In a pinch

C

cw308

New member
In a pinch can you use large pistol magnum primers in a 45ACP ? Shooting parer indoors with a Colt 1911 3" . Large pistol CCI primers are ordered.
 
Of course. The rule of thumb is to not simply "throw in" a magnum primer on a load you developed with a regular primer... but if you are not talking about a "ragged edge, high pressure, max or beyond" kind of load, you may not even see a difference.
 
Sevens
Thank You for getting back so soon , I figured the same , no harm in asking. I always reload on the medium to low side of the scale . I favor 308 bench rest , in the cold months I shoot 45ACP indoors. Getting ready for indoor shooting. Thanks Again . Chris
 
In my tests:
Magnum primer showed on the chronograph with .45 ACP + Bullseye.
Not a lot but it might upset an "accuracy node" or take a maximum load over the ragged edge. No way to know but shoot some start to medium ammo.

Magnum primer did not show on the chronograph with 9mm + HP38.
 
Sometimes it will make a difference...sometimes it will not...seen it both ways.

I only interchange them in less than max loads...and I seldom load max loads, anymore.
 
Jim Watson
The 45 is a carry piece & just a fun gun to shoot. 3" accuracy node may be a stretch. I practice with mid to low range charge , didn't think mag primers in a pinch would be a problem . I will do a test also with 25 of each . Thanks for getting back, Chris
 
shootniron
Were on the same page , never liked loading to the max. Have around 800 magnum primers left , I'll shoot half reg . half mag . until I finish . Thanks Chris
 
In my younger days, I ignored all the warnings and used regular, magnum and bench-rest primers interchangeably in both rifle and pistol cartridges. I don't load to the max, so wasn't concerned about that. Never noticed any significant difference.
 
hdwhit
Or should I address you as " Older & Wiser " Didn't think using magnum primers in a 45ACP with medium loads would be a problem. Just wanted some input. Thanks again, Chris
 
Until I figured out my primer dimpling was being caused by a weak firing pin spring all I used in my .204 Ruger were magnum primers. I thought the extra cup thickness would be a good thing until the issue was resolved. I shot them across the chrono and the FPS was within the SD of the regular primers with the same exact load
 
I have about 100 rounds of 45 I loaded with WLP magnum primers. My Glock 21 has a hard time setting that primer off consistently so they will sit there until I get my Ruger redhawk with 45 acp cylinder. Wish I could find some Federal match primers but my local Cabelas is always out when I go to look.
 
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"... I thought the extra cup thickness would be a good thing until the issue was resolved."
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What makes you think that magnum large pistol primers have a thicker cup than standard large pistol primers? Have you measured them or is that just an assumption?
 
What makes you think that magnum large pistol primers have a thicker cup than standard large pistol primers? Have you measured them or is that just an assumption?
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It would be a heck of a feat to fit a large pistol primer into a case that takes a small rifle primer like the .204 Ruger. No I have not measured them however Others have. I suggest doing a search using your favorite internet search engine instead of making assumptions of your own
 
It would be a heck of a feat to fit a large pistol primer into a case that takes a small rifle primer like the .204 Ruger. No I have not measured them however Others have. I suggest doing a search using your favorite internet search engine instead of making assumptions of your own
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My error...small primer.
Now back to my original question, have you measured or have a link to any place where it shows that the magnum primers have a thicker cup than the same brand of standard primers? And no, I have no intention of searching the internet for a something that may or may not exist. You made the statement (...thicker primer cups...) now prove it just as I would offer proof if I had made such a statement...unless of course if I was Casey Stengel.

For what it is worth, I measured the cups on a Federal Standard Small pistol primer and a Federal Magnum Small Pistol Primer just now...both measure (as per my calipers), .016 inches. Admittedly, the observation that they have the same cup thickness may or may not be generalizable to small rifle primers, but it is based on an actual measurement.
 
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Back in the shortage of 2008 when I started reloading I had no choice but to use the Mag primers. For me that shot just the same. I worked up the load, and happened to be the same as the non magnum primer load. The small primer brass I save up, and then prime with small rifle primers. All of my small primer loading is done with small rifle. It prevents a mix up of a small pistol primer going into a rifle round. (Those can lead to needing a new firing pin spring.)
 
Thank You . Everyone has been very helpful in answering my guest , Great group of people . As always , thanks again . Chris
 
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