Pistol primers in S&W 500

[mlkdvm]

I recently got a S&W 500. I wasn't really looking for one but it kind of found me anyway. I loaded several rounds with Federal large pistol magnum primers instead of large rifle primers before realizing my mistake. The two boxes of primers were side by side on my bench and I just picked up the wrong one.

So, my question is: do I disassemble them or find a guinea pig to shoot the first few to make sure they are safe? Just kidding. I am a little worried about piercing the primers so I will probably take them apart. The load I used should be relatively low powered, at least by S&W 500 standards. I used 36.0 gr IMR 4227 with Hornady 350 gr XTP bullets in new Starline cases. I would rather err on the side of safety, but how likely would there be a problem firing these rounds?

 

[DoesItMatter]

Large rifle primers are thicker and made to handle higher case pressures.

Large pistol magnum usually have higher case pressures as well, but not as high
as rifle loads.

Depending how light your load is, it COULD work, but probably isn't the safest thing in the world.

It's your gun and your load.

Myself, I always tend to load light, never use max loads, even in my 44 mag.

What you could do is fire 1 round only, no other rounds loaded, and then examine the primer and case.

If the primer looks ok, then it may be a low enough pressure load that the mag primers can handle it.

Due to the primer shortages, I've been reading a LOT of info on primers.

Small rifle can be used in small pistol - from reading, a lot of competition shooters do this.

Large rifle can fit in large pistol, but they may not load properly because the
large rifle primers are a bit thicker.

The large magnum primers probably sit a little deeper so they may not get pierced.
It really depends on the pressure.

 

[Grumulkin]

Originally the 460 S&W Magnum and, if I'm not mistaken also the 500 S&W Magnum cases, were made to load with large pistol primers. If you were pushing the 65,000 psi the 460 S&W Magnum is rated for, then I would not use pistol primers. If your loads are light to moderate, I wouldn't see a problem with using them.

 

[mlkdvm]

I just looked at some data from Hornady. They used either Winchester large pistol magnum primers or Winchester large rifle primers for their 500 S&W loads, so I think my loads with Federal large pistol magnum primers should be o.k. Hornady's and my loads use Starline brass.

 

[rcmodel]

Perfectly fine.
The 36/350 load you listed is 1.3 below a starting load in Lyman #49, as well as 2.0 grains below a starting load in Hodgdons 2009 book.

You are looking at normal magnum pistol pressure, and only about half what a .500 S&W is rated for.

rc

 

[B767Capt]

I just bought one yesterday. I too am looking for load info. I ordered 500 pieces of Starline S&W 500 brass and here is what Starline said under the S&W 500 info section.

The Initial run of 500 S&W Mag cases was built to use large pistol primer per Smith & Wesson and Cor-bon specifications. On July 28, 2003, Smith & Wesson and Cor-bon changed specification of primer pocket to be large rifle. Rifle primers are same diameter as pistol except they are approximately .006" taller. This was done to prevent primer from being pierced by firing pin when loaded with max loads and heavy bullets (bullets over 400 grains). It was determined that hole in primer allowed pressure to damage firing pin and bushing, kind of like a cutting torch and the harder cup of a rifle primer will prevent occurrence. All cases sold by Starline, Inc. after July 28, 2003, will contain a large rifle primer pocket to accept a large rifle primer. Hodgdon Powder has generated load data which recommends using Win. Large Rifle Primers. Click here to view or call 918-251-5640.

Cor-bon has also tested and recommends CCI 250 primers (Magnum Large Rifle). Our new cases will have an "R" after the "Mag" on head stamp to signify rifle pocket. If you have previously purchased 500 cases without "R" on head stamp and wish to modify, you can use a large rifle pocket uniformer to deepen primer pocket to accept large rifle primers by deepening pocket approximately .006". This will not affect integrity of case. For concerns regarding situation contact Smith & Wesson or Cor-bon as they designed case and subsequently changed it.


I also ordered the CCI 250's large rifle mag. Anyone have a mild load for Berry's 350 grain and OAL? I have Unique and AA#9.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

I have a plinking load of 14 grains of Unique under those same berry's bullets.

The recoil us a little bit less than 44 magnum.

Thank you

 

[Kernel]

It's more than pressure and primer wall thicknesses. Large Rifle and Large Pistol primers are dimensionally different. Large Rifle primer pockets are 0.010" deeper. Large Rifle primers are taller.

By using pistol primers in a large rifle pocket you run the danger of seating your primers so far below flush that the firing pin will not make consistent contact. And/or the firing pin will push the primer deeper into the pocket.

Pressure concerns aside, the result could be misfires, duds, hang fires, incomplete ignition. This was just covered in a recent post. It would be best to pull the bullets, dump the powder, kill the primers with WD-40, and start over with the right primer.

 

[zxcvbob]

Pressure concerns aside, the result could be misfires, duds, hang fires, incomplete ignition. This was just covered in a recent post. It would be best to pull the bullets, dump the powder, kill the primers with WD-40, and start over with the right primer.

Why would you kill the primers? Just ease them out and reuse them in something else.

 

[bluetopper]

I'm with rcmodel, with the light charges he has in them they will be OK.

Shoot 'em.

 

[Kernel]

Why would you kill the primers? Just ease them out and reuse them in something else.

Do as you like Bob. I understand primers are worth their weight in gold now days, but I'm just not comfortable making that recommendation on a public forum.