I have a surplus of small pistol magnum primers and have recently started reloading .223 cal. for an AR-15. A friend of mine said they would work well for this, instead of buying the rifle primers. Has anyone ever tried this and if so, how do they work. My friend mostly reloads shotgun, and I know that I can get honest opinions here. Will greatly appreciate the advise.
PRIMERS
- Thread starter JROYCE
- Start date
Re: PRIMERS
While you can put a pistol primer in a rifle case, I don't say it's a good thing. There are dfferences for a reason. Other wise there would just be large and small primers.
While you can put a pistol primer in a rifle case, I don't say it's a good thing. There are dfferences for a reason. Other wise there would just be large and small primers.
Re: PRIMERS
For VERY mild loads it can be done. If you are not sure if it is a mild load, assume it is not.
For VERY mild loads it can be done. If you are not sure if it is a mild load, assume it is not.
Re: PRIMERS
Small rifle and pistol primers are the same size, but are not interchangeable in usage.
Pistol pressure max pressures are around 35k psi...rifle pressures are 60k+ psi...so you can see where there could be problems.
Small pistol primers have to be made soft enough to fire with the lighter firing pin strikes from a pistol, so they won't handle the pressure of a rifle round. Mag pistol primers are tougher than standard ones, but not as tough as rifle primers.
Even some rifle primers are not tough enough for the 223 round, and can pierce and send hot gas back into the action.
The recommended primers to use for 223 in the AR are the Rem 7 1/2, CCI 450 and BR-4, and the Fed 205M. You can get away with the Win primers for less than maximum loads, but they can pierce with heavier loads.
A reloading manual provides a recipe for a safe load, and the primer type and brand is one of the main components...generally, follow the recipe in the book as it is stated and stay out of trouble.
TC
Small rifle and pistol primers are the same size, but are not interchangeable in usage.
Pistol pressure max pressures are around 35k psi...rifle pressures are 60k+ psi...so you can see where there could be problems.
Small pistol primers have to be made soft enough to fire with the lighter firing pin strikes from a pistol, so they won't handle the pressure of a rifle round. Mag pistol primers are tougher than standard ones, but not as tough as rifle primers.
Even some rifle primers are not tough enough for the 223 round, and can pierce and send hot gas back into the action.
The recommended primers to use for 223 in the AR are the Rem 7 1/2, CCI 450 and BR-4, and the Fed 205M. You can get away with the Win primers for less than maximum loads, but they can pierce with heavier loads.
A reloading manual provides a recipe for a safe load, and the primer type and brand is one of the main components...generally, follow the recipe in the book as it is stated and stay out of trouble.
TC
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