Anybody use Pistol Primers in rifle cases?

[Kansas Ed]

With the current shortage of primers, and having only about 700 LR primers on hand for the two of us, I'm thinking of trying Pistol Primers for some of my loads. Most specifically the black powder cartridges...40-82, 40-72, 38-72, and maybe some cast bullet 30-30 loads. All of these are cast bullet loads for us. Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks,
Ed

[jengel]

I have done it. As long as you use the pistol primers in rifle, you should be OK in the loads you mentioned. The rifle primers are a little bit longer (by about .005" or so). If you use a rifle primer in a pistol, you might have a high primer situation and if you are using semi auto, you could get a slam fire. Just my $0.02.

[TX Gun Runner]

All targets below shot with Fed 150 . Loads are under 40,000 psi .



These are on the back of loading data card , not the best target shot with gun .

[3leggedturtle]

Lots of times, Especially with 30/30 using Red Dot and Unique with the Lee 113 and 170 bullets. Forget which manuel it was, but said Pistol primers were good for 45000 PSI, but I keep loads under or around 30000 PSI

[2X22]

Yep, all the time. 444, 45-70, 30-30, 25-35 and a lot more. Anytime I am using a pistol or shotgun powder, such as Unique, in a rifle case I use pistol primers.

22

[Travis Morgan]

Using rifle primers in a revolver will tie up your gun, though there ARE ways of seating them deeper-MAJOR PITA!

I've used pistol primers in rifles, and it works okay.

Something I've noticed, however, is that magnum primers are almost always on the shelf; I'm using magnum rifle primers for my cast bullet/pistol powder loads, since they're not gonna create pressure problems in low velocity loads.

[El Chivo]

I was told to try this for my rifle that does the light primer strikes, because the pistol primers should ignite easier.

It's good to know that they physically fit in there. Last time in our shop had some LP primers but no rifle.

[Kansas Ed]

Thanks for the replies. Perhaps I'll start doing that for some of my Cast Bullet shooting. I've noticed that there seem to be plenty of Magnum Primers here and there too....so I'll pick up a box and see what happens.

Thanks,
Ed

[Old Ironsights]

I generally use them in pistols or rifles... but I suppose a rifle case is as goood a place as any to store them.

[1886]

I use Rem. 2 1/2 primers in all of my large, straight wall case lever gun rifle loads. That is a mouth full! 1886.

[El Chivo]

Yep, all the time. 444, 45-70, 30-30, 25-35 and a lot more. Anytime I am using a pistol or shotgun powder, such as Unique, in a rifle case I use pistol primers.

22

That makes sense. Same powder, same primer.

[John Boy]

I shoot a lot of 45-70 BPCR reloads and use pistol primers all the time, usually Federal 150 Match. Reason is to decrease the brisance on ignition of the powder. Even add a 0.010 construction paper wad over the primer hole to decrease the brisance

[Travis Morgan]

Yep, all the time. 444, 45-70, 30-30, 25-35 and a lot more. Anytime I am using a pistol or shotgun powder, such as Unique, in a rifle case I use pistol primers.

22

That makes sense. Same powder, same primer.

Actually, Chivo, it don't. Some powders are hard to ignite, and the amount of flame put out by a large pistol primer might be enough to completely burn a pistol sized charge, but not enough to completely burn a rifle sized charge.

BTW, I should have addressed this earlier, but DO NOT use rifle primers for pistol or revolver loads! They have a LOT more power, and could cause detonation, where everything burns all at once, causing an explosion!!!