Primers?????

KnotRight

KnotRight

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I thought that I order 2K of Small Pistol Primer but 2K Small Pistol Magnum primers came in. I know that if I reduce the powder that there is no problem using them in 9MM, 380 and 38 Sp. What I am wondering is how would they work in a 223 or 300 BO loads? I think that the SRP are a little hotter than a SPP.
 
I wouldn't recommend that. Generally small pistol primers have thinner cups. Some known to be slightly harder like CCI, some softer like Federal. You risk a blow out or peirced primer when you use it in a high pressure round like a rifle cartridge. Similar issues with using small rifle primers in a handgun cartridge. You'll likely see a lot of misfires, requiring multiple strikes to fire. I haven't confirmed this part, but have read that rifle primers also tend to be a bit longer. So they'll sit a small bit higher than pistol primers. Some will say "Sure! Go ahead! Works fine in my loads!". If all primers were meant to be interchangeable, there wouldn't be different types like magnum/standard, pistol/rifle, etc. I generally follow whats in the load manuals since this data and information comes from the manufacturers who have tested these components with appropriate instruments. About the only thing I will change on my own is something like loading some 357 Magnum rounds with a standard SPP as opposed to a SPPM. Depending on the powder, as some are known to be a bit harder to ignite than others. I do research prior to doing this, as instances like Remington 1 1/2 SPP are not for higher pressure cartidges like a 357 Mag. The manufacturer confirms they have a thinner cup than the Remington 5 1/2 SPP. I checked with them myself. I have a few thousand of those in my stash, but they are reserved for 38spl, 45ACP, and low-mid 9mm. I generally do not interchange primers though.
 
KnotRight said:
I thought that I order 2K of Small Pistol Primer but 2K Small Pistol Magnum primers came in. I know that if I reduce the powder that there is no problem using them in 9MM, 380 and 38 Sp. What I am wondering is how would they work in a 223 or 300 BO loads? I think that the SRP are a little hotter than a SPP.
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I use magnum Primers in all of my handgun loads no matter what caliber. Wound up with a bunch and I can’t tell the difference using the same amount of powder. Had some 9mm loads tested with both types of primers and several types of primers. Very little difference.
 
I would check around, but I would be willing to bet that you could use SPM in 300 BO subsonic loads.
 
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I mean probably. But why? Just order the ones you already developed a load for online. Or trade primers you don't need for primers you do need here in the BST. Using any other kind of primer is going to change your load, which means you'll need to work up your load again for that primer, account for the different characteristics of the variant cartridge, and load up a separate batch to ensure you don't get cross contamination. You spend your time and the money of all the other components just to use less than ideal, completely different primers with completely different burn characteristics? Seems like a waste of time and resources to me unless you are just really, truly in dire straits, like EOTWAKI times.
 
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Gnash.Hyena said:
I mean probably. But why? Just order the ones you already developed a load for online. Or trade primers you don't need for primers you do need here in the BST. Using any other kind of primer is going to change your load, which means you'll need to work up your load again for that primer, account for the different characteristics of the variant cartridge, and load up a separate batch to ensure you don't get cross contamination. You spend your time and the money of all the other components just to use less than ideal, completely different primers with completely different burn characteristics? Seems like a waste of time and resources to me unless you are just really, truly in dire straits, like EOTWAKI times.
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Some times you can not get what you want. I am almost 100% sure that the email said SPP and not SPMP. Not worth sending back.
Agree use what you know
 
Gnash.Hyena said:
Seems like a waste of time and resources to me unless you are just really, truly in dire straits, like EOTWAKI times.
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… which can happen.

There is value in knowing what can and can’t be useful in a pinch.

Back during the shortages of 2012, powders and primers dried up. When I could find a pound of anything at the gun shows, I bought it. I tried it in several calibers to see if I liked it. I have load data for over 30 different pistol powders - some I liked, some I didn’t, and some I know I can use in a pinch. I stocked up on what I liked, and used up what I didn’t like. In the process, I discovered a few things most people don’t know, like which powders DON’T work well in small primer 45acp, and just because there is published load data for a certain powder doesn’t mean that it is going to work well.

If an EOTWAWKI happens, I won’t have to slow down to work up new loads to see what works.
 
@Toprudder Are those small primer 45 what doesn’t work powders captured anywhere? Would be good info if you are willing to share.
 
Stateih said:
@Toprudder Are those small primer 45 what doesn’t work powders captured anywhere? Would be good info if you are willing to share.
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Trailboss, PB, and Sport Pistol are the ones I remember. I know I posted that information in the past somewhere, I’ll see if I can find it.
 
Toprudder said:
Trailboss, PB, and Sport Pistol are the ones I remember. I know I posted that information in the past somewhere, I’ll see if I can find it.
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Here is a thread I did on Sport Pistol, which showed velocities all over the place with different primers - in one case magnum primers were actually slower than regular primers.

>>New Sport Pistol powder in 45acp

PB powder was discontinued a few years ago, shortly after I purchased it. I did not like the performance in 45acp so I used it up in other calibers.

Xtreme 200 SWC plated bullets seated to 1.225". 5.4gn of PB.
Win small pistol primer = 554.4fps.
Win small pistol magnum primer = 631.6fps.
Win large pistol primer = 652.0 fps.

It was the above results that lead me to use small magnum primers in my small primer 45acp brass.


Trailboss is not a powder that most people would use in 45acp, but I saw data for it and thought I would try it. I was surprised to see as much difference as I did between large/small primers, around 200fps.

Looking at my data, I used a charge of 5.5gn (which was 100% case fill) with RMR plated 200gn RN bullets.

Win small pistol primer = 538.9 fps.
Win large pistol primer = 744.7 fps.

Whenever I see someone state unequivocally that there is no difference between large and small primers in 45acp, I have to bite my lip. In most powders where I have made a comparison, I see about 30fps difference, which most people would not be able to tell a without a chrono, but there is a difference nonetheless.
 
Thanks, that helps. I have a big pile of small primer 45 acp brass waiting to be used. Haven’t had to load any yet, but know it’s coming.
 
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