Pistol Rifle primer difference
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It may be me but I can't tell a difference. I thought the center of one looked like it had a tip in the center but when I looked at the other I can't be sure. I even measured them with a caliper and don't see any difference. Their the same size. I wonder if there is a difference or if they are the same primer?? Idono
A small rifle and pistol primer have exactly the same diameter and height. The differences are thicker material in the primer cup due to higher pressures (may see misfires in pistols) and a different powder mix. You should see an anvil (a tripod with the legs at the mouth of the U) inside both. The anvil provides the resistance to the firing pin blow that allows the primer mix to ignite.
The colors of the primer mix were to allow factory workers to be able to ID exactly what they had before packaging.
The colors of the primer mix were to allow factory workers to be able to ID exactly what they had before packaging.
There is very little difference as far as flash or ignition power.
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Thanks, I just started loading for rifle and the two primers looked an awful lot a like. I just wondered if I got one or two misplaced if it would make much difference.
Alk8944
US Veteran
Generally all manufacturers use a different color disk or mark the anvil to differentiate between different primer types of the same dimensions. Looking at new primers side-by-side while you are still sure which they are should help. If you are not sure about a loose primer that you find simply throw it away instead of guessing, it isn't worth that much!
Now, a bit of hearsay from another member who claims to have known an employee at CCI who had access to their primer specifications. He reported that his source confirmed that all dimensions, including thickness, and the primer pellet weight, were identical for both the CCI Small Rifle and Small Pistol! In other words, aside from packaging they are, or were identical! I realize this is counter-intuitive, and at odds with popular belief, but that is what was reported. Take it for what it is, hearsay, but this would explain why you don't see any difference!
I can tell you this, I have experimentally loaded identical loads in .357 Magnum with a different manufacturers Small Pistol and Small Rifle primers. The result was there was no discernable difference in ballistic performance when the loads were chronographed! There was a measurable difference when their Small Pistol Magnum primer was used!
I wouldn't hesitate to use Small Rifle in handgun loads, at least for revolvers, but I would be hesitant to use Small Pistol primers in rifle loads just on principal.
Now, a bit of hearsay from another member who claims to have known an employee at CCI who had access to their primer specifications. He reported that his source confirmed that all dimensions, including thickness, and the primer pellet weight, were identical for both the CCI Small Rifle and Small Pistol! In other words, aside from packaging they are, or were identical! I realize this is counter-intuitive, and at odds with popular belief, but that is what was reported. Take it for what it is, hearsay, but this would explain why you don't see any difference!
I can tell you this, I have experimentally loaded identical loads in .357 Magnum with a different manufacturers Small Pistol and Small Rifle primers. The result was there was no discernable difference in ballistic performance when the loads were chronographed! There was a measurable difference when their Small Pistol Magnum primer was used!
I wouldn't hesitate to use Small Rifle in handgun loads, at least for revolvers, but I would be hesitant to use Small Pistol primers in rifle loads just on principal.
KarmannGhia
Member
Good info. I've only loaded pistol calibers, and never bothered to research rifle primers. Thanks for the lesson.
longaction
Member
I tried small primers in handgun cartridges. The only difference that I noticed was some misfires when shooting double action mode with most revolvers. Like WR said above, the cup material is thicker in rifle primers than in pistol primers.
kwselke
Member
My 9 MM Luger brass uses small pistol primers. My .454 Casull brass uses small rifle primers. The small rifle primers are stronger and burn more robustly. I would not interchange the two.
slugo88
Member
I had the info on my computer, looked for it for 20 minutes and cant find it but the info I had was published and the diffrence between small pistol and small rifle charge was like 15% and slightly thicker metal. The difrence from small pistol and small pistol mag was the mag was almost twice as powerfull as the small pistol. I have shot over 3,000 rounds in 9mm and 38special using small rifle primers and have logged only 1 fail to fire in the last 2 years. I find no diffrence between the two. Charlie
S.B.
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Pistol primers are designed to operate at 20,000 to 30,000 psi while rifle primers operate at 40,000 to 60,000. Not a good idea to use the wrong ones.
But, your guns your face soooo your the boss. Remember the super face in IPSC shooters when the .38 Super first appeared in competition? And yes I do know this wasn't all the problem there.
Steve
But, your guns your face soooo your the boss. Remember the super face in IPSC shooters when the .38 Super first appeared in competition? And yes I do know this wasn't all the problem there.
Steve
Thanks for the info guys.
Steve
The reason I asked the question is I just started to load for the .223. I've loaded pistol for years. I was just looking at the primers and was trying to find a way to tell them apart. I keep the stuff separate but thought if somehow if I got one or two mixed in with the others how would I tell them apart. Sounds like the answer is to throw them out.
deadin
US Veteran
If you are mixing primers on your loading bench you might want to review your procedures.
(Things like: no more than one kind of powder open at any time, same with primers. A neat bench is a safe bench......)
(Things like: no more than one kind of powder open at any time, same with primers. A neat bench is a safe bench......)If you are mixing primers on your loading bench you might want to review your procedures.
Like I said I keep things separated. They look so much alike I was wondering if there were a way to tell them apart.
sourdough44
Member
FWIW, I loaded some mild 204 Ruger loads with small pistol primers a few years ago, they shot fine & no abnormal indications. Do I do it as a normal practice - no. Would I do upper end loads with them - no.
Small pistol & small rifle primers are of the exact same size. It's the large pistol to large rifle where they are slightly different in size.
Small pistol & small rifle primers are of the exact same size. It's the large pistol to large rifle where they are slightly different in size.
Simple answer. Look at the label on the primer package. Primers should ALWAYS be stored in their original packaging until they are used.
