Primers for 357Mag Rifle Loads

[lago]

I have been reloading rifle and handgun for years so when I got my M92, I started priming with rifle primers. Got to thinking about that and checked several reloading manuals and pistol primers were used.

So, what do the rest of you use for reloaded ammo for your Rossi? I don't plan on shooting any of this in my revolvers.

Lago

[44WCF]

I don't own a .357 rifle, but I have Ruger Blackhawk in .357mag. I use small rifle mag primers in all of my full power loads, along with H110. it doesn't matter what you are shooting it from, you can use the same primers. I didn't care for how much a pistol primer flattened and mushroomed even at lower pressures, I attribute a lot of that to the nickel plated cases I'm using not being able to "grip" the primer cup as well, rifle primers solved that. of course you should work up to the load again if you are substituting components.

[mr surveyor]

I've always been under the impression that rifle primers were "taller" (couple of thou maybe) and seated a bit proud in the shallower primer pockets of pistol caliber brass.

No problems with high primers?

In the converse of rifle primers in pistol brass, I'd heard that seating pistol primers in rifle brass would allow the primers to seat deeper into the primer pocket on rifle brass when struck by the f/p, potentially causing light strikes.

Not so?

[Archer]

I use what the data says to use.
IF the data calls for Small Magnum Pistol that is what I use.
IF the data calls for Small Pistol that is what I use.

I will swap brands of primers on loads that are not max.

I do NOT use rifle primers when pistol primers are what is called for in the data.

Here is SAAMI primer dimension chart:


Large rifle and pistol are different heights.
Small rifle and pistol are the same.

[akuser47]

I use what the data says to use.
IF the data calls for Small Magnum Pistol that is what I use.
IF the data calls for Small Pistol that is what I use.

I will swap brands of primers on loads that are not max.

I do NOT use rifle primers when pistol primers are what is called for in the data.

Here is SAAMI primer dimension chart:


Large rifle and pistol are different heights.
Small rifle and pistol are the same.

great chart and info

[mr surveyor]

there ya go .... at least I remembered half right. Not bad for a half wit.



JD

[Tuco Ramirez]

there ya go .... at least I remembered half right. Not bad for a half wit.



JD

This applies to me when Im right every so often......

[donhuff]

I use pistol primers in the pistol cases. You can use small rifle primers in pistol cases, it wont hurt a thing, but there is absolutely no real reason to do so, unless your shooting a 454 which is supposed to use rifle primers because of it's 60,000 psi pressure. If making truly magnum loads, it is wise to use magnum primers as I think the mag primers have a slightly thicker/harder cup to handle the extra pressure.

Never use large pistol primers in a rifle case. it just is not worth the risk of priming a bunch of cases for a light load, then not using all that primed brass. And later loading up a real rifle load and blowing that "lightweight" primer. Ask me how I know bout this!!! Scared the begezerss out of me.

[cstone]

My purpose for having a R92 in .357 is having a carbine to shoot the same .38 Spl I load for all of my revolvers. I like keeping my ammunition stocks simple, so the more weapons that my ammunition functions in, the better.

Small pistol primers.

[44WCF]

the small rifle primers have a thicker cup material than the small pistol primers. I believe pistol primers are the same thickness regardless if they are mag or std. and the same is true of rifle primers. of course be cautious when making changes and re-work-up the load. there was an article in Handloader several years ago that addressed the very issue of using rifle primers in .357mag.