Remington Small Pistol Primers 1 1/2

[5thSFGroup]

This is one of those days when I am feeling rather ignorant. I have been using Remington small pistol primers 1 1/2 in my .40 SW, Sig. I am using HS 6 powder now but had used Clays in the past. I was looking at the box of primers today while I was reloading and in very...very...very small print on one side...it stated that the primers should not be used on .40 SW or .357. I am not using it on .357... however, I have been loading my .40 with these primers for 2.5 years without incident.

I called Remington and was transferred three times before I reached an individual who put me on hold and asked some one else if they knew why that warning was there. They came back with the statement that there had been some instances of failure to ignite. I can see that in the mag loads and I know that the .40 can have pressure spikes. I used the primer with Clays for over two years before switching to HS 6.

Does any one know what is going on with that primer? I guess that in a revolver, a round could be stuck in the chamber and another one stuffed in behind it.

If there is a problem...Remington should have put a lot larger warning on the box. No one, when I have purchased these, (and they knew I was using them in a .40) ever mentioned that there could be a problem

All comments welcome.

 

[rcmodel]

I think the Remington guy on the phone is wrong.

The difference is cup thickness.
Remington uses thicker 5 1/2 for factory loaded 357 SIG, 40 S&W, .357 Magnum, etc, to prevent flow-back into the firing pin opening.

The softer 1 1/2 is used in low pressure calibers Like .38 Spl, or in calibers likely to have low firing pin impact, like .25 ACP, .32 ACP, etc.


They have a smilier situation with Sm Rifle primers.
The 6 1/2 is a softer cup and is used in lower pressure calibers like .22 Hornet, etc.
The 7 1/2 has a thicker cup and is used in high intensity calibers like .223.

rc

 

[5thSFGroup]

That makes sense. I have noticed that the primers seat easily, almost too easy. I am going to switch to CCI or Winchester. Do you think it is safe to use up what I have left of the Remington or not?

 

[rcmodel]

Unless you are loading balls to the wall max loads?
And see no evidence of pierced primers?

Shoot'M!

rc

 

[5thSFGroup]

As always, good information from you. I am not a hot load freak. I load for accuracy and tend to load at the mid to lower range of the powder specs. I really did like Clays but found out that it is prone to pressure spikes in the .40 SW so I switched to the HS 6. HS 6 gives me a little more velocity but is quite a bit dirtier than Clays.

 

[918v]

The reason you don't wanna use them in high pressure applications is they may pierce. My P210 and P226 both pierced these primers at a rate greater than 50%.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As always, good information from you. I am not a hot load freak. I load for accuracy and tend to load at the mid to lower range of the powder specs. I really did like Clays but found out that it is prone to pressure spikes in the .40 SW so I switched to the HS 6. HS 6 gives me a little more velocity but is quite a bit dirtier than Clays.

You went from a super fast powder like Clays to a powder that quite a bit slower in HS-6. HS-6 does not perform well at the lower pressure ranges and is much more consistent when up near the top of the pressure limits. If you are looking for a cleaner round I suggest using a powder with a burn rate between Clays and HS-6, something like W231/HP-38.

 

[5thSFGroup]

Thanks for the input. I have been using a mid range load of the HS 6 and have had outstanding accuracy. It has been a bit slower than the specs but then again all of my rounds, including the ones I use Clays with, have been a littler slower than the specs. Might me my device or could be the powder and load.

 

[5thSFGroup]

That is good information. One of the pistols I have been using the primers for is a Sig P226.