Can regular small pistol primers be used in 357 with H110?

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sgt.rock

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I am trying to load for my Rossi 92 .357mag. I have almost everything I need to reload a hunting round. I plan to keep this levergun alongside when hunting, for opportunistic close shots on bear, wolf etc that are too close for my scoped gun. Kinda like a quick grab gun for the front of the boat, for when you round a turn and see a moose at 10 yds.
I have used a .30-30 several times as this has happened to me and my partners.
Anyhow, I dont feel undergunned at super close range with a stoutly loaded 357.
I have: H110 powder, 158gr XTP bullets, lots of brass, BUT ONLY HAVE small pistol primers. It calls for magnum primers but I cannot source any. Will it make a huge difference, like erratic ignition, hangfires? Or will it be ok?
I have every other kind of primer but small pistol magnum. I doubt small rifle could be substituted......just asking. I would never do that. (Unless Ganderite said it was ok ��)
What is your verdict?
 
Your standard small pistol primers will work fine.

Small rifle primers would work as well, depending on the spring driving your hammer. Your Rossi will be just fine. I have a similar rifle and I use small magnum rifle primers for the cartridges I reload for it.
 
Go with the small rifle primers. Ganderite has said it's okay. https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...fle-Primers-in-Pistol-Cases?highlight=Primers

And in fact, some manufacturers have come out and said that their small rifle and magnum pistol primers are identical.
H110 can definitely give you incomplete ignition if the primers don't have enough power. Things like misfires or squibs stuck in the bore where the powder is all clumped together from being a bit burnt but not ignited.
 
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I think the issue with small rifle primers in a lever gun is hammer strike. You will want to make sure you have a good hammer drop. Small rifle primers are harder than small pistol and small pistol magnum.
Just a side note, I tried the dominion *large rifle in some 30-30 and 45-70 plinking rounds and would have to hit them twice to go. Haven’t had issues with brand name primers in the levers or dominion with bolt guns.
I would avoid small pistol with H110 myself. Softer small pistol might not stand the pressures.
If it were me, I would load a handful with small rifle and try it
 
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luckythirteen said:
I think the issue with small rifle primers in a lever gun is hammer strike. You will want to make sure you have a good hammer drop. Small rifle primers are harder than small pistol and small pistol magnum.
Just a side note, I tried the dominion small rifle in some 30-30 and 45-70 plinking rounds and would have to hit them twice to go. Haven’t had issues with brand name primers in the levers or dominion with bolt guns.
I would avoid small pistol with H110 myself. Softer small pistol might not stand the pressures.
If it were me, I would load a handful with small rifle and try it
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Just a note here...30-30 and 45-70 use LARGE rifle primers...catnip
 
mbogo3 said:
Small magnum pistol primers and small rifle standard primers are the same thing.
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Not always but often. I wouldn't hesitate to use a max load with a small pistol primer if I had to. The farther back from max you go the more likely issues will show up, like squibs and wild velocity spreads. have seen many times though that velocity, ES and SD all improve with a "hotter" primer.

I wouldn't worry about pretty much any gun not setting off any small primer, even rifle. Unless you are silly and have put lighter springs in your firearm or are trying to use a CCI #41... Something to note as well is that a strong crimp will go a long way in helping your charges of ignite consistently.

Ruger007 said:
What brand of Small Pistol Primers? Some Remingtons aren't recommended for high pressure loads.
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I believe it's the 1.5s that are no good for much past 9mm. A person may get piercing issues at full .357 pressure but it's hard to say.
 
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My take on it... if absolutely stuck yeah probably though incomplete ignition is very possible with full loads of H110. If you are loading light I certainly would not recommend it as H110 is notorious for NOT liking low power loads. I don't know why someone would intentionally do it if they have access to both primers. For the price I'd buy what is recommended and known to reliably work. YMMV.....
 
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