So, I've been picking up a lot of Magnum Small Rifle primers lately. Seems like it would be safe to assume, one could load standard .223 specs with these primers for my 5.56 and not have any pressure issues. Waddayu think?

I load Remington 71/2 small rifle primers in my .223 loads. Haven't had any pressure issues.

I would still drop back a couple of grains and run a few -- see what the casing says.

Don't just swap them without adjusting your load. As said above , drop the charge weight a rain or two and work back up if you are near the top of the chart with your load now.

Well, I'll let you know how it goes, if I'm still breathing.

X2


68gr hp
Varget

recent testing has shown that all the small rifle , small rifle magnum , small pistol , small pistol magnum all have the same amount of priming compound the difference is the cup thickness and ability to take pressure

using a small rifle magnum especially for a 223 or 5.56 is good

you need to hit a small rifle magnum harder to set it off becuase the metal is thicker , the priming compound inside is all the same

an AR with Mil Spec hammer spring should have zero problem setting off a Small Rifle Magnum

also the white box cci #41 military primers for 5.56 are basically repackaged small rifle magnum

the white box #34 for 7.62 nato are large rifle magnum they have the thicker cup to help prevent slam fire with floating firing pins

always check a manual!
Don't take anyone's word "on the net"

This!

You won't find a a load with magnum primers for the 223R in the manuals. But it does not mean that it cant be done safely

I was always under the impression that magnum primers were like adding a extra grain of powder. And that is how I have loaded for over 40 yrs.

There is a LOT of stuff not in manuals that can be done safely. Just like operating a crane 30 stories up on a skyscraper construction job though, there are a lot of people who shouldn't try it. They're also lot of people that shouldn't even reload.

Do your research, dont get brave. Chances are good whatever your thinking of trying someone else has. You still must run whatever your told through your own filter. Starting with is the information from some anonymous guy on a forum or someone you feel safe believing.

this is just pistol , pistol magnum and small rifle

it would be nice to see a test of small rifle and small rifle magnum

dropping back to starting load and working up is never a bad idea when changing primers

Good video Pete !

If you shoot thru a chronograph , my experiences have been that there are " hotter" primers than others, meaning that I've loaded with the same recipe only changing primer and found some speed differences. Never alot, but defInitely some.
I can only conclude that means one primer is hotter to produce the extra speed. Does it create more pressure which is the only worry? That I don't know as I can't measure that.

I've also noticed over the years that one brand of primer must use softer metal as another brand because one might flatten with the same recipe as one that don't, both being magnum or both being regular.

So next question is, are primers a good indicator of pressure???????

Here's an example to clarify what I'm trying to say.........

Say you work up a load with regular primers and they are showing high pressure signs. Now you switch primers to a brand that is uses harder metal and on top that, its a magnum primer that is thicker. All at once with only changing the primer, your not seeing signs of high pressure.

Now, you know that load showed signs of high pressure with a regular primer but not now. The pressure is still there which is why I say their not the tell all that even I put in them.

From what I can gather just from reading, primer substitution in shotgun loads is resulting in pierced primers in some instances. Not really pressure signs but a result of the softness of the metal.

The possible detrimental consequences of this are damaged firing pins......especially on the bottom barrel of O/U and more especially on Browning firearms.

My state trooper neighbor is reloading 5.56 with small pistol magnum primers with no apparent issues

Yep White, not all primers (brands) are made with the same metal. Ya really can't go by regular, magnum or whatever they're designated as .

They are not all the same diameters either....at least with shotshell primers. Some are metric and will stretch primer pockets.


Professional testing is available . You can send loads to these guys to be tested. I think right now they are taking a pause for some reason but they are reliable.

https://www.precisionreloading.com/docs/uploads/BALLISTIC%20TESTING%20INFORMATION-2.pdf

That's interesting.

I haven't reloaded shotgun shells for 20 years or so. I have some 209's for my inline muzzleloader tho.