Remington 6 1/2 Small Rifle Primers OK for Pistol?

[kbm6893]

18 months ago, I found some Remington 6 1/2 SRP. I thought they’d be ok in an AR, but then I found out they’re not recommended in higher pressure rifles and pierced primers can result.

I’ve heard some use them in pistols. Primer shortage being what it is, what I wouldn’t consider 18 months ago is something I might consider in another 18 months if things don’t get better. I’ve read they’re ok in a pinch in pistols not loaded hot.

Anybody with any real experience? I’ve slowed way down on reloading. Haven’t loaded a round in months. I have 3000 CCI SRP and 2000 SPP’s left. Maybe a thousand primed cases ready to be loaded. But we’re coming into the third year of this and I’m starting to think it’s never gonna turn around. I’ve been sinking my gun money in .22 ammo. Least I can shoot something.

 

[teletech]

I wish I still had some 6-1/2s left. They ran pretty well in most things, a few of the really light revolvers had trouble but autoloaders digested them very well indeed. I think I ran about three bricks through pistols and fed the rest to my M-1 carbines.

I’ve used magnum primers in place of normal primers with no ill effects.
I’ve used thousands of small rifle primers in handguns, some Fiocchi, CCI, and several thousand Federal.
I’ve have very few primers that didn’t run fine in autopistols. Most guns they seem to run 100%, but I have a couple that had about a 1% failure rate with the Federal 7-1/2s, a re-strike usually set them off.
Revolvers are a lot more mixed. Some will not run the Federals al all, others will run them about 75%-85%. The 6-1/2 are clearly easier to set off than the 7-1/2 but some revolvers won’t even run those.

 

[teletech]

Also worth noting that a lot of competition shooters who are trying to make major in things like 9mm and 38 super use SPRs to handle the increased pressures they are running.

 

[kbm6893]

So better to use them in semi auto’s? I load 9MM, .380, and 45 ACP. Generally load middle of the road as far as power.

 

[teletech]

So better to use them in semi auto’s? I load 9MM, .380, and 45 ACP. Generally load middle of the road as far as power.

Recommended to load ten or so in each before committing to hundreds, but I'll bet they will function well for you.
The 6-1/2s worked well in most revolvers for me as well, it was the harder primers that I had trouble with getting reliable ignition out of.

 

[kbm6893]

Recommended to load ten or so in each before committing to hundreds, but I'll bet they will function well for you.
The 6-1/2s worked well in most revolvers for me as well, it was the harder primers that I had trouble with getting reliable ignition out of.

Yeah. That’s what I would do. Won’t even bother until I use the 2500 CCI ones I have, which at this rate, is gonna be quite a while.

 

[teletech]

Yeah. That’s what I would do. Won’t even bother until I use the 2500 CCI ones I have, which at this rate, is gonna be quite a while.

Now, that's where I'd suggest a different path...
I had a bunch of 6-1/2s I used up first, saving the 7-1/2s for later, not knowing their characteristics. If I had, I could have used some of the harder primers sooner and kept the softer ones for guns that needed them. Another thing that bit me was the bricks of Fiocchi LRPs I had kept in reserve and when I finally broke those out I found the anvils protruded just enough to give trouble feeding through my progressive press. Also the 8# can of 4895 that turned out to have been damaged and rusted inside. All that is to say I recommend using a small portion of anything you think you have in stock to make sure it works well for your purpose rather than saving the unknown materials for last.
Just my experience.

 

[kbm6893]

Now, that's where I'd suggest a different path...
I had a bunch of 6-1/2s I used up first, saving the 7-1/2s for later, not knowing their characteristics. If I had, I could have used some of the harder primers sooner and kept the softer ones for guns that needed them. Another thing that bit me was the bricks of Fiocchi LRPs I had kept in reserve and when I finally broke those out I found the anvils protruded just enough to give trouble feeding through my progressive press. Also the 8# can of 4895 that turned out to have been damaged and rusted inside. All that is to say I recommend using a small portion of anything you think you have in stock to make sure it works well for your purpose rather than saving the unknown materials for last.
Just my experience.

Maybe. I have several hundred CCi already primed in 9MM alone. Add in .45 and .380 and it’s well over 1000. No real reason to start priming new brass when I have so many already ready to go, especially at my current rate of reloading. But I guess it couldn’t hurt loading up 25 of each caliber and seeing how it goes.

But there’s no danger of damaging the guns, right? I am super OCD about reloading and weigh and measure every round.

 

[DWalt]

I have used SRPs in .38 Special, .38 Super, and 9mm for many years. The only thing to watch for is having enough firing pin impact energy to get reliable ignition. Try out about ten primed cases in your guns before loading hundreds of rounds. If they all fire, you should be good to go.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Actually I don't even know why Remington still makes their 6 1/2 SRP. They are only recommended for use in the .22 Hornet. Their 7 1/2 primers are their small rifle benchrest primers are a very good choice for loading .223. If I had any Remington 6 1/2 primers left (and I do have 400) I would be perfectly confident using them in the 38 S&W, 38 Special, 9mm, 380 ACP and the 45 ACP that use small primers. All have low enough pressures and will work very well with the 6 1/2 primers.

I have personally loaded the 38 S&W, .38 Special and 9mm with Remington 6 1/2 primers without any problems of harm to the brass or guns.

Also, they are not super soft so saving them to replace primers like the Federal 100 primers for light strike handgun just won't work.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Actually I don't even know why Remington still makes their 6 1/2 SRP. They are only recommended for use in the .22 Hornet.

I've never had any interest in that primer before but that's crazy. Never saw that before.

You'd think Federal would have cut that one from the line-up when they took over since that's so limited.

.

 

[Rlg#17]

The difference is negligible. If at all. Ifyou have an unlimited pistol or revolver with lightened springs you might experience light indent misfires.
In my opinion, use them without reservation.

Regards, Rick Gibbs

 

[tominboise]

You might consider offering them up as trade fodder for the pistol primers you want. A hornet shooter may have pistol primers and be needing the Rem 6-1/2 for their rifle.

 

[Skyhunter]

A friend gave me a couple of bricks of Rem 6-1/2's several years ago. I experienced pierced primers in my AR (with mild loads!), so I stopped using them in any of my rifles. But they work well in my .357's and .38 Spl. revolvers.

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I just loaded a couple of hundred 45 acps' with Remington 9 1/2 large rifle primers.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

I have used them for 38 Special +P, in 380acp, 9mm, 40 S&W, 357 SIG & in 45acp small primered cases... No problems. All my guns do have standard factory springs.

Seems to me they would work in 357 Magnum as well...?

They are not recommended for 223/5.56 (or 300 Blackout?).

Cheers!

 

[9mmPatriot]

See post #10...
SRP vs SPP

 

[Skeet 028]

Heck I use the 6 1/2s in 222 and the hornet. 222 started with 6 1/2s. And the 222 is a 45000 psi cartridge. So you could use 'em in 357. I have used 'em in place of SPPs in the past. I have bought them frequently at gun shows for cheap! Just do as said...make sure they fire in the guns you will use

 

[alwslate]

I’ve used them in 38 spl and 357 mag loads with no problems. Never a single misfire. Effect on velocity in 38 spl is negligible.