Can someone help me here?

A friend of mine has primed a hundred Colt .45
cases with Rem 9 1/2 rifle primers. He claims they
are no hotter than some of the large pistol magnum
primers out there. I would think the rifle primers
would shoot a hotter flame and could cause high
chamber pressures. Which one of us is correct?

I don't believe any manual out there suggests
substituting rifle primers for pistol primers,
even though he has used magnum pistol primers
in the past. (I sure hope this Obama
paranoia is about over, so people won't be
tempted to use unproven substitutions.)

Actually, you both sorta miss the point. LR primers are for rifles, LP primers are for pistols and how "hot" they are really isn't the relivant issue.

First, rifle caps have a thicker cup that many handguns will not be able to consistantly ignite.

Second, rifle caps are a tad taller, I forget how much, and that can lock up the cylinder on a tight revolver and may cause slam-fires in autoloaders.

I have used small rifle primers for years in a 38 super with high pressure loads. They are a little harder and don't flatten like pistol primers. I would think you could adjust the loads for the primer. I don't think you could reverse that and use a pistol primer in a rifle load. Several of the cowboy shooters at our local club have used large rifle primers in their 45s since that was all they could find.

Jim. He apparently prepped the primer pockets so
the rifle primers fit just as the pistol primers
would have, for they are ever so slightly
recessed and look like a normal fit.

Relivent or not, I am still concerned about the
flame of the rifle primer in a pistol cartridge,
IF it is "hotter", longer flame, whatever term is
correct.

Ed. Thanks, you've eased my mind somewhat.

I would still like to hear from someone who
knows if the rifle primers shoot a hotter
flame......or not??