Choosing the Right Pistol or Rifle Reloading Primer

More and more people are choosing to reload ammunition rather than buying. This not only saves money, it also is something that many people enjoy. In order to do this though, you must become acquainted with the different pistol and rifle primers available, and how to choose appropriately. A reloading primer is nothing more than a small metal cup which is filled with a highly explosive compound. When a hammer or small firing pin strikes the primer, it ignites and shoots a high intensity flame. This flame travels through the flash hole and ignites the powder charges.

Primers may be purchased in packs or bricks. Packs contain 100 pieces while bricks contain 100 broken down into packs of ten. When looking for the right primers, you'll find that there are a number of primers to choose from and you must be familiar with all to get the right type. The following tutorial will cover the differences in both pistol and rifle primers to help you make this decision.

Choosing the Right Pistol Primer

When purchasing pistol primers for reloading, there are a few things that need to be kept in mind. The top three considerations are: Hardness, Primer Size, and Primer Type.

Hardness. When someone mentions the hardness of a primer, they are referring to the amount of force that will be required for ignition. When discussing hardness, you will find that there is a wide range to choose from. Federal are softer primers, CCI are harder and Winchester fall in the mid-range. For handguns with modified or lightened trigger/action, softer primers may need to be used.

Primer size. You will need to determine which primer is appropriate for the cartridge you will be reloading. This will depend in great part on the type of gun being used. Guns such as the 44 special, 44 magnum and 45 acp will need a large pistol primer. If you will be using a 38 special, 357 magnum or 9mm, a small pistol primer must be purchased.

Primer type. Primers come in a variety of types. The three that you will need to be familiar with are regular, magnum and multi-purpose. The overall intensity of the flame produced by the primer determines which category it falls into. For guns with non-magnum loads, such as a 38 special, the powder charge will be properly ignited by a small flame. Guns with magnum loads have more powder to burn. As a result, they require more activation energy. It is possible to formulate a primer so it will work with both types. This requires specialized information though.

With these three considerations in mind, you'll find that the main difference in primer type is heat, and each will produce different heat. This should be your main consideration.

• When you purchase a large pistol magnum primer, it will create a long lasting spark that gets hot. This makes the primer perfect for use with hard to light powers. Examples of this type of powder include H-110 and 296. If improperly used, your primer can lead to dangerous firing conditions. All directions accompanying the primer must be followed for this reason.

• Large pistol primers must be purchased for use with larger handguns and cartridges that do not require spherical propellant. With this type of primer, the flame will quickly ignite. It will also burn aggressively, but with less force than magnum primers. A large pistol primer is appropriate for cartridges cases which have a large case capacity. Here the stronger primer will be needed for the propellant to ignite.

• Small pistol magnum primers create a hotter flame than that seen with regular small pistol primers. If you believe it will take more to initiate ignition within a cartridge, such as during extreme temperatures, this is the perfect choice. This type of primer will also boost pressure initially. This allows the powder to reach a burn which it can sustain.

• Small pistol primers are commonly used in handguns that have cartridges which easily ignite. The length of the burn and the intensity at which it burns is the major difference between this type of primer and the small pistol magnum primer. This is the least dangerous primer of all of the ammo reloading supplies, but care must still be taken.

Choosing the Right Rifle Primer

When choosing rifle primers, you must know what type of gun the ammunition will be used for. This will determine which type of primer you need to buy. A quick overview can give you a good idea of which type of primer to buy, but if you have any doubts, it is best to ask an expert. This is one area where it would be very dangerous to make a mistake.

• Small rifle #41 primers are used in guns such as the semi-automatic rifles used by the military. If you have a gun without firing pin retraction springs, this is the type of primer to buy. The .223 Remington is another gun that benefits from this type of primer.

• Small rifle magnum primers serve two purposes. They are good for many guns such as semi-automatic rifles and the .223 Remington and they are also used in guns where the powder is difficult to light. If you will be using your weapon in cold weather situations, small rifle magnum primers can help the ignition process.

• If your rifle doesn't utilize spherical gun powder, it is best to use small rifle primers. The same is true if your gun uses cartridges with a medium size case capacity. The best way to determine if you should use a small rifle primer is to see what type of flame your gun requires. Rifles that don't require a strong flame for propellant ignition use this type also.

• If your gun needs a long-lasting hot spark, choose large rifle magnum primers. These are perfect for igniting spherical powder. These are actually the most important part of the rifle. If you do not use the right primer, your powder will not ignite. When the powder doesn't ignite, the bullet never leaves the gun. Use this type in cold temperatures as they can ignite any gun powder.

• Large rifle primers burn stronger and longer than other primers. The reason for this is that they are most frequently used in guns which require cartridges of larger case capacities. If you will be shooting in temperatures of 20 degrees or below, this is the primer you will need.

As you can see, many factors are involved in choosing the right primers. Carefully consider the type of rifle you will be using as well as the weather conditions before choosing your primer. If questions arise, read the reloading or manufacturer's instructions, or speak to the manufacturer directly. Although many enjoy reloading their own ammunition, it can be dangerous for those who are inexperienced. Be sure you know which ammo reloading supplies are best for your needs.