Small rifle primers for 45 ACP?

[Kaldor]

I know a few guys around here use SRPs of various manufacture for other pistol calibers. I have a ton of CCI 400 primers on hand and a few thousand pieces of SP 45 brass. Anyone see any issue with using these? Id obviously work this up, but does anyone see any issues that could happen mechanics wise? Would be shot from a M&P 2.0 and a 1911.

 

[243winxb]

My batch of CCI 400 are soft, so a pistol should have enough pin energy to fire them . Worth a try with a small test sample. SOME old primers, but not for a 223 Rem or over 40,000 PSI.

 

[GRIZ22]

Rifle primers are likely harder to withstand higher pressures. Same dimensions according to a chart from SAAMI. You might have light hits with a pistol.

If you want to try this I would load a small quantity to experiment.

 

[Kaldor]

Anyone know what the cup thickness for a CCI 500 is? I know the 400s are .020". Light strikes are my only worry.

Edit: Found it. Reported at .017" for 500s
Edit 2: LPPs are reported right around .020" for Winchesters, which is what I normally use.

So I think Ill give this a go, load up a few test loads and see how it does

 

[mstreddy]

Kaldor I've loaded a bunch of small rifle primers in pistol calibers. Most worked just fine in revolvers, semiautos and pistol caliber carbines. But, some CCIs gave me light strikes and would not ignite out of striker fired pistols. They did work ok out of the carbines and hammered pistols. I would have to look to see which CCI variant I used.
As to other brands, I've used Remington 6 1/2, Wolf, and Tula. I've used them in 38 Spcl, 32 ACP, 9MM, and 40 S&W.

 

[redbullitt]

I have had no issue with small rifle primers in 357 or 38 special. 9mm out of a glock worked just fine with small rifle too. Rem i believe they were.

 

[Dudedog]

I have done it to use up some I had on hand. No issues in my .45. Might need to back off the charge maybe .1-.2 to get the same vels as a SP if you care. (I would work up again if you are planning on loading MAX loads)

 

[Kaldor]

Thanks for the help gents. Ended with Acme 185 HiTek coated, CFE Pistol, starting at 7.7, 7.9, 8.1, 8.3. I suspect the 8.1 load will be best as Ive shot alot these bullets and they have shown exceptional accuracy at 50' grouping around 1.5" rested. Ill shoot them tomorrow and Ill know for sure.

 

[748]

I always use large rifle primer for 45acp, have been since 2005 I think. I have only ever used large rifle primers in pistols cases that use large primer.

 

[243winxb]

I think.

Large rifle primers are different in size/height, not for all pistols. The 460 & 500 S&W Magnums do use LRM primers, maybe others.

Thread is about small rifle primers in 45 acp.

But i am sure you know this. Some new reloaders may not.

I did smash some primers into shallow pockets with a ram prime a few time. Then i bought a pockets uniformer to correct the defect in the brass.

 

[USSR]

Yep, not a good idea to substitute large rifle and large pistol primers since the dimensions are different.

Don

 

[FROGO207]

My take is IF the firing pin will set them off reliably and you work up your load it will work. That is all I use in my revolvers in 38 SPL/357 MAG. Striker fired pistols may be problematic with the thicker battery cup of the SRP.

 

[748]

Considering at least 10 years and thousands of rounds reloaded this way and having zero problem that are primer related I think I keep doing it.
If it's not broke don't fix it.

I just assumed it was a typo. Where are these small primer 45ACP shells coming from?

 

[FROGO207]

CCI/Speer use SPP in their "green" (lead free) ammo. There are others now doing it as well. Yep I save the small amount of them I find them for IF I need to use small primer times. Otherwise when I load them the same I get virtually the same results.

 

[mstreddy]

748 from the original post:

I have a ton of CCI 400 primers on hand and a few thousand pieces of SP 45 brass. Anyone see any issue with using these?

This thread has been about using small rifle primers in 45 acp cases with small pistol primer pockets.

I am curious though as to large rifle primers in pistol cases as from what I've read large rifle primers are taller than large pistol. Have you done any additional prep to those cases?

 

[748]

I do no prep, primer pockets were left dirty on most of them since I was just loading cast and swagged lead bullet range ammo most of the time.

Do people think you really have to use rifle primers in rifles only and pistol primers in pistol only?

I do the same thing with small rifle primers too. I use them when I load 380, 9mm and 5.7x28mm.

 

[243winxb]

Large primers - A maximum (depth) pistol pocket will take a minimum height LR primer, when looking at the SAAMI chart.

.123"

An RCBS ram prime will make it fit for sure. Even if it has to smash the primers.

 

[USSR]

I do no prep, primer pockets were left dirty on most of them since I was just loading cast and swagged lead bullet range ammo most of the time.

Do people think you really have to use rifle primers in rifles only and pistol primers in pistol only?

I do the same thing with small rifle primers too. I use them when I load 380, 9mm and 5.7x28mm.

748,

You completely fail to see the dimensional differences between large rifle and large pistol primers, and the primer pocket depth of large rifle and large pistol cases. It's not just a question of using rifle primers in rifles and pistol primers in pistols only, it's a question of using primers that are designed to fit the primer pockets they are going in. With small rifle and small pistol primers being identical in size, there is no problem dimensionally. But with large rifle primers, which are taller than large pistol primers, the large rifle primers will sit higher when put into the shallower large pistol primer pocket. This can cause a accidental discharge, particularly with a semi-auto when a round is being chambered. You are playing with fire here. You can argue that you've done it for 10 years or whatever, but it's kinda like the guy who insists on taking cover under a tree during a lightning storm and argues he's never been struck by lightning.

Don

 

[mdi]

I'm not a high tech kinda reloader, but I have a bit of experience. During my early years I experimented with primers;rifle in pistols, pistols in rifles, and magnum vs. standard. All worked to some extent if proper precautions are taken (load data, size difference, etc.). I found that large rifle primers are .008" to .010" taller and didn't/don't want .008" sticking out of the case head (loaded like this in semi autos it could be catastrophic). And mebbe I'm just old but what's wrong with using the size/type of primer the cartridge was deigned for and all the reloading data pertains to? I haven't had any trouble finding, buying, storing or using the proper size/type primers in many years (one time I had to get off my butt and search/look for them)...

 

[748]

Funny, if you know how to read the specifications a large pistol primer can be taller than a large rifle primer and still be in spec for a pistol primer.
I vaguely remember reviewing these primer specs over a decade ago, figured I would make a test batch real quick since the tolerances over lapped before driving nearly 3 hours each way, or waiting till my usual shop got some large pistol primers. Never looked back.

Occasionally I do get a high primer and put it back on the Lee hand prime tool or rcbs press. But it also happens using rifle primers in rifle cases...

 

[Toprudder]

I load a lot of 45acp small primer brass. Based on my results comparing primer size/type with many different powders, I have standardized on using either small magnum pistol primers, or small rifle primers, in all my 45acp small primer brass. They come closer to the performance of regular large primers.

 

[Kaldor]

CCI/Speer use SPP in their "green" (lead free) ammo. There are others now doing it as well. Yep I save the small amount of them I find them for IF I need to use small primer times. Otherwise when I load them the same I get virtually the same results.

Blazer as well. But I think Blazer is made by ATK, who owns CCI, Blazer, Speer, and Federal.