We have received quite a few emails over the past week inquiring about using pistol primers in rifles and rifle primers in pistols.
From our findings we advise against doing this.
The pistol primers have a thinner and hence weaker primer cup than the rifle primers. When you use rifle primers in a pistol some pistols aren’t going to have a heavy enough hammer strike to set the rifle primers off. Not really dangerous – but you waste the materials and time to build the round.
For pistol primers being used in rifle rounds you may get a breach on the back of the primer caused by the heavier hammer strike of a rifle and the higher pressures generated by the rifle powder loads. This breach will look like a welders torch and may damage the firearm. Likely damaging the firing pin.
Follow the safety rules, stick to manufacture’s loads, use the proper components and you will have a well performing round of ammunition. Happy reloading.
From our findings we advise against doing this.
The pistol primers have a thinner and hence weaker primer cup than the rifle primers. When you use rifle primers in a pistol some pistols aren’t going to have a heavy enough hammer strike to set the rifle primers off. Not really dangerous – but you waste the materials and time to build the round.
For pistol primers being used in rifle rounds you may get a breach on the back of the primer caused by the heavier hammer strike of a rifle and the higher pressures generated by the rifle powder loads. This breach will look like a welders torch and may damage the firearm. Likely damaging the firing pin.
Follow the safety rules, stick to manufacture’s loads, use the proper components and you will have a well performing round of ammunition. Happy reloading.
