Rifle or Pistol Primer?
I am loading for a 44 Mag. for a rifle. All the books that I have show 44 mag. pistol info. and call for pistol primers. I am shooting these in a lever rifle. Do I use pistol or rifle primers.?
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You need to use large pistol primers. Large rifle primers are slightly higher than large pistol primers and won't seat properly in the .44 case. I think there is about .008" difference.
If you are concerned about primer cratering or extruding, you might try primers with harder cases like CCI.
When I used the .44 mag rifle and pistol, I used all the same loads for both and never had any issues.0 -
Your loading data should be your guide to primer selection especially on the warm to hot end.
I use a Saeco cast round nose in the 94AE because it feeds better and the Lyman swc in the 29's because it cuts nicer holes in paper. I get 10 in the rifle with the round nose, only 9 with the swc.0 -
I loaded pistol primers for my Marlin 44mag [;)]
Never had one pierce.0 -
That's because there are no 44 mags loads sold as for rifle only. 0 -
Use the primers the load calls for. The pistol primers will work just fine in your rifle. 0 -
I think we need some background on WHY we use pistol or rifle primers when we do.
I think armilite hit the nail on the head, but I'd like to give some background.
Pistol primers are softer than that rifle primers. Mostly because of the size of the firing action involved. The rounds are also lower pressure and don't require the thicker cup that a rifle primer does.
The opposite is generally (99%) true of rifles. Higher pressure equals thicker cup and generally harder hitting firing pin.
As armilite noted, there is no differentiation in .44 mag rounds on the shelf. So, when rifles were chambered for it, they were set up to pistol firing specs and pressures. You get a little more velocity out of the longer barrel but that's about it.
Also of note is using magnum pistol rounds vs. std. pistol rounds if you feel you need a hotter ignition.0 -
In loading for my M-29 and my Marlin 1894P I have always used CCI Large Pistol Magnums and never had a primer pierce of otherwise fail. The only change I've ever made between the two was that I did load some max level 240 grain Remington SJHP's for the carbine with 2400. I don't use the 2400 in the pistol because of the amount of unburned powder in the 5". The 16" barrel seems to get it all burned.
Bottom line, stick with pistol primers for cases that were originally pistol rounds, or even those that were rifle rounds way back and became dual-use like the .44-40 and 38-40.0 -
Thanks, Good info. Litetrigger 0 -
Just looked in my Sierra manual for 44 magnum rifle loads and the rifle loads use CCI 350 primers, 0
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