SKS with small pistol primers

[h.letourneau]

I have not a lot of experience reloading so I think I better ask before doing foolish things.I want to reload some SKS cartridges and I don't have small rifle primers.On the other hand I've a good quantity of small pistol primers.Would
it be dangerous to reload my SKS cart. with those?
Thanks.

 

[RobSmith]

I don't think the 2 are anywhere near the same diameter ....

 

[saskgunowner101]

I wouldn't try it. From what I've read, pistol primers are softer than rifle primers. Might give you grief, punctured primer or something. Just a guess though.YMMV.

 

[m39a2]

I've never seen 7.62 x 39mm cases with small primer pockets, I think your idea is done before it gets started! Pistol primers are far too soft to use in the much higher preasure rifle cartridges, this is a hand grenade waiting to go off!

Scott

 

[Andy]

Remington brass for the 7.62x39 uses small rifle primers, Winchester and most others are large rifle.

Buy the correct primers.

 

[m39a2]

Remington, really. I didn't know that, now I have to find some!

Scott

 

[h.letourneau]

Thanks all!
I think I'll go for rifle primers.

 

[curtmg]

The pistol primers are going to be softer than the rifle. The biggest danger is a slamfire, in a military semi auto, or a pierced primer. Both of which could wreck your day very quickly.

 

[Andy]

One other thing with the SKS. Before each use, ensure that the firing pin moves very freely within the bolt. It is very easy for dirt and oil, and corrosive ammo to cause the firing pin to seize protruding from the boltface. Not good!

I remove the bolt and firing pin and clean it after each use.

 

[H4831]

I have to play devils advocate here. Much is said about pistol primers not designed to handle high pressure. However, the old standby magnums, the 357 and the 44, are designed to handle at least 38,000 of pressure, or about the same as the 30-30 class of rifles, as well as the big Marlin levers.
In the 44 magnum, I interchange all the loaded ammunition between the revolvers and the Marlin 44 rifle. I use large pistol for all of it.
Should I seperate out the same loadings, use pistol primers if they are to be shot in a revolver and rifle primers if I shoot them in the Marlin?
It just happens that some of my most accurate, mid power loads, in the 45-70 Marlin have been with pistol primers. Not saying the pistol primers are more accurate, just saying that's the way it has happened.
By looking at a fired primer in the case, it is impossible to tell if it was a rifle, or pistol primer.