1) What is the difference between the rifle & pistol primers? I mean, they are the same diameter, right? So it must be something in the combustion process. But I have talked to a guy who said he has used small rifle primers in pistol loads when he ran out of small pistol before, and it worked fine.

2) On primer tube filling - Is it ok to fill some tubes in advance, then store them in said tubes? Or do they need to stay in their boxes until ready to be used?

Rifle primers have more priming compound than pistol primers for better ignition of larger powder charges. They also have thicker cups to withstand higher pressures.
Sometimes rifle primers are used in hot pistol cartridges such as .454 Casull. Some IPSC pistol shooters use rifle primers when loading .38 super to make major power factor which requires a load that is a bit above maximum.
The down side is most pistols don't have as hard a hammer/firing pin strike as most rifles, so misfires can occur.

I've never stored primers in tubes, but I suppose the biggest danger would be the possibility of a chain detonation. I've heard of it happening, but only during loading not storage.
The other thing that comes to mind would be the need to label the tube so you wouldn't forget what primers are in it at a later date.

Rifle and Pistol primers seat to different depths!

Come on, there have got to be more opinions on keeping primers pre-loaded in the tubes vs. leaving them in their boxes until ready for use.

SHIRLEY you guys have a comment?

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Originally posted by F6Hawk:
Come on, there have got to be more opinions on keeping primers pre-loaded in the tubes vs. leaving them in their boxes until ready for use.

SHIRLEY you guys have a comment?

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Primer containers are made the way they are for safe storage of the primers. It is not good practice to put them in anything where they "bulk up", like a jar, can, etc., for safety reasons. However, just a single stack of primers in a priming device tube is not quite the same thing. But I would not leave them this way for any great length of time.

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Originally posted by 510wells:
Rifle and Pistol primers seat to different depths!

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The depth of the pistol primer cups is shallower, intended for shallower primer pockets. If you put them in rifle cases, it is possible to get them too deep for the firing pin to set them off. If you put rifle primers in pistol cases, they CAN protrude above the case head even when fully seated!

There are exceptions, such as the .454 Casull, which is supposed to use small rifle primers.