Using small rifle primers for small pistol primers

[kantuck]

Being the proud owner of a 39-2, 9mm pistol, I'm almost ready to reload some cases I've got from my son's. Looking at my primers on hand I had small rifle primers I've used for 22 Hornet. After searching the web for comparisons-SPP's vs. SRP's it gets technical real quick. Some "experts" say no , some have it as OK.
When I picked up my new pistol yesterday that shop had magnum SPP's but no "regular" SPP's. The shop owner looked online then & it showed a 10% pressure increase for the magnums and as the 9mm is a high pressure caliber I thought I'd look harder into the primer comparison at home.
One onliune source stated the pressure went up from regular to magnum to SRP in that order.
I'm not gonna shoot in the Olympics real soon nor do I own a chrono but I do like to load safely and none of my manuals gives info for either magnum or SRP's in a 9mm load.

What say you on using some of the many small rifle primers I have on hand for the 9mm loads?

Note the current thread here about the shortage of small pistol primers. many online sellers have them on backorder-also many have them in some brands.

I suppose hoarding is the culprit again?

It's hard for me to justify a Hazmat fee of $20 plus for a few primers-1,000 primers will last me a long time and I have plenty of suitable powders that are great for 9mm so bullets & primers are the only two items I really need to start loading. I have lots of small rifle primers too, ~7-800 of them.
Your thoughts as to most economical/safe solution?

 

[Rule3]

The "problem" with using SR primers in place of SP is that the rifle primers are harder (cup) and your pistol fire pin unit may not be strong enough to dent it and ignite it. If is does you may get away with it but use starting loads. (use at your own discretion)

 

[fredj338]

As a rule I would not. The harder cups may not fire, in light loads you may get leaks around the pocket. Some brands are also hotter than sp mag, so best to use proper components.

 

[mrrick]

Absolutely not! It wasn't made for that and you may regret it.

 

[.41 cal]

I will chime in on the other side.
Not a problem to substitute between srp and spp. Harder cupp on the srp otherwise no difference.
The VV #4 reloading manual uses srp for all pistol loads, although the new manuals have switched to spp. Do a search on this site. Not that uncommon of a substitution.

.41 cal

 

[Rule3]

They make different primers for a reason. The pressures indicated on the tests are with the specific primer and powder used. When you substitute a differnt brand and type of primer you change the whole equation.

Yes, the 9mm is a high pressure round so if you add additional pressure with the SR what will you end up with?

I have posted an old CCI primer energy chart and when that was produced, the SR was not that much different than a SP. In fact a SPM had more energy than a SR.

As fred stated if the cup material is harder and does not seal in the pocket, then what?

Look around and find the correct components even if it means buying only, buy a lot. They are not going to go bad.

 

[Abflyboy]

I will chime in on the other side.
Not a problem to substitute between srp and spp. Harder cupp on the srp otherwise no difference.
The VV #4 reloading manual uses srp for all pistol loads, although the new manuals have switched to spp. Do a search on this site. Not that uncommon of a substitution.

.41 cal

I would choose to use the Magnum spp first, but if the only available primers were srp, I would develop a load using them.

Heck, I might do it anyway just to see what happens.

It would be easy to find out if your pistol will fire the srp's. Just prime some cases, no powder, no bullet and see if the pistol's firing pin will fire the primers.

 

[kantuck]

I would choose to use the Magnum spp first, but if the only available primers were srp, I would develop a load using them.

Heck, I might do it anyway just to see what happens.

It would be easy to find out if your pistol will fire the srp's. Just prime some cases, no powder, no bullet and see if the pistol's firing pin will fire the primers.

There you have my privately held, (short term) thought-pop some primed cases & see how they are treated by the firing pin. thanks so far...

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

At the risk of being thoroughly brow beat, I'll admit that I have and do use small rifle primers in pistol loads. I have some Rem 6 1/2s that are total flops in any of my small rifle loads. I have worked up(key words here) loads in my 357 and 9mm pistols. I've had no failure to fire or any problem with them. And no, I will not share my data on this forum.

 

[Shooter6br]

Have used some CCI match SRP in pistols (revolvers) Some FTF with Smiths .I need to use them up

 

[S&WIowegan]

USPSA open pistol shooters have been using small rifle primers in their .38 Super major power factor loads for decades with no problems. I personally have experimented extensively with many powders and primers for hot .38 Super with no danger signs or problems. The sole reason for using the small rifle primer in these loads is to minimize or prevent primer melt. Small pistol primers will melt around the firing pin and even stick to the FP tying up the gun.....small rifle primers prevent this.

I have made cartridges with identical components except for small pistol vs. small rifle primers. There is no significant difference in performance.
Small rifle primers simply have a harder cup.

If you're apprehensive about doing it then don't.

 

[jag22]

Not a problem as many others have said. Last big primer shortage SRP were about the only thing you could find. I think I used them in everything for about two years. As long as the hard cup won't be a factor you should be good to go.

 

[Bkreutz]

Just be careful with S&B SRP, they are harder than CCI 41's. I loaded up some 9 major loads, couldn't get them to light off. I even ran it through the gun 3 times, primer looked kinda funny with 3 dents in it and it hadn't gone off. They worked great in my AR though (imagine that). If your gun can get the SR to ignite, you won't have a problem.

 

[Co Th G]

I shoot USPSA Open division with a 9mm major 2011. I and most every 9mm major shooter, use SRPs to ignite our 9mm major loads.

 

[alwslate]

I also have used many SRPs in loads for the 38 spl and 357 mag with
no problems. With heavy loads of slow burning powder in the 357 SRPs
show velocities that are comparable to SPMPs. With modest charges
of fast powder in 38 spl loads there is an increase of 5-10 fps over
SPPs, less than the normal variation between rounds. I had one FTF
with a SRP in a revolver but found that it was caused by a strain
screw that had backed out without my knowledge.

 

[kantuck]

From the above- which generally concurs with my google search readings (mostly) on reloading forums, I'm gonna try some. I've shot a K hornet for many years and thus have lots of the SRP's to play with. One comment I read was specific to the Hornet, in fact, stating that SP primers shot better for accuracy in that rifle mentioned therein.
Thanks to all above as I wade in cautiously with a few loads using SRP's in my new 39-2 pistol.

 

[mule69]

I have never had any problems using them. Sometimes it is all I could ever find and you have to do what you have to do.