primers
I am a newbie to reloading so please do not laugh. I am going to reload for a 45 auto and a 380 auto. I plan on using Winchester primers. Large pistol for the 45 Auto? Small pistol for the 380 Auto? mttrapper[:)]
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I spilled some large rifle primers on my bench, but there was some large pistol primers on the bench too, they look the same, how can I tell them apart. or what is the difference? many thanks, joe 0 -
Almost all modern loading data lists the primer, case , seating debth etc.. It is best follow their directions especially when working at the max end. Be sure your data is for your rifle. Data for the Rageing Hornet or contender handguns might not be correct. Some primers are way hotter than others as well way tougher to ignite. It is good to look in many books and you will most likely never go wrong following directions. 0 -
rule one you can't switch from Large Rifle to Large Pistol. The LR primers are deeper.
In some low pressure very small rifle cases, the 22 Hornet as an example, the Small Rifle primer is on the hot side to ignite such a small powder charge. More consistent MV is seen when using Small Pistol primers in that particular round, the max pressure is within pistol parameters. Unlike the large primers Small rifle and pistol primers are the same size. Small Rifle primers tend to have a harder, thicker cup than pistol primers to take the 65,000 PSI generated in some rounds.0 -
The Hornet is such a small case and operates at a relatively low pressure, it can use the small pistol primers. 0 -
because small pistol primers normally have a softer/thinner CUP in the primer and because most 22 hornets may be a reworked 22 Rim Fire action or at best have a bolt with much smaller diameter. The firing pin /striker spring will be much smaller then say a rifle in 30/06 light firing pin strike & hard primer cup give poor grouping . 0 -
I usually use this site as a good reference.
http://www.reloadingroom.com/index_files/Burn Rates.htm
(when you open the site, scan all the way to the right using the bottom tool bar. The primer info is listed below the powder burn rate chart.
Good stuff there.0 -
Thanks Dave. I'm flattered and honored. The pages will display normally if you use Firefox and not Internet Exploder.
To answer the specific question about the Hornet, the desire is to use the mildest primer available. The Hornet has a very small case volume and a very thin neck holding very light bullets. The result of those three factors is that a powerful primer can and does unseat the bullet before the powder has a chance to ignite. Worse, it seldom happens the same way twice, so what you get is like having bullets seated to very different depths, from normal to wedged deep into the rifling. That is NOT conducive to accuracy, and may be the reason why the Hornet has a reputation for being inaccurate.
A very mild primer like the Rem 6 1/2 small rifle (which was designed for the Hornet and Bee) or even a small pistol primer are much better choices. Even with small pistol primers, you want to pick one that's at the mild end of the scale. The CCI is good, as are the Federal and Remington, both in standard not magnum. Winchester primers are too hot for the Hornet in either small rifle or small pistol flavors. And don't be confused and buy Rem 7 1/2 primers - they are VERY hot with very hard cups because they were designed for the 17 Remington.
Again, small cases need mild primers.0
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