No Flames Please....

[The Preacher]

Wondering:
Has anyone here used Small Pistol Magnum primers in 380 acp or 9mm? Been loading for 45 years so I know what "the books" say etc. ...I normally wouldn't try it...not even sure I would now regardless of what anyone here says. Just wondering anyone's real life experience as I've seen reports and tests using sm. mag primers and even sm. rifle primers in pistol cartridges and pressure tests. The results seem to indicate cut the load a bit and it's okay. Powders I have at disposal are Unique and Titegroup... Again, please don't hammer me here. Looking for real life experience and thoughts... These are different times....

The Preacher

 

[Old_Cop]

Never found it necessary to try it. If you do, use a middle of the powder weight listed and report back. I expect that everything will be fine.

 

[mikld]

BTDT many times. Last time was with 9mm, 124 gr JHP and Universal. No problems. But like any changes of any component, do another load work up. You may find some impressive results...

 

[Sevens]

Well, not sure what you seek in this conversation when you throw it out there straight away that you probably won’t try it anyway no matter what gets said here.

I’m not condemning you for starting this discussion but as a statement of fact that you may or may not be aware of, this topic is the handloading forum equivalent of the legendary “caliber for bear” or “9 vs .45” thread, especially over the course of the last two years as primers have become scarce. (as in, it’s been discussed a gujillion times)

If we skip all the discussion and testing and zoom to the results… if your handgun and it’s mainspring/striker spring can pop the primer, they have NEVER MADE a primer that is too much for your load, assuming you didn’t just build a redline/max load with a regular primer and then just swap in a magnum or small rifle primer.

You may have already chosen never to do it, but it works perfectly well and is a fine option if what you have a supply of makes sense to do it.

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

HAVE DONE IT FOR YEARS IN 9MM. NEVER A PROBLEM. JP

 

[arjay]

I’ve used lp magnum primers when I couldn’t get the right ones with no noticeable difference

 

[Llance]

I was just out to Brownell's in G IA and spoke to the reloading guru who instructed that to use a magnum primer in place of a regular one you should cut your powder load by 10 percent then work up to best results.

This information was given as a suggestion, not as official policy of Brownell's.

 

[hyena]

OP - I just wish I had Unique at my disposal, like you do. Didn't stock up - just bought it a pound at a time as needed. Now it's not available anywhere. I keep my reloading very simple - one load for .38, one for .45, only using Unique.

 

[alwslate]

Using magnum primers in your loads with the small powder charges involved will probably increase your average velocity by less than 10 FPS. Big deal. Don’t worry about it.

 

[The Preacher]

Thanks folks. Don't have to do it now, but the way things are and may continue to be in the future, I'm weighing my options as I have many more sp mag primers than sp std. primers.

The Preacher

 

[Moe Mentum]

Used magnum primers in pistols for years, no difference noted.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

There was a short time last shortage I had no SPP so I used SPM primers in the .38 Special with no ill effect. Like said above, like you do when you change any component drop back the charge a bit and work back up. I agree you will see very little difference in velocity. Accuracy will probably be fine too.

Just a note, Winchester produces only one LPP which is listed for both standard and magnum loads. They would not do that if it were dangerous.

 

[biku324]

I’ve used lp magnum primers when I couldn’t get the right ones with no noticeable difference

This reflects my experience as well.

 

[stansdds]

If all you have are small pistol magnum primers, yes, you can use them. I'd back off a little on the powder charge and work up to the desired velocity, others have a different opinion, but I'm cautious.

 

[gwpercle]

I have done it with cast bullets in the 9mm Luger .
Used a mid-range charge of Unique .
9mm Luger
124 gr. cast truncated cone NOE 358-124-TC ( sized .357" )
4.7 grains Unique ... started at 4.1 grains and work up slowly.
when reliable cycling was reached at 4.7 grains I called it good.
velocity - 1,100 fps .
It's interesting to note that with regular primers 4.7 grains of Unique is still the lowest charge I can use to get good cycling !

Start low ...@ starting load and work up slowly !!!
Load Safe
Gary

 

[H Richard]

What I found mostly with my 231 load was Improved Accuracy when I substituted Mag Primers.

 

[divartydad]

I am going to try Lg. Pistol Magnum primers for reloading 10mm.

 

[DWalt]

As has been said here many, many, many times in the past, it makes very little difference whether you use SP, SPM, or SR primers for your handgun loads, as long as your firing pin delivers enough impact energy to make them all go Bang!. If you want to use SPM or SR primers, first load up 10-15 empty cases with them and see if you get 100% firing in your handgun. If you do, you are unlikely to have any difficulties. If you do get some FTFs, use SP primers only.

 

[Johnnu2]

Has anyone mentioned that you should back off your current load and work your way back up...when switching primers?

J

 

[alwslate]

Has anyone mentioned that you should back off your current load and work your way back up...when switching primers?

J

Absolutely no reason to do so with small charges of fast or medium burn rate powder. Doing so is just a waste of components. Mag primers might increase velocity 5-10 FPS with loads that are way under the pressures that pressure signs can be seen.

 

[Johnnu2]

Absolutely no reason to do so with small charges of fast or medium burn rate powder. Doing so is just a waste of components. Mag primers might increase velocity 5-10 FPS with loads that are way under the pressures that pressure signs can be seen.

YUP, we knew that too... )

J.

 

[smoothshooter]

In a case as tiny as the .380 I would back the powder charge off about 10% if I had been loading a hot charge previously with standard primers if I had concerns, then gradually work back up to your previous charge if you want.

 

[Nevada Ed]

These are different times.... (post #1 )

Would you beleive that these are hard times.... !!

Just glad to see that you do have primers, to be able to load and test out loads.
If they fit, try them.........

just try a nice starting load to see if it might be accurate, for a low cost load
and if not, work up to a medium load to see what turns up.

Here is hoping that you find a winner.

 

[BillBro]

Like many here Ive done it too, with 9mm only tho, Ive never had a 380auto. Nothing wrong with them either and thats not what I am insinuating, just that Ive never had one to try with. But 9mm? Sure. Of course you know all of the yada yada yadas to follow that. Start over with the work up. Honestly I didnt because the ones I did it with were borderline underpowered so really they posed no threat to me or my hand, or my gun. I just tried it to see what I got, I still had some SPPs but was running low so I was seeing what I could do to extend my shooting pleasures.
Circuitous way of saying yes, it has worked for many in these times of woe and want.