What is the difference in small rifle and small pistol primers? I've heard of people interchanging them in a bind. Probably could with large pistol and rifle too.

God Bless, Louis

max pressure for pistol primers=37,500-40,000 psi.

max pressure for rifle primers=58,000-62,000 psi.

Large Rifle primer pockets are a depth of .131". Large Pistol and Small Rifle/Pistol primer pockets are a depth of .122".

Thus in some applications small pistol can be used in small rifle (commonly done in .22 Hornet) and even vice versa (.454 Casull).

But the depth is different in large.

I have used small rifle primers in pistol rounds, but only once. It worked well and I would use them again in a pinch. I would advise against using pistol primers in rifle cartridges because it would be dangerous because of the thinner cup of the pistol primer. Using rifle primers in a pistol the only problem, other than an over pressure load, would be misfires. Using pistol primers in a rifle could cause the primer cup to burst and send hot combustion gases back into the bolt and possibly the face of the shooter.

What Lane said -- if you used a rifle primer in a pistol case, the primer would protrude a good bit .. in some tight revolvers, the action won't close ... ask me how I know

Thanks for all the input guys!

God Bless, Louis

Lane, judging from your statement that the 454 Casull uses an SP primer?! I have not loaded it before but have cast bullets for my preacher. I just assumed that as it is basically a 45 LC on steroids that it used an LP primer. Good to know.

quote:

Originally posted by NormanConquest:
Lane, judging from your statement that the 454 Casull uses an SP primer?! I have not loaded it before but have cast bullets for my preacher. I just assumed that as it is basically a 45 LC on steroids that it used an LP primer. Good to know.

The .454 Casull has a small primer port for sure. It was designed to use small rifle primers.

quote:

LOADING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVOLVERS MANUFACURED BY FREEDOM ARMS CHAMBERED FOR 454 CASULL ONLY!
ALL VELOCITIES ARE FOR : 7.5″ PRESSURE BARREL.*
BULLET DIAMETERS ARE : .451 / .452
PRIMER SIZE : SMALL RIFLE REM. # 7 1/2
CASE TRIM LENGTH : 1.380″
MAXIMUM CASE LENGTH : 1.385″
MAXIMUM O.A.L. LENGTH: 1.765″

When I load it down to .45 LC velocity with traditional.45 LC powder like Blue Dot...I use (or used to anyway) Rem 6 1/2.