Primer Question

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gunpoorboy1

Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2018
Messages
316
Location
Phoenix
Can you use large pistol primers when loading .44 Special and .45LC to be used in a lever action rifle in .44 Mag and .45LC?
 
Although the same diameter, Large Rifle primers are a slightly higher than Large Pistol and may protrude out too far - they are not interchangeable like Small Pistol/Rifle primers are. If you deepen the pocket then those cases won't be reliable in a pistol and you could weaken the web so don't go that route.
(Note that some factory cases can be specially marked for LR use... 500 S&W is one I know of and there could be others...)

Because rifles may have a heavier blow, thin cups could pierce so do some research on brand thickness and possibly use magnum primers (which typically have thicker cups) for rifle loads (you'll probably end up using CCI or Winchester). Also work up the load in your gun, say, in .2 increments or .1 if your trying to achieve max load... the mag primer could increase pressure over a book load that calls for std primers...
 
gunpoorboy1 said:
Can you use large pistol primers when loading .44 Special and .45LC to be used in a lever action rifle in .44 Mag and .45LC?

I've done that for many years without ny problems.
 
Sorry, small pistol/rifle primers are interchangeable, as they have the same dimensions. Large pistol/rifle primers are NOT interchangeable as they have different dimensions. You may get away with it for a while, but eventually it'll catch up to you. JMHO YMMV
 
.44 Special and .45 Colt cases are designed to be used with large pistol primers and the primer pockets are cut to the depth required by large pistol primers. If you use large rifle in them, the primer will protrude beyond the base of the case.

In handguns, this sometimes ties up the cylinder and in rifles it may or may not induce a slam fire.
 
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