primers?

[bentcam]

a quick question pls. i was able to pick up some primers today, rem. small pistol 1 1/2, i have used rem. 5 1/2 small pistol in the past. what is the difference between the two. will be used in 38special and mid. range 357 mag. thanks. jim

 

[perrazi]

1 1/2 are std and I think the 5 1/2 are mags. in lite loads shouldn't be much different. you may have to resight your guns in though.

 

[klausinak]

+1; I use 1 1/2's for target loads in .357. I would not use them with any of the slower ball powders like H110, Win 296 etc.

 

[bentcam]

thanks, guys, you would think they (rem.) could note the difference. they may have, but old eyes can't read the fine print. thanks again. jim

 

[rwsmith]

magnum primers are fairly universal

Small pistol magnum primers can be used for any load with a little downward adjustment in powder.

The same cannot be said, however, for regular small pistol primers as some powders, like 110/296 require magnum primers.

I have noticed in newer Speer book that regular primers are recommend for more loads that before, like Blue Dot powder used to use a magnum, but is now recommended that regular primers be used.

My Lyman book just say to use magnum primers for all .357 loads. I think it was just easier and less confusing instead of saying some loads use regular primers and others use magnum primers.

 

[Kilibreaux]

Magnum primers can result in higher initial pressures, but unless you're pushing the envelope or loading for one of the "sensitive" calibers like the 5.7x28, if all you have on hand is magnum small pistol primers for the .357 you're good to go with any powder you choose.
The difference between standard and magnum powders is only significant when dealing with long cases filled with dense charge weights. There is just not that much distance between the touch-hole and the bullet base in a .357 case to reach the performance limits of a standard primer. I suspect 90% of the reason "magnum" primers are often recommended in "magnum" calibers is for just that reason...cause the names match so a magnum primer seems appropriate.

 

[Dale53]

Magnum primers have harder cups. When higher pressures are encountered (.357 Magnum full loads, for instance, as compared to standard .38 Special loads) the harder cup helps prevent primer flow. The harder cup also can cause problems in those revolvers that have been "tuned" to ultra light trigger pulls. Double action in those light triggers can fail to ignite with harder cup primers.

So, magnum primers have a bit more "brisance" PLUS a harder cup.

Using low and medium loads in a .357 or .38 Special, you shouldn't encounter any problems with substituting magnum primers unless your revolver has a very light action.

In these days of serious component shortages, sometimes we have to use what we have (while always keeping in mind possible safety issues).

FWIW
Dale53