Small rifle vs small pistol primers

[KDX]

I heard a guy say that you could substitute small rifle primers for small pistol primers (in a pinch) but that you had to adjust your powder accordingly.

 

[cam1936]

I heard a guy say that you could substitute small rifle primers for small pistol primers (in a pinch) but that you had to adjust your powder accordingly.

Considering a small rifle primer is meant to light off ~25 grains of powder and a SP ~5 grains I wouldn't try it.

 

[Freyr_255]

Ya there was a thread in here a few weeks(month?) ago where someone almost blew up their gun(think it was a PGW coyote) because they accidentally used pistol primers.

*edit*

found the thread.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=638556&highlight=pistol+primer

 

[Canuck223]

You can use small rifle primers in place of small pistol, just not the reverse.

As mentioned, you need to lower your powder charge and work your load back up. The hotter primers tend to boost the pressure.

IPSC shooters in the 80's and 90's using .38 super and 9mm largely switched to them to manage pressure induced shearing of primer material into the firing pin channel. (as well as using firing pins better matched to the hole size.)

Part of this practice was "helped" along by panic buying of components during the Clinton era.

 

[mlehtovaara]

Canuck223 has it right.

I use whatever I have and don't worry as my loads are already on the light side in both .357 mag, and 9mm.

Just be sure to work up your loads, and check for pressure signs with a test batch.