Magnum primers for .38SPL ?

H

h.letourneau

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Quebec City.
Is there a problem loading .38SPL using small pistol Magnum primers ?
I am using 158gr SWC lead bullets at low velocity to make holes in paper.
I've got a bunch of those primers and would like to use them before buying
small pistol standard primers.
Thanks.
 
As long as your load is well under max I wouldn't worry about using Magnum primers.
Mind you velocity doesn't equal pressure and just because your load is low speed doesn't mean it's low pressure
 
Use them up. If the magnum primer has a harder cup you might have some misfires if you have adjusted the hammer with less spring pressure. You might have to turn the hammer spring up a half turn.

I do not know if the magnum primer is harder or not.
 
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Clerk at WSS Calgary handed me the wrong ones and I didn't notice untill I was gone from the store. I used them up with no problems and no pressure signs at max for 158 gr swc.
 
you also wanna check your pricing- magnums run about 3 buks more/1000 than standard at wss- chances are you got DINGED
 
ive heard before that the magnum primer opposed to the regular releases a greater explosion which is used for making sure greater capacity cases have all the gun powder properly and evenly burned, if you use a magnum primer where its not nessesary you risk simply scorching the powder instead of properly burning it all evenly, basically crappy loads

but if your plinking away i dont think its a huge issue
 
A while ago I bought a couple bricks of Winchester Large Rifle primers. When I got home I realized the clerk had sold me Winchester Large Rifle Magnum. The store is quite a ways from home so I didnt go back. I've been shooting them for some time in my rifle loads and have noticed no difference.

I have also used both Winchester Small Pistol Magnum and Regular primers in my .38 and .357 load with similar results.
 
that must have been a while back , or it was old stock as winchester has been labelling their primers "for standard AND magnum loads for quite some time now- as long as they have been using the copper colored primers
 
I believe the current Winchester line up is;

WLP #7 - 111 Large Regular Pistol
WLR #8-1/2 - 120 Large Rifle
WLRM #8-1/2M - 120 Large Rifle Magnum
WSP #1-1/2 - 108 Small Regular Pistol
WSPM #1-1/2M - 108 Small Magnum Pistol
WSR #6-1/2 - 116 Small Rifle

The Large Pistol are labeled for Standard or Magnum Pistol loads

I know what you mean about the nickle plated ones. I had a bunch of 70's/80's Large Pistol Winchesters and some were of each type mag or standard.
 
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