Substituting SRP for SPP?

lrrifleman · Nov 30, 2020

Of late, I have read a number of posts on this forum, stating that Small Rifle Primers can be substituted for Small Pistol Primers. This leads me to two significant (in my opinion) questions:

1) Can SRP be used to "ignite" magnum hand loads, or just standard velocity loads?
2) While SRP are dimensionally identical to SPP, except for having a "harder cup", would it be reasonable to expect reliable ignition in a handgun whose action hasn't been touched/modified?
2a) Is there an action type that you could anticipate would have difficulty igniting SRP by design of the action?

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

Erv · Nov 30, 2020

I have read that SRPs are the same as SPPMs. I personally don 't know but I have lit 5 grains of Unique in a 38 special with SRPs with no complaint.

TMan51 · Nov 30, 2020

Be careful with that. The answer is yes, no, and maybe. If you call the makers tech support, the usual answer is no. Probably because they want to sell both to you.

Speer was a yes for quite quite a while, but now they say not to do it. ?? Federal was a flat out don't do it. Winchester and Remington go by the label.

Can they work? In my own experience yes. I loaded up a couple boxes and later realized I'd used the wrong primers in a rush. They all went bang just fine, but the loads were mild loads with Unique. That's not a recommendation.

robertrwalsh · Nov 30, 2020

This switch is commonly done with .38 super and some competition guns where the load is being pushed pretty hard.

4barrel · Nov 30, 2020

Erv said:
I have read that SRPs are the same as SPPMs. I personally don 't know but I have lit 5 grains of Unique in a 38 special with SRPs with no complaint.

I did a test on 357 mag loads in my Marlin and got to the point I was blowing holes in the small pistol primers and switched to small rifle primers because the group was pretty good at 100 yards for this bullet and is a good load for my Marlin. XXXXXXXXXXXX NOT FOR PISTOLS. XXXXXXXXXX I have used this load in the Marlin since 2003. I am not saying it will work in other guns.

Cdog · Nov 30, 2020

I wish I had an excess of SR primers.

I have a few, but not near enough to be using them elsewhere.

Moe Mentum · Nov 30, 2020

Depends..... ask your gun how hard it will smack the primer to ignite it....some will, and some won't.....test loads are your friend.

Moe Mentum · Nov 30, 2020

Depends..... ask your gun how hard it will smack the primer to ignite it....some will, and some won't.....test loads are your friend.

H Richard · Nov 30, 2020

Awhile back I loaded up a box of .380 and used (by accident) SPM primers. Only thing that happened is the accuracy improved substantially.

I just loaded a batch of 9mm with Rem 6 1/2 rifle primers. Haven't shot yet but expect no problem. (The Rem primers are probably about 60 years old).

Erocksmash · Nov 30, 2020

I have more SRPs than I do SMPP shoot alot of 357 with h110/w296 and 2400.

Both my 686s a no dash and a -6 are orgional springs, rather heavy... wonder if they will work?? The only way I guess to know is to load and chronograph

Bugkiller99 · Nov 30, 2020

4barrel said:
I did a test on 357 mag loads in my Marlin and got to the point I was blowing holes in the small pistol primers and switched to small rifle primers because the group was pretty good at 100 yards for this bullet and is a good load for my Marlin. XXXXXXXXXXXX NOT FOR PISTOLS. XXXXXXXXXX I have used this load in the Marlin since 2003. I am not saying it will work in other guns.

Did you chrono these loads? Guess they were moving right along out of that Marlin.

STORMINORMAN · Nov 30, 2020

Uh... A question for 4barrel

Bugkiller99 said:
Did you chrono these loads? Guess they were moving right along out of that Marlin.

Yeah: just HOW HOT were those loads that blew out the small pistol primers, anyway?

P.S. Hodgdons shows the MAX 13.5gr load of H110 for a 180gr NOSLER PARTITION out of a 10" barrel in their Pistol section at 1,396fps...

In the Rifle section the same MAX 13.5gr of H110 (somehow?) ONLY delivers 1,351 fps out of an 18.5" barrel...!

Both with small pistol magnum primers and the same OAL.

Whatever happened to more velocity out of longer barrels?

Stroker468 · Nov 30, 2020

Erocksmash said:
I have more SRPs than I do SMPP shoot alot of 357 with h110/w296 and 2400.

Both my 686s a no dash and a -6 are orgional springs, rather heavy... wonder if they will work?? The only way I guess to know is to load and chronograph

Been there. Did that. The T-shirt read:

Magtech SRPs are too thick to reliably ignite. CCI SRPs worked 25 out of 25 tries in my 686, 19, and 586.

4barrel · Nov 30, 2020

Bugkiller99 said:
Did you chrono these loads? Guess they were moving right along out of that Marlin.

Didn't have it with me and don't own one but by shooting buddy has one. Here is an old chart to think about. You can get a zippy 357 load from a rifle. A rifle hammer on the Marlin falls hard and the primers didn't flatten out.

Rock185 · Nov 30, 2020

FWIW, I've used SRPs in 9MM, 38SUPER/Super Comp, and the higher pressure 9X23 Win., .454 Casull, etc. I can't remember if I tried SRPs in other cartridges. I have never had a SRP fail to fire in any revolver or semi-auto with factory springs. I don't know of a specific action type that might fail to reliably ignite SRPs. Perhaps reliability issues would arise in guns with very light mainsprings installed.

Chronographing ammo loaded with SRPs, I've seen velocities a little higher, or a little lower than with SPPs. Velocities were usually within 25 FPS or so with SRPs vs. SPPs. Extreme spreads a little higher, or a little lower. In short, I've witnessed no dramatic difference between SRPs, and SPPs in handgun cartridges I've loaded..........YMMV.

Anyway, I can't say what will or won't work safely and reliably for others, just sharing some personal experience.

Dieseltech56 · Nov 30, 2020

I wouldn’t hesitate to use what you had as long as you start the load development from the beginning.

Small rifle primers are commonly used in high pressure pistol cartridges like the 327 federal and 454 casull.

growr · Nov 30, 2020

Wonder how many more times this or variants of this question will get asked again before this weekend?

Randy

S&WIowegan · Nov 30, 2020

Small Rifle Primers in handguns

My experience with SRPs began in the very early 1990s when USPSA shooters in open class were changing from 45ACP to 38 Super. There were various reasons for the change. At first, the 38 Super mags held more rounds(fewer reloads on a COF). Second, the 38 Super can be/is loaded to supersonic velocities generating higher pressure to make compensators more effective. The learning curve was very steep with powder experimentation. At one time Blue Dot was used, then we caught on to Accurate Arms #7 and then Vihta Vouri 3n37 was used until VV N350 arrived. The reason for using SRPs was the SMPs would puncture on the firing pin and possibly jam the gun.

Fond memories of the fun of experimenting and learning.

Erocksmash · Nov 30, 2020

Stroker468 said:
Been there. Did that. The T-shirt read:

Magtech SRPs are too thick to reliably ignite. CCI SRPs worked 25 out of 25 tries in my 686, 19, and 586.

I've got 60 small magnum primers left

And 700 small Winchester rifle primers left so maybe just load some in empty case and see

jjfitch · Nov 30, 2020

When researching primers here is the most thorough discussion on primers from A to Z!

"The primer on Primers!"

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

Smiles,

Substituting SRP for SPP?

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