Primer Question

[VAPA]

I ran out of CCI #500 small pistol primers, can I use CCI #400 small rifle primers instead?
Loading 38 Special & .357 magnum, shooting them in S&W revolvers and Henry rifle.

 

[max]

Yes, just don't do any maximum loads. Back off your loads a bit and check them.

 

[stansdds]

You should be fine as long as your loads are not at or near maximum with the CCI 500 primers. If your S&W revolvers have had action tuning and have lightened hammer springs installed, you might get failures to ignite as the small rifle primer has a thicker cup than the small pistol primer.

 

[muddocktor]

I saw some primer tests in the past (don't have a link though) and they equated the CCI 400 primers to about the same brisance as the CCI 550 small pistol mag primers, cup thickness the same too.

 

[bigedp51]

I ran out of CCI #500 small pistol primers, can I use CCI #400 small rifle primers instead?
Loading 38 Special & .357 magnum, shooting them in S&W revolvers and Henry rifle.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRIMER - A PRIMER ON PRIMERS
Primer Info & Chart + Milspec Primers for Semi-Autos & Other Primer Applications

NOTE 1: According to Speer/CCI Technical Services - Both the CCI 550 Small Pistol Magnum and CCI 400 Small Rifle primers are identical in size. Both primers use the same cup metal and share the same cup thickness. Both primers use the same primer compound formula and same amount of primer compound. They can be used interchangeably.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

A few years back I picked up some Sellier & Bellot small rifle primers thinking that they were pistol primers.

I was loading them in moderate 38 SPL loads and they were fine within pressure limits. But many would not go off reliably in some of my revolvers, especially in double action. I ended up having to relegate them to use in single action with my Mod 67 and LCRx.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Why not just buy some more SPP locally to hold you over until you purchase a resupply?

 

[scotthickoryky]

yep,,,,, only difference is the primer is a tad thicker,,,, but since you will be using them in revolvers you wont have no problem with them going bang,, like it was said just back off the powder charge a tad,,,,, the rifle primers are just a tad hotter,,,, but yes you can,,,,, wont hurt a thing