Small pistol vs small pistal magnum vs small rifle primers (w/poll)

[Curmudgeon]

With the ongoing great primer shortage of 2020, I have been looking into alternatives for out of stock small pistol primers. I've loaded 9mm with small rifle and asked about that in another thread and the consensus was to go ahead and shoot 'em. The result was ... no issues noted. Everything from a M&P Shield to a Beretta 92 ate it without complaining.

I recently bought a Ruger GP100 in .357 and the reloading guide is to use small pistol magnum. I have at least 1500 small rifle primers on hand but I'm down to a couple hundred SPP. Then I read that CCI's SPM and the SRP were essentially the same. I'm thinking that a small primer is a small primer and as long as I work the load up then everything should be fine for loading either .38 or .357

What say you oh knowledgeable shooting community?

 

[Sleazy P. Martini]

Edit: My response was more about SRPs in pistol loads in general, which I think is a larger discussion worth having (but maybe not in this thread) due to the current shortages.


I've been using SRPs in my 9mm loads for a while. This was prompted by some emailing back and forth with Vihtavouri regarding velocities from their 3N38 powder. They basically suggested using a hotter primer, so I did my research and settled on the CCI400 (partially because FG&G had 20-30K just collecting dust at the time).

Some say using SRPs in lighter pistol loads can cause breech face erosion due to gas cutting from poor primer sealing. In current times, if I shoot a pistol to death that way then I've probably got my money's worth out of it.

Personally, I won't use SRPs with fast powders (e.g. TiteGroup). I haven't read anything saying not to, but I'm already paranoid enough with TiteGroup with SPPs, so call it instinct, I guess.

 

[11B CIB]

Haven’t used magnum primers in place of regular small pistol primers but I’ve seen CCI #400 SRPs used in place of #500 SPPs pretty frequently.

 

[Criminalcamel]

I am not convinced there is any difference at all between a CCI or Federal SRP and a SPP. I get identical velocities / recoil / brass ejection pattern from both over the same load of titegroup and a 147 Blue bullets FP. There has been no breach erosion on my HKP30L match gun and there are no telling how many rounds it has on it.

I have not done any testing, but I would have expected more "pop" from a magnum primer, both rifle and pistol, but I have nothing to back that up with.

 

[Charlie]

Take a look at the Primer Test thread. Small Rifle primers may not fire in some pistols, especially striker fired pistols.

 

[11B CIB]

Take a look at the Primer Test thread. Small Rifle primers may not fire in some pistols, especially striker fired pistols.

What is “most”? That’s all it the primer test thread says. Doesn’t mention any striker guns specifically

The CCI small rifle primers I’ve seen go bang by the thousands in Glock 19, Glock 17, and a Glock 34

 

[Charlie]

What is “most”? That’s all it the primer test thread says. Doesn’t mention any striker guns specifically

The CCI small rifle primers I’ve seen go bang by the thousands in Glock 19, Glock 17, and a Glock 34

I do not know what the OP of the Primer Test thread meant by "most" striker fired pistols, but I had failures to fire with small rifle primers, Winchester I think, in a Glock 19, a Glock 26, an M&P, and an H&K. All four 9mm pistols are stock without any modifications. Those four pistols have never failed to fire with small pistol primers. If your pistols will fire SRP, I see no reason not to use them in your pistols.

 

[bigfelipe]

If it works, shoot it. I would just advise careful load development and reliability testing in your firearm.

 

[Criminalcamel]

In my testing, 9mm glocks will set off CCI SRP down to a 5lb striker spring with the stock striker and 4.5lb with an extended tip striker... any lower and it’s a 70-30 proposition, but that holds true for CCI SPP also for me.

HK hammer guns sent them off 100%, even with the reduced power spring. No idea on the striker guns

Federal SRP’S go off 100% all the way down to 3.5lb striker springs. I won’t put them in a rifle with a floating firing pin for this reason

 

[AR10ShooterinNC]

During the last primer shortage, I only could find small rifle primers. Redid my loads for 9mm, 40 S&W, 38/357 to use small rifle, haven't looked back.

 

[11B CIB]

During the last primer shortage, I only could find small rifle primers. Redid my loads for 9mm, 40 S&W, 38/357 to use small rifle, haven't looked back.

Easier to stock up that way

I’m glad I also stock piled a good bit of small primer .45ACP brass ( @B00ger if you have any more ill take it lol )

 

[Toprudder]

Slightly off topic, but not long ago I tried a new powder - Alliant Sport Pistol - in 45acp. I compared not only different small primers but also large primers, since 45acp comes in large and small primer now. The differences I saw between primer types was staggering, but the numbers were affected some by the case position sensitivity that I also discovered. Still, it was interesting seeing the differences. My conclusion was that primer type can show differences depending on the powder. Always start low and work up your loads to see what works.

https://www.carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/new-sport-pistol-powder-in-45acp.53924/

 

[Etruett]

I use Federal magnum primers in all of my handgun loads. I started this practice a few years ago when the only Federal you could find were magnum. Since some of my revolvers real light actions, they will only fire reliably with a Federal. I have used small rifle in a pinch, but the cups seem to be slightly harder especially in CCI brand. I have noticed all of the newer Winchester pistol primers now state for standard or magnum. I’ve seen no real difference in velocity or accuracy