Mountain Man Gramps Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex M Rugers #6621 Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badlands Bob #61228 Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assassin Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 NONE!! PLUS ONE to Assassin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 I've "used up" small rifle primers in my 32WCF and 38 Special loads that I shoot in my rifles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Get me some please??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major BS Walker Regulator Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 Your fine for SASS level loads. Heck, ain't much difference between sp mag and small rifle. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Foot Johnson Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bullweed Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 Fine for SASS loads in a Ruger. I use magnum primers for all bp/sub loads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 Winchester makes it simple. For STANDARD or MAGNUM pistol loads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Man Gramps Posted August 30, 2020 Author Share Posted August 30, 2020 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assassin Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 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". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Man Gramps Posted August 31, 2020 Author Share Posted August 31, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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