DA small pistol primers - Interchangable?

sushix2

CGN Regular
Location
British Columbia
A year ago, I recall CanAM posting a statement regarding the interchangeability of SRP with SPP for reloading pistol rounds.

I was wondering if the reverse was true? SPP in 223 loads?
 
They posted that it was the exact same primer just different packaging. This only applies to the small primers and NOT the large.
 
A yr, ago I made a mistake of using Lg. Rifle primers to load .455 Colt ammo. They are a little taller
so where proud in the loaded ammo. After much thought I shot through my crony. Did have a few misfires
but always fired on 2nd. hit.
My load of 200 gr. lead over 6 gr. of Unique with Lg. PISTOL PRIMERS is 700 f/s.

With these loaded with Lg. RIFLE PRIMERS it was almost 800 f/s . Still safe , but those primers did
make a significant difference . If my load was @ max. then a different outcome may have occurred ?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Frank
 
Don't go with internet rumors. Consult your reloading manual regarding primer selection.

Primers are cheap, why not use the correct one?
 
not exact, but very close

If you could confirm the differences we'd all appreciate it I'm sure! If I recall the primer charge was the same in both the Dominion SPP and SRP, it was just a few thousandths difference in the cup dimensions, my memory isn't all that great though.
 
If you could confirm the differences we'd all appreciate it I'm sure! If I recall the primer charge was the same in both the Dominion SPP and SRP, it was just a few thousandths difference in the cup dimensions, my memory isn't all that great though.

SP:
qgB3Wwx.jpg


LP:

9IcyC6p.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 9IcyC6p.jpg
    9IcyC6p.jpg
    65 KB · Views: 377
My understanding, is that the primers cups between small rifle and small pistol are identical. The difference is in the charge. the small rifle primers are just a we bit hotter. My buddy and i have been using the small rifle primers in our 9mm rounds with no change vs small pistol primers. chrono speed is the same. i've also been using the small rifle primers in 40 s&w, 38 special and 357 magnum with success. No issues. i have not tried the pistol primers in rifle rounds, but if the cups are identical..... hope this helps.
 
The point I picked off this drawing that could help the non-nerds:

KVB-9 (pistol) 0.48 mm cup (~19 thou)

Standard North American primers are around 17 I think.

KVB-223 (rifle) 0.536 cup (~21 thou)

Standard primers are around 20 I think. Small rifle magnum more like 25 thou.

This explains a few things about them being slightly harder to seat and set off. I use the rifle primers in some handguns with beefy springs and they work fine. I've used many of the pistol ones in handguns with reduced springs. You just have to seat them well. Using pistol primers in 223 would scare me.

It looks like there might be more compound in the pistol primers (!)

No, I don't read Russian. I just read nerd.
 
While reloading 223 at pretty much max loads, I've had many primers blanking (piercing) with standard small rifle primers. Magnums fared better from this point of view.
This is why I wouldn't use pistol primers. They're even thinner.
 
I used SRP in my Shadow with a reduced power hammer spring (13lb)
They worked fine. No misfires.
Looks like you guys are right about thickness. I don't think I would try the SPP in a rifle.
I know it's safe the other way around.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom