Small pistol primers v. Small rifle primers

[jski]

Is there a difference between small magnum pistol primers and small magnum rifle primers?

I have small magnum pistol primers but no small rifle primers. I want to start loading some Remington Triple Deuce rounds. Can I use my small magnum pistol primers for this purpose?

 

[milsurpguy]

Probably not a good idea. "Pistol primers" are made from softer brass than "rifle primers".
Rifle primer brass is also a few thousands thicker.
If you did load them, the primers would likely smash flat and look like signs of serious over pressure. The firing pin may also possibly puncture the primer. I use small rifle primers in my 9mm major "sten gun" loads.
My 9mm major loads flatten pistol primers.

I reload primers and I have read everything I can get a hold of on the subject.

 

[kalielkslayer]

It only works one way. The SRP is 27% thicker than the SPP. That is to handle the higher pressures generated in a rifle.

I’ve use SRP in my pistols. I tested for functionality in each gun before I did a big run.

And won’t do it again since SPPs have been available recently.

 

[JDeere]

From everything I have read you can use srp for spp but it's not wise to do so the other way around because of the difference in thickness. I am using srp now in my 38/357 loads. I have plenty of everything but spp because I never needed them for anything. Got into 38/357 last fall and found all components with no problem except spp...

 

[Lennyjoe]

There’s been quite a few posts lately (since the primer shortage) on this topic. There’s a sticky on top that has links to some threads as well. Finally, the search function should provide you with quite a bit of reading.

I’m pretty sure Walkalong did a thread a couple months back on primer swapping as well.

 

[jmorris]

Is there a difference between small magnum pistol primers and small magnum rifle primers?

I have small magnum pistol primers but no small rifle primers. I want to start loading some Remington Triple Deuce rounds. Can I use my small magnum pistol primers for this purpose?

Yes, there is a difference.

I have read correspondence with Remington that indicated the 1 1/2 & 5 1/2 had the same contents but in different cups. The 5 1/2 being for higher pressure rounds. As some rifle rounds have pressures even higher than “high pressure” pistol rounds, I would be cautious of using any pistol primer in a rifle but have use rifle primers in pistols.

 

[roc1]

I found this on another forum

 

[Average Joe]

Pistol primers are a lot softer than rifle primers. I would not do it.