NFOA MEMBERS FORUM
Ammunition & Hand Loading => Cartridge and Shotshell reloading => Topic started by: DenmanShooter on December 01, 2014, 07:46:44 PM
-
Made a mistake and purchased some Small Pistol Primers For MAGNUM pistol loads. Winchester WSPM instead of WSP.
I have a box of 1000.
Question is...
Can I use these in .40 S&W ? ( I currently use standard small pistol primers).
Can use these as a replacement for Small Rifle Primers, specifically .223 Rem ?
Do I need to sell/trade for correct primers?
-
Everything that I have read about primers is that the magnum versions will cause a increase in pressure compared to the standard primer due to igniting more of the powder quicker.
If I remember right, pistol primers are softer then rifle primers. You might get away with it with mild loads, but would be risking perforated primers. In a semi-auto you might even end up with slam fires which could also make life interesting.
I would recommend selling/trading them to someone that needs them.
John K
-
I know for sure others have used magnum primers in .40 s&w with no issue. I would expect to start a work up with a slightly lower powder charge.
Typically pistol primers are made with thinner wall thickness and rifle primers are made with thicker wall thickness. A rifle usually has greater firing pin impact and higher pressures. The thicker wall being the primer of choice for rifle.
-
Thanks to you both.
I am not desperate to use them so I think I will try to trade at the next gun show.
-
sfg has had experience with this issue. Can't find the thread at the moment but they are usable with a little caution.
-
My dad made the same mistake with some CCI's he even loaded seated a batch of 40sw. He decided to load them but started way low and worked up to a low mid range. Never showed any pressure signs and didn't go kaboom. I would trade them if you can get what you need.
-
sfg has had experience with this issue. Can't find the thread at the moment but they are usable with a little caution.
Yes.... And I don't remember where and when we discussed that issue, either.
Here's a Good Google Search to employ in making your decision: substitute magnum primers for standard
Quite a bit of discussion of this topic to be found.
During the recent reloading component shortage, I've known experienced reloaders who substituted magnums for small pistol primers in their reloading processes. Those Few Folks always used the lowest published powder grain loads in the handloading book when they substituted the magnum primers.
I watched some shooting from these reloads. From what I saw as the outcome, there was no discernible evidence of high pressure. No cratered primers, no flattened primers, no hard recoil, no Big Boom......nuthin'. And not very much (1-2%) increase in chronographed velocity. So--From what I've seen, you can't tell much--if any--difference.
My understanding is that magnum primers are used to ignite hard-to-start powders.
Me....I very carefully follow the published reloading books. (And still manage to blow up .40XDMs.)
FWIW,
sfg
-
If your ever near Omaha id trade you standard for the mag primers
-
During the recent reloading component shortage, I've known experienced reloaders who substituted magnums for small pistol primers in their reloading processes. Those Few Folks always used the lowest published powder grain loads in the handloading book when they substituted the magnum primers.
I watched some shooting from these reloads. From what I saw as the outcome, there was no discernible evidence of high pressure. No cratered primers, no flattened primers, no hard recoil, no Big Boom......nuthin'. And not very much (1-2%) increase in chronographed velocity. So--From what I've seen, you can't tell much--if any--difference.
Yep---I used magnum primers in my 9mm reloads for a couple-of-thousand worth of ammo. Dropped the powder charge a bit, chronoed, brought the powder charge back up, chronoed...
...found no effective difference when I did so. Note, however: I'm using this in 9mm at medium velocities, so I'm not reloading a high-pressure round in the first place, like .40.
Next time, if I need to use magnum primers again, AND am still using the same powder/reload recipe, I'll won't even change things at all. (If I change powders, I'll check it again, but don't expect issues.)
...but like I said, that was 9mm, not .40. Don't really expect much difference with .40, but I would back the charge down to check it out first.
-
Yes.... And I don't remember where and when we discussed that issue, either.
I thought it had been discussed before but I couldn't find the thread.
Thanks for the info.
-
If your ever near Omaha id trade you standard for the mag primers
That sounds good. I'll try to PM you when I know when I will be in Omaha and mybe we can meet up somewhere.
-
When I was reloading 9mm I bought some magnum primers by accident as well. Being cheep, I decided to research how I could use them. All of the sources recommended started with powder loads 10% lower than normal and working up. I was using HP-38 powder. At 3.9 gr my Beretta Nano wouldn't cycle reliably. As I worked up 4.2 grs caused flattened primers. It was tricky working with 0.3gr difference with a balance and powder feed as mediocre as that which came with my Lee Anniversary single stage reloader. I sold the magnum primers I had left and decided that buying commercial for self-defense and reloading for practice just wasn't practical for me.
A .40 cal case is bigger and with a different powder you may have more wiggle room than I had.
-
Find someone who is willing to trade you 1:1. I did so with someone a year ago or so, but can't do so at the moment.