Small Rifle Primers in Pistol Cases

Ganderite

Ganderite

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I had a brain fart last night and loaded 200 rounds of 9mm using S&B small rifle primers.

So I took them to the range and tried shooting them in 4 striker fired pistols and 4 different hammer pistols.

I assumed the hammer guns would be ok.

Not so.

All the pistols had misfires. 50% to 80% misfires. Usually fired on the second try.

I will try them in a carbine. Hopefulyl they will work in something.

If not, I will add them to a big box of 9mm practice ammo. Misfires show up a flinch.
 
I feel your pain, we all make mistakes and thanks for sharing so we don't do the same. It is a great idea to use them as "practise' ammo to show up a flinch. At least some good can come from the error. I have actually used small rifle primers on purpose in .357 magnum to be shot in my Rossi carbine, which worked perfectly. I can see why pistols might not be so forgiving.
 
I've been using thousands of Dominion Small Rifle primers, in place of Small Pistol primers, in my reloads for a Glock 17 and Norinco 29, with no problem.
 
Did the same thing about 5 years ago. I loaded up 700 9mm for 3gun. I Used rifle primers AARRGG !!
I had the same results as you.
oddly enough though, they worked fine in a Just Right Carbine I bought a year later. so I did find a use for them.

I cant imagine "pulling" all 700 LOL
 
My understanding is srp have slightly thicker brass cup than spp. A carbine should be able to smack those primers with enough happiness to keep you smiling.
I had a batch of S&B spp that were very liberal (meaning thick as a...) and gave a high rate of misfire with my pistols. That batch was dedicated to my JR carbine which ate them without any issue.
Good luck!
 
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRIMER - A PRIMER ON PRIMERS
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=56422.0

"Handgun primers have thinner cups than rifle primers, making them easier to ignite with the typically weaker firing pin fall of handguns. Small Pistol primer cups are .017" thick, while Large Pistol primer cups are .020" thick. This is the reason using handgun primers in .22 Hornet rifle loads sometimes results in pierced primers in some guns. Obviously their substitution in the high pressure .223 Remington would not be a good idea."

"Small Rifle Standard

CCI 400 -thin .020" cup, not recommended for AR15 use by CCI/Speer. Good for .22 Hornet, .30 Carbine. See Note 1 at the bottom of the page

NOTE 1: According to Speer/CCI Technical Services - Both the CCI 550 Small Pistol Magnum and CCI 400 Small Rifle primers are identical in size. Both primers use the same cup metal and share the same cup thickness. Both primers use the same primer compound formula and same amount of primer compound. They can be used interchangeably."

Below a CCI 400 primer fired in a AR15 rifle.

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BigEd - I see a good deal on Rem 6 1/2. Dealer said it is not a good primer for 223. I load a lot of a mild load of ball powder in 223. I was thinking the hot primer would be good for the ball powder, and the thin cup not an issue with a mild load. What do you think?
 
LittleBoyLefty said:
I loaded ~800 rounds 9mm with Dominion SRP for use in G17 Gen4. Have fired around half of them, with zero issues.
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I have done the same thing with a couple thousand Dominion SRP with no issues in my 320 XFive, PPQ Match and M&P Pro along with my Ruger GP-100. Over the Chrony I found no significant difference. Not surprising othrs might have different experiences given the variables involved. If I am short on primers the SRP is one alternative IF I know my gun will chew them up.

Take Care

Bob
 
Ganderite said:
BigEd - I see a good deal on Rem 6 1/2. Dealer said it is not a good primer for 223. I load a lot of a mild load of ball powder in 223. I was thinking the hot primer would be good for the ball powder, and the thin cup not an issue with a mild load. What do you think?
Click to expand...

I have the book below about the history of the M16 rifle and it covers the primers Remington used when it ran Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. The first trial 5.56 ammunition made by Remington had 6 1/2 primers and had a problem with pierced primers and slam fires. NOTE, during the entire time Remington ran Lake City the normal military 5.56 ammunition had Remington 7 1/2 primers. The slam fire problem was greatly reduced by making the firing pin lighter during the trials period. The greatest chance of slam fires were if a single round was loaded without the magazine in the rifle to slow the bolt velocity and firing pin inertia.

I have never used any Remington 6 1/2 primers as long as I have been reloading and I read the book below before getting my first AR15. And after reading the book below and the link about choosing the right primer I keep it simple and use nothing but Remington 7 1/2 primers in my AR15 rifles. BUT as to your question as long as you keep the pressures low and do not bump the shoulders back too far I do not think you will pierce any primers. Meaning the further the "thinner" primer cups can back out of the primer pocket when fired the greater chance of a pierced primer.

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S&B rifle primers are a no go. Older hammer mounted firing pins on my wheel guns would light them on occasion but no striker fire. I’ve used lots of dominion and federal srp in 9mm and 45acp with no issue.
 
I concur that the Dominion SR primers are utterly fine as a dual-use pistol/rifle primer. It is also my experience that the S&B SR primers are NOT suitable for pistol cartridges.
 
tjhaile said:
I concur that the Dominion SR primers are utterly fine as a dual-use pistol/rifle primer. It is also my experience that the S&B SR primers are NOT suitable for pistol cartridges.
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Don't quote me, but I believe it was said by CanadaAmmo people, that Dominion SR and SP, were one of the same.
 
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