a good video on the subject. I still have a good supply of most, so no high need.

dazlin · Sep 25, 2020

At the rate things are going, home made primers may be the next thing to look into. <cringe>

Primer Substitution?

dazlin

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gwpercle

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mikld

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gwpercle

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AlHillahoif3

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BC38

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Kp321

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mmb617

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DWalt

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BC38

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sourdough44

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dazlin

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