Small pistol primers for small rifle

Very dangerous, Pistol primers are designed to take around 35,000 cup and the .223 produces 45,000+ cup pressure.
 
Noooo no no no. Small pistol primer cups are not built for the higher pressures that rifle rounds generate. One time I didn't have any Remington 7 1/2 small rifle on hand and tried the 6 1/2 small for some load work with my .223. With low end and mid range loads not even close to max, I was cratering, and even pierced two primers. The cups on the 6 1/2's are not as tough, as the 7 1/2's. So I think the small pistol primers would be not only inviting disaster into your house, but letting him (or her) raid the fridge, and run up your phone bill.

Pistol primers also have a shorter height by about .006" so ignition mightn't be reliable. In black powder .32-20 loads I would give it a whirl. But if worse comes to worse, try to trade somebody primers.


Oh cool, I didn't know the exact working pressures. Thanks brnolvr.
 
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I have used small pistol primers in 223 with sucess... everything from 55 FMJ indoor plinker loads to full bore long range... never had any problems what so ever... I have only experimented with federal no other brand...

Some pistol race gun shooters go the other way around and use small rifle in the super hot pistol loads to make major or so I have been told...

When reading your reloading manual at the very beginning it says do not substitue componets... I stricktly belive in this and recommend you do not do it!

If you have lengthy reloading experience and the know how & equiptment to monitor what is happening then you could try it.
 
we don't use the small rifle primers to make major, we use them because we are shooting major and want the harder primer cup so that we don't pierce the primer. when loading 38 super to major we are way out of sami specs, however we use a supported barrel so that allows us to do it.
 
we don't use the small rifle primers to make major, we use them because we are shooting major and want the harder primer cup so that we don't pierce the primer. when loading 38 super to major we are way out of sami specs, however we use a supported barrel so that allows us to do it.


I was under the impression that you use them to cleanly ignite the nessary powder to make major or exceed it...never having loaded any 38 super or super comp I wouldnt know.
 
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