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Primer substitutions?

wpageabcwpageabc Member Posts: 8,760 ✭✭
edited January 2017 in General Discussion
Ran out of small rifle primers for 223/5.56 load. Thinking of using some pistol primers which I have way too many of as a temporary solution.

Anyone had success doing this?
"What is truth?'
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Comments

  • MgderfMgderf Member Posts: 907 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    No, but from what I've read, I wouldn't try it.
    You might get away with it, but you will have issues.

    Rifle primers are generally harder than pistol primers.
    I could easily see this resulting in blown primers.
    On the other hand, I could also see a squib in your future.
    Rifle primers are generally a little hotter too.
    Substituting pistol primers for rifle primer I would think, could end up with un-burnt powder.

    It's your gun, and your face, but I wouldn't do it.
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    somepistol primers have a thin metal cup when compared to rifle primers if you look at fired round check for primer flow. I use small pistol primers on 22 Hornet and they work great. I would start with a medium load and work up in power while checking the fired cases
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  • chiefrchiefr Member Posts: 14,106 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It can be done, I too experimented with the 223 and worked up loads and they did work for me. The practice is NOT recommended by myself or any primer manufacturer however.

    Small rifle primers were scarce following Sandy hook and the 8yrs of a gun hating DEMOCRAT POTUS.

    There is tons of info this subject you can find with a google search.
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bad idea, the pistol primers are not designed for 55K PSI loads. The cups are softer to reliably fire with the less powerful hammer strike of handgun main springs.

    I used some the other way, SR primers in pistol loads. Several of them refused to ignite even after several strikes.
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  • NeoBlackdogNeoBlackdog Member Posts: 17,239 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you use the softer pistol primers with a semi-auto that has a floating firing pin (AR-15) you could also possibly get slamfires and a runaway gun. Not good.
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  • wpageabcwpageabc Member Posts: 8,760 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the excellent feedback. Looks like Im going to take a road trip and get some small rifle primers...
    "What is truth?'
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  • EhlerDaveEhlerDave Member Posts: 5,158 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by wpageabc
    Thanks for the excellent feedback. Looks like Im going to take a road trip and get some small rifle primers...


    Best reply. [:)]

    The replies you got above all explain why the heavy hitting pistols use rifle primers.
    Just smile and say nothing, let them guess how much you know.
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  • JimmyJackJimmyJack Member Posts: 5,506 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have substituted small pistol magnum primers for small pistol primers successfully, but that is about all I have tried.
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