Primer question

[Shadyside]

I brand new to reloading. Still buying my last odds and ends, probably won't end. I have seen 9mm use small pistol primer. I have seen .223/.556 use small primer AND small rifle primer. Now I am not sure. Any help will be greatly appreciated

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Use pistol primers in pistol rounds and rifle primers in rifle rounds. Small pistol primers are not small rifle primers

 

[Twicepop]

What the previous said, welcome to the hobby and ask a lot of questions here. The amount of accumulated knowledge here is amazing. On a down side of your inquiry, what you're asking about is now made of unobtainium.

 

[Cemetery21]

Although small pistol and small rifle (and their associated magnum) primers are the same size, they are not interchangable. Rifle primers are made to safely contain the higher pressure of most rifle cartridges where a pistol primer could rupture.

 

[Bill K]

Just play safe and sound and use the primer that is made for the cartridge you are loading. Pistol in handguns and rifle in long guns.
And work with a couple brands to see which works best in your firearm and the load you use.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

Also be especially careful with Remington 1 and 1/2 small pistol primers and Remington 6 and 1/2 small rifle primers.

Here's the warning printed on the packages of Remington 1 and 1/2 SPP I own. First a photo I took that isn't great but definitely shows Remington says this is a Safety Warning.



Then a copy & Paste from MidwayUSA

Special Note:

• These primers are NOT recommended for loading high pressure loads such as 357 Mag, 357 Sig or 40 S&W. Please consult a Reputable Loading Manual for loading data.

Remington Small Pistol Primers #1-1/2 Box of 1000 (10 Trays of 100)

Being a leader in both the firearms and ammunition industry Remington knows how important it is to have the highest quality ammunition available to make...

www.midwayusa.com

And a magazine article

An NRA Shooting Sports Journal | Remington 1½ Pistol Primers

Remington’s 1½ pistol primers are unique in the world of small pistol primers, not fitting the standard versus magnum category that distinguishes between gunpowder choices

www.ssusa.org

Now Remington 6 and 1/2 small rifle primers. I don't own any so no photos.

MidwayUSA

Warning:

• Remington does not recommend this primer for use in the 17 Remington, 222 Remington, 223 Remington, 204 Ruger, 17 Remington Fireball. Use the 7-1/2 Small Rifle Bench Rest primer in these cartridges.
• This 6-1/2 Small Rifle primer is primarily designed for use in the 22 Hornet.

Remington Small Rifle Primers #6-1/2 Case of 5000 (5 Boxes of 1000)

Being a leader in both the firearms and ammunition industry Remington knows how important it is to have the highest quality ammunition available to make...

www.midwayusa.com

Discussion

Remington 6 1/2 primers in .223 rem.

Just starting to reload 223 rem for a bolt action rifle. I'm in the process of gathering all the components and today I picked up some Remington 6 1/2 small rifle primers. Then I get home and I find out that Remington says not to use 6 1/2s in the 223 because of the high pressures. So, am I...

forum.accurateshooter.com

I haven't yet seen any news on any changes Vista Outdoors may or may not implement WRT future Remington primer manufacturing.

 

[jpx2rk]

When starting load development, follow the receipe/load data in the source, such as if the manual states 205 or 205M, use that primer as a starting point. After you find a load that works good in your firearm, you can try different primers to see if a primer change is better or not, just be aware that any change in components can cause different issues, especially at max or close to max powder charges.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

When starting load development, follow the receipe/load data in the source, such as if the manual states 205 or 205M, use that primer as a starting point. After you find a load that works good in your firearm, you can try different primers to see if a primer change is better or not, just be aware that any change in components can cause different issues, especially at max or close to max powder charges.

Note some (many?) folks may have difficulty sourcing the same size & type primer as used in the published load recipe, much less same brand.

I emailed Hodgdon about this topic this summer, back in July, and this was their response, from an individual named Luke Ott.

"You can substitute a primer from a different brand and you can use a match primer as long as they are the same size and type. Only use a magnum primer when the data was shot with a magnum primer. If the cartridge calls for a standard primer then always use a standard, even with BALL type powder. Primers have gotten significantly better over the years and no longer have any issues with lighting these types of propellents."

However, I'm confident he was speaking with working a load up all the way with the same brand, as well as size & type, from the recipe start data. Your point about switching primer brand even with same size & type is well made for developed load at or near maximum load data.