Small pistol primers vs small pistol MAGNUMS

[JackRR]

I have had SP and SR primers on order from Cabela's for nearly 3 months now. I am supposed to get them later this month but I wont hold my breath. I am almost out of the SP's so I will hold them back for reloading .380 since I cant find the factory ammo anywhere.

The last few days there are SP MAGNUMS popping up in a couple of places. After doing the google thing it seems more than half think it is OK as long you load at the lower end of the min-max powder charge. Also less difference with slower burning powders.

What do you guys think? I load 9mm/40S&W/.380.
Most of my pistol reloading is for the Glock 17 so basically I am asking is can I use the SPM's for it.
I wont use it for the 40cal G27. Ruger LCP???

Got HP-38 and Clays powder.

EDIT: source http://store.thirdgenerationshootingsup ... ,5546.html
kinda high plus 2k limit plus shipping fees to add too it.

JackRR

[longtooth]

If that was all I had, & I am getting close to it, I would load them starting way down.
I would load only a couple & go shoot them.
My biggest concern would be w/ the .380s due to case size.
I am not yet willing to give $40.00/1000 yet. I have never used clays but I dont think I would have a problem getting a load that is workable w/ Unique or W231.

I am not a loading expert. This advice is worth what you just PD for it.
My .02cents & some think it worth half that.

[CDH]

I use SPM primers in 40S&W and larger cases without a second thought, but I load middle of the road anyway. If I were looking for max loads I'd be a little more careful.

Let's put it this way, while I fully understand that it is a bit tenuous to infer pressure from velocity, my chrony can't tell the difference between SP and SPM primers in a 40S&W out of a Glock 22 shooting Universal Clays and 180 grain plated bullets. That was my experiment, you make your own conclusions...

[longtooth]

I too measure preasure "by feel". I agree totally w/CDH. When the load is not approaching max & you are not crushing powder there is room to experiment.

My oppinion I know but all my barrels are straight w/o any bulges.

[Houston1944]

This is just my opinion, not a proven fact -- If your load is so hot that the difference between a standard primer and a magnum primer causes a KB, then your load is too hot period.

I switch from standard to magnum primers without any concerns for all of my target loads. I would be slightly concerned only if I was using a maximum load in a low pressure caliber with brass that had been reloaded several time. Winchester only makes one LP primer and labels it good for both standard and magnum, at least they used to, since I have not bought any Win primers in a few years it could be different now. Obviously they don't think their primer will blow up any standard loads.

[JackRR]

Thanks for the replies. Primers showed up in a couple more places today, so I think I will hold out for my order. I agree $40/1000 is steep especially when you add the HMat Fee and shipping.

Powder Valley had SRMagnums for $24.50/1000 earlier today, But they are gone now.

[JackRR]

Got lucky today!! Found some Magtech SP at Cabela's online IN-STOCK!!!.
Got some and added some powder also too help split out the hazmat fee.

EDIT: 29.99/1000 on the small pistol primers.

[jay524288]

You will likely have problems with the primer hardness.

A few months ago I ordered a bunch of Wolf magnum small pistol primers since those were the only small pistol primers I could find. I did my research first and it looked like they would work fine. Unfortunately, they don't work all that well.

I used them in 9mm rounds for my Glock 17. Out of a few hundred rounds fired, I got almost 10% misfires. I tried another G17, and got the same result. Both pistols were clean and had clean striker tunnels.

Then, I installed a stronger striker spring. I fired about 100 rounds with 2 misfires, so there was an improvement, but not a great one.

Aside from the misfires, the primers work fine. I loaded a midrange load and didn't see any signs of excessive pressure.

[piscessmith]

What do you guys think? I load 9mm/40S&W/.380.
Most of my pistol reloading is for the Glock 17 so basically I am asking is can I use the SPM's for it.
I wont use it for the 40cal G27. Ruger LCP???

Got HP-38 and Clays powder.

JackRR

Can't say about Clays, HP-38 or .380 but I use them interchangeably with Accurate #2 for my 9mm and 40S&W. I load about .2 grains below Accurate's recomendation and have no problems for both loads.

[JackRR]

Got em today!!!!!!! Back in business. Primers seem to showing up more and more places. Shortage coming to an end?
Cant wait until I can just walk in a place and just pick up what I need for the next few months.

Got lucky today!! Found some Magtech SP at Cabela's online IN-STOCK!!!.
Got some and added some powder also too help split out the hazmat fee.

EDIT: 29.99/1000 on the small pistol primers.

[Griz44]

When I got low on SPM last month, I loaded seveal batches with SRP, just backed off the powder a bit. Both my Ruger and S&W's have very strong firing pins and strikes. Everything went bang with no issues. The rifle primers are a little thicker, but a strong pin strike negates any differences.

Disclaimer: These are MY results, please don't decide what/how to use your primers in your loads based on this. It is ultimately your responsibility to load safely!

[kmitchl]

I load with both SP and SP mag primers. When I work up a load I use a chronograph to get the powder charge to where it needs to be. Then I try both SP and SP mag primers to see which delivers the lowest standard of deviation. Some powders like standard primers and some work better with mag primers. The difference between the two makes very little difference in the velocity.

[HankB]

You will likely have problems with the primer hardness.

A few months ago I ordered a bunch of Wolf magnum small pistol primers since those were the only small pistol primers I could find. . . . I got almost 10% misfires.

I've used a LOT of Winchester - not Wolf - magnum pistol primers with no issues, so this may be more of a case of problems with a brand (Wolf) rather than type (Magnum).

FWIW, I've had good results with Winchester, Federal, and Remington primers. Haven't used CCI in decades, after having some problems with a couple of batches.