Large Pistol Primers vs Large Rifle Primers

[skyking897]

I recently mentioned to another member at the range about not being able to find any large pistol primers. Seems everyone is out of stock. Anyway he said he was using large rifle primers instead of the pistol primers. I'm a firm believer when reloading to use whatever my Lymans manual says, no substitutions. These days with so much supply problems I'm beginning to doubt that belief if I want to keep shooting my .45ACP. Anyone ever done this or is it even wise to do?

 

[rockquarry]

Large rifle primers are a little taller than large pistol primers, enough to make a big and potentially dangerous condition in some cases if the primer can't be seated at least flush with or slightly below the case head. Might work in some cases, but I wouldn't do it.

It's a different situation with small pistol and small rifles primers, where a small rifle primer can usually be substituted for a small pistol primer if the load has been worked up with the rifle primer and the handgun's springs haven't been tampered with.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Primer cup thickness to contain higher pressure.

 

[GypsmJim]

There is a right way, and a wrong way.

There is an easy way, and a hard way.

There is a cheep way, and an expensive way.

"I did it for years and there was no problem" is not what I personally want to hear.

My favorite saying, from my favorite actor is: "Are ya feelin lucky? Well, are ya punk?"

 

[DWalt]

LR primers are a bit thicker than LP primers, and cannot be seated flush with the base due to the shallower primer pocket. Enough that a revolver's cylinder or a semiauto slide may not be able to close completely. Otherwise it would be OK. Some of the big magnum handgun cartridge cases are purposely designed to accept and use LR primers, as they have slightly deeper primer pockets.
SR and SP primers can be considered as being interchangeable in handguns - so long as there is enough firing pin impact energy to reliably fire SR primers.

 

[skyking897]

Kinda what I thought, not a good idea but thought I'd ask here. Thanks everyone.

 

[Green Frog]

They’ve explained it pretty well about primer thickness. It is possible to go the other way if you are using low pressure loads in a rifle; in fact some folks shooting Black Powder Cartridges (like 45-70 etc) did it because they thought the LRPs were too hot.
When it comes to large primers though, if at all possible I like to use rifle primers in rifles and pistol primers in pistols. That’s not OCD, it’s just basic reloading safety.

Froggie

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yeah, tell your friend he is incorrect to think he should do that. Like said above, it can be done with SPP and SRP but not with LPP and LRP.

 

[Cdog]

Below is an older chart listing primer dimensions. Only a few manufacturers, but the basic differences are there.

As for me, I don't see LR being a viable option.

 

[stansdds]

Small pistol and small rifle can be interchanged, but there is just enough difference in cup height between large pistol and large rifle to create an issue.

 

[Johnnu2]

Small pistol and small rifle can be interchanged, but there is just enough difference in cup height between large pistol and large rifle to create an issue.

+1.... I've been testing this and it's correct...

J.

 

[DWalt]

Just to finish up, SAAMI primer cup height specs are:

Large Pistol: 0.115-0.126"
Large Rifle: 0.123-0.136"

THEORETICALLY, a minimum LR primer could be shorter than a maximum LP primer and still be within the SAAMI dimensional tolerance specs. But a LP primer will be, on average around 0.009" shorter than a LR primer.

SAAMI tolerance specs for the depth of a LP primer pocket is 0.117-0.123" and for a LR primer pocket it is 0.125-0.132"

 

[skyking897]

As I mentioned earlier, I didn't think it was right but did not have a real reason why but now I do. Thanks eveyone.

BTW Wouldn't you know right after I posted my question I found a supplier with large pistol primers in stock. I ordered a few thousand.

 

[bluetopper]

Large rifle primers are a lot harder to come by than large pistol primers. I see occasional links to online primers for sale if you want to pay the prices, but you just never see large rifle primers for sale online.

 

[rockquarry]

Large rifle primers are a lot harder to come by than large pistol primers. I see occasional links to online primers for sale if you want to pay the prices, but you just never see large rifle primers for sale online.

I hope that's good information. I'm down to one package of a thousand CCI large pistol primers but have plenty of Federal large rifle primers. I'd like to swap even for a carton of 5,000 US-made large pistol primers at an upcoming gun show.

 

[DWalt]

My shortage is SP primers, but I have lots of SR primers which is what I normally use for most of my handgun loads. I have several thousand 209 primers but I very seldom load shotshells these days.

 

[smoothshooter]

What about using Large Pistol primers for Large Rifle loads?
Have read the LPP cup material is too thin to contain rifle pressure loads.
Is that true?
Was thinking about using some LP primers in some .30/30 rifle loads.

 

[rockquarry]

What about using Large Pistol primers for Large Rifle loads?
Have read the LPP cup material is too thin to contain rifle pressure loads.
Is that true?
Was thinking about using some LP primers in some .30/30 rifle loads.

I'm not short of large rifle primers, so I wouldn't do it, but for light cast bullet loads, it would probably be safe. Some cast bullet shooters have done this for years without mishap, but they load mild.

You might be taking a chance, however, with even moderate loads. Aside from a potentially dangerous situation (for the shooter) where a primer is pierced and gas escapes, the gas can etch (pit) a bolt face and damage it.

 

[Rogeronimo]

Gun Broker prices are still cheaper than firearm damage/personal injury ... just sayin'

 

[bluetopper]

What about using Large Pistol primers for Large Rifle loads?
Have read the LPP cup material is too thin to contain rifle pressure loads.
Is that true?
Was thinking about using some LP primers in some .30/30 rifle loads.

I've used large pistol primers in 444 Marlin caliber brass but the pressure is not near what it is with other rifle cartridges. You have to use your head and know what you're doing.