pistol cartridge reloading

jimbowby

[:D] OK, this will be new tome, I've got the LEE loading equip and I've been reloading rifles (.223/.243/30-06/257 Wby mag---for years and NEVER done pistol-

My questions are will any of my rifle primers work (small/large/mag)?? and since it'll be for 45 colt/45acp and 38/357-do any of you guys have a recommended powder, as a general middle of the ground choice

The pistols are S & W 1911/Colt 1911 NM for the 45acp and S & W 686 for the 38/357 and Ruger Blackhawk for the .45 colt-

Thanx for any and all advice !!

[:o)][:o)] JIMBO

20gabob

No, primers are specific to rifle or pistols except in a few instances of rifle cartridges being used in pistols like T/C and a few others. you will need to go buy pistol primers and use those. As far as a middle of the road powder for pistols, Unique is probably one of the best for the calibers you stated but there are several others that would work unless you want to crank up the 357mag. For target and practice loads Unique would do it all.

bpost

Unique is king for a broad use powder in handguns also check Tite Group. it takes low charge weights and burns very clean.

Always use the correct primer for the job. A rifle primer has a harder cup, a LR primer is deeper than a LP primer.

jimbowby

[:D] Wonderful info, thanx everso- guys-

Damn, I've got thousands of CCI rifle primers--I guess I'll stop at Cabelas when I get to Nevada this weekend --and stockup

Thanx again--

[:o)][:o)] JIMBO

gregoryhart1

I can't speak for the other calibers you're interested in, but I know Bullseye works very well in .38, and can be used in mild .357 loads as well. But you won't fully realize the potential of the .357 with Bullseye. For that I use Accurate #9. I like the #9 because I can use standard small pistol primers, as opposed to having to use magnum primers. I like the simplicity that common components offers.
GH1[:)]

Toolfogie

Widener's has wolf primers on sale, of course that hazmat charge can be a dealbreaker.

http://wideners.com/index.cfm

jimbowby

[8D] Thanx guys-

I've been buying off the internet for years, but like you say Toolfogie, shipping now is murder--

I have a place in Nevada and in my travels back and forth (Ca/Nv), I stop at Cabela's in reno and "pickup" stuff

[:o)][:o)] JIMBO

gregoryhart1

quote:Originally posted by Toolfogie
Widener's has wolf primers on sale, of course that hazmat charge can be a dealbreaker.

http://wideners.com/index.cfm


Boy ain't that the truth! I thought about ordering a box of Buffalo Bore ammo but I can't justify spending $25.00, plus shipping, for a $20.00 box of bullets. Seems crazy to me.
GH1[:)]

lksmith03

HP-38/winchester 231 is a good broad range powder. I use it for all my pistol calibers 380acp, 9mm, 38spcl, 45acp

If your pistols have strong hammer springs you can use small rifle primers, but since springs get old stick with the pistol primers.

207driver

Jimbo,
Yes you can use the rifle primers in pistol. I have used small rifle (standard) primers in .357 with good results. They perform similar to magnum primers so you have to adjust your loads accordingly, but with a full case of 2400 or Herco or other bulky powder they work well. As stated earlier, the cups are thicker and harder to withstand the higher pressures of rifle so some handguns may not fire them reliably, you will have to test your own to see.