Small Rifle Primers vs Small Pistol Primers

KnotRight

KnotRight

Well-Known Member
Charter Member
Benefactor
Life Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2016
Messages
5,578
Location
Savannah, GA
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
I have about 5 to 1 CCI SRP vs SPP and wondering how much of a difference is there between the rifle and pistol primers.
 
Someone on here has a ton more knowledge then me but I think the cups of the rifle primers are harder and some handguns may not be able to set the primers off.
 
Amps 13 said:
Someone on here has a ton more knowledge then me but I think the cups of the rifle primers are harder and some handguns may not be able to set the primers off.
Click to expand...
I believe this is 90% of the equation. If you have a hard enough primer strike, you can use SRP in place of SPP. However, DON'T go the other way.
 
I used CCI SR & CCI 41 NATO SR Primers for 9mm loads in an MPX. CCI-41’s are for AR-type weapons, and harder than chicken beaks. I use them for .454 Casull loads, and have a couple Sigs that will set them off, but they are external hammer models like P226/P229.
None of my P320 striker-fired models will set them off.
Make up a box and try them in all your pistols. Many newer pistols won’t set them off.
 
Last edited:
Across brands, you'll see some differences in cup softness, which may make some SRP more suitable for pistol use. But, small rifle and small pistol are the same size. You should be fine. Just watch for irregularities.

NOTE 1: According to Speer/CCI Technical Services - Both the CCI 550 Small Pistol Magnum and CCI 400 Small Rifle primers are identical in size. Both primers use the same cup metal and share the same cup thickness. Both primers use the same primer compound formula and same amount of primer compound. They can be used interchangeably.

See the reference I posted for more detail... https://carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/the-primer-on-primers.77416/
 
Last edited:
I run SRPs in my .357 Maximum & my understanding of that is needing a hotter primer for that ridiculously long powder column.

Do your own research to verify, but I believe the conventional wisdom is to reduce your powder charge 10%, then start working back up.
 
I shot 10k CCI SRP in my Shadow 2 last year with zero problems. Good to go.
I've had similar results with Federal SRP.

The only ones I had a problem with were S&B SRP. They would not work reliably in and pistol I tried.
 
Most of my reloads use SRPs because SPPs were so hard to find. Adjust your loads accordingly and make sure your pistols can set off the primer (My Glocks can, my 9x19 1911 cannot) then run the snot out of them. 👍
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom