Small pistol primers - magnum or non-magnum

[Mountain Man Gramps]

It seems that no one has small pistol primers, only magnum primers.  I shoot .38 spec Vaqueros and a .357 magnum Marlin.  Does it make any difference if I use magnum or non-magnum primers?

[Rex M Rugers #6621]

Unless your loads are close to max to begin with , you probably will not be able to tell the difference. Most "Cowboy " loads are low to mid-range to begin with , so the difference in primers would not matter.

Rex 

[Badlands Bob #61228]

The magnum primers will be slightly hotter than regular primers.  I adjust my powder by .2 gr to account for the hotter primer.  I also believe that a magnum primer will have a better chance of pushing a squib load out of the barrel, should you forget to put powder in the case.  Since I try very hard not to forget to put powder in the case, this is not really a determining factor for me.  However, primer availability very well may be an important factor these days.  Use what you can find.  At SASS loads, it won't make any difference.

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

For CAS loads, it makes very little difference, if any.  If your loads are at the maximum, backing off one or two grains would be OK. If magnum primers are all you can get, use them. 

[Assassin]

Magnum primers make little to no difference in loads. They will not push a squib down the barrel any further than a regular primer, they are hotter, meaning temperature, not increased pressure. With the scarcity of primers use what you can find.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

NONE!!

 

PLUS ONE to Assassin

[Warden Callaway]

I've "used up" small rifle primers in my 32WCF and 38 Special loads that I shoot in my rifles. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

Get me some please???

 

[Major BS Walker Regulator]

8 hours ago, Assassin said:

Magnum primers make little to no difference in loads. They will not push a squib down the barrel any further than a regular primer, they are hotter, meaning temperature, not increased pressure. With the scarcity of primers use what you can find.

This, But on the other hand, I have never used regular primers.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Your fine for SASS level loads.

Heck, ain't much difference between sp mag and small rifle.

OLG

[Three Foot Johnson]

About 8-10 years ago, when I was a manager at Sportsman's Warehouse, I asked a CCI rep at a seminar about primer interchangeability, and she said CCI's small pistol magnum and standard small rifle primers were the exact same primer, just in different packaging.

[Tom Bullweed]

Fine for SASS loads in a Ruger.

I use magnum primers for all bp/sub loads.

[Warden Callaway]

Winchester makes it simple.  

 

For STANDARD or MAGNUM pistol loads.

[Mountain Man Gramps]

So it sounds like it really makes no difference whether you use magnum or regular. Has anyone ever seen a case where it did make a difference?

[Assassin]

It makes a difference in Bench Rest and Bullseye. In other words, precision shooting. I use both, not because of performance but for availability. There is no difference in price, buy the magnums.

Some opinions may vary.

 

I did some tests and posted results here on the wire about 10 years back. Intentionally loaded squibs. Same brand of brass, same crimp, same gun. Used 5 different brands and types of primers. Shot them and measured the distance the bullet lodged in the barrel. There was little to no difference, the magnums actually didn't go down the barrel as far as standard primers. Here's what I learned, "don't load squibs".

[Mountain Man Gramps]

Thanks everyone for your responses.  The corporate experience is pretty much the same - no notable difference between magnum and non-magnum small pistol primers.  Just use what you can get your hands on.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

The only "real" or measurable difference between "Magnum" and "Standard" primers is defined as "Brisance."  The observed difference is the actual "flame travel" at ignition.  The Magnum primer flame travels a slightly longer distance in open air.  This would also give better ignition results in large pistol cases at reduced powder charges.  Whether or not the differences are actually measurable is academic.  For all practicable uses, there is NO real difference.