Use of small pistol primers in Carbine loads..

[Ed Johnson]

Hi All. I seem to recall that one of our members said he had been using Small Pistol primers in lieu of Small Rifle primers in his Carbine loads. While I guess it would work OK, would it not pose a danger of pierced primers since the Pistol Primers are not as thick? Always though they had less metal than the Small Rifle. Was I correct?
Best...
Ed

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[Mizzouboy]

Small pistol primers are indeed thinner. They are also "softer" to a firing pin hit, which means they may be more prone to a slam fire or out-of battery firing (bad things) in a rifle like a carbine which has a free-floating firing pin. They may work, but I wouldn't use them personally.

[Bruce McAskill]

Agreed small pistol primers are not a safe way to go. IF you had to use them then use a small magnum pistol primer but I would still not use them instead of the small rifle primers. It's not a case of one size fits all. Each type was designed for the rounds they are intended to be in.

[jimb16]

Small pistol primers were designed to take pressures of up to 28,000 psi. The standard carbine round is rated at 40,000. That is around a 40% overload of the primer shell. While most will take that, I don't want to be near you when you find the one that won't!

[Tired Retired]

Ditto on what's been said before... I have been reloading "successfully" (meaning I haven't killed me or blown up a weapon - and only had ONE squib load) for 25 years. Numerous people get maimed and even more weapons get destroyed every year because of some reloader's departure from safety practices or from proven reloading data. Please note that I am a big supporter of shooters learning to reload. However, I respect my weapons and I value my health. I have no reason to use a reloading component in a role for which it was not designed and has not been tested for. I strongly recommend that everyone stick to published and proven reloading data from reliable sources. Sorry for the soapbox, but I know my stuff is safe - but I can not vouch for the stuff the guy standing next to me at the range is shooting.

[edlmann]

Small pistol primers are indeed thinner. They are also "softer" to a firing pin hit, which means they may be more prone to a slam fire or out-of battery firing (bad things) in a rifle like a carbine which has a free-floating firing pin. They may work, but I wouldn't use them personally.

I would - but only in my Ruger Blackhawk.

FWIW; AFAIK; IMHO; YMMV; yadda, yadda, yadda.

Regards, Ed Mann

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