38 special primers

[tpaulos]

I can't find any small pistol primers so my question is can small pistol magnum primers be used as a substitute.The load is 158 grain remington HP
5.0 gr of Unique.
Thank You
Tony Paulos

[rimrock]

usually the use of the magnum primers to substitute for the standard primers is just fine in calibers like 38 spc, while magnum primers tend to burn a bit longer to insure a good burn they rarely effect low pressure fast burn calibers like a 38 spc , enough to be of any concern,BUT YOUR CURRENT LOAD OF 5 grains of unique under a 158 grain bullet seems to be pushing the safety limits, Id suggest you look into that before swapping any component low pressure calibers that are usually loaded with fast burn powders,are usually less effected naturally you might want to reduce the load a couple tenths of a grain and test fire a few loads as a test, but Ive used the magnum primers in 38,357, and 44 mag, loaded with medium and fast powders, almost interchangeably with little change if any in results, if max velocity is the goal BLUE DOT is a option

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=38%20Special%20+P&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=38%20Special&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

usually the use of the magnum primers to substitute for the standard primers is just fine in calibers like 38 spc, while magnum primers tend to burn a bit longer to insure a good burn they rarely effect low pressure fast burn calibers like a 38 spc , enough to be of any concern,BUT YOUR CURRENT LOAD OF 5 grains of unique under a 158 grain bullet seems to be pushing the safety limits, Id suggest you look into that before swapping any component low pressure calibers that are usually loaded with fast burn powders,are usually less effected naturally you might want to reduce the load a couple tenths of a grain and test fire a few loads as a test, but Ive used the magnum primers in 38,357, and 44 mag, loaded with medium and fast powders, almost interchangeably with little change if any in results, if max velocity is the goal BLUE DOT is a option

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=38%20Special%20+P&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=38%20Special&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=

+1

You've got a very hot 38 spl load. I guess I'd ask what exactly is it you are trying to do and what type of firearm you are shooting these loads from.

My grandfather loaded lots of specialty stuff. Among them was some 357 mag rounds that were to be fired in a rifle only. He know which ones they were but no one else did. He died. Not being overly anxious to expedite an earlier than anticipated reunion I decided that IF I were to shoot any of the ammo he had loaded, I would do so in the rifle. There was lots of ammo that he had loaded that I had no idea what it was, SO, I didn't shoot it.

Alan

[Badger]

tpaulos,

Once you DEVIATE from published reloading data by substituting a magnum primer for a standard primer, you are on your own! Will it be ok? Who knows? The internet advice you get may, or may not, be good enough. I would keep looking for standard primers.

Badger