Rifle or Pistol Primers in .44 Mag Carbine?

[Advocate]

This seems like a dumb question, but when loading the .44 mag for  lever action carbines, do I use large pistol or large rifle primers?

[John Traveler]

It's not a dumb question at all.

Contrary to popular belief, firing a magnum pistol cartridge does not mean that you need rifle primers in that cartridge.  The pressues have to be comparable (and within safe SAAMI standards) for either rifle or pistol.

Many reloaders interchange large rifle primers for large pistol primers indescriminately.  It's probably not a good idea.

LR primers usually do not seat properly in a LP primer pocket.  Thoese several thousands of an inch difference can lead to a "high primer" condition that is especially dangerous in semi-auto, revolvers, and magazine-fed rifles.  Those same dimensional differences make for a less precise "feel" in seating primers.

The reason is simple:  recoil forces or the bullet from the next cartridge behind the primer can set off an overly sensitive primer that got that way by being forced into a primer pocket.  The loading manuals have warned of this possiblity, and as a rule, I do not do it.

Do you remember seeing pictures of Elemer Keith's Colt SSA revolver with blown out cylinder from simultaneous discharges?  EK attributed it to high primers that went off when they impacted the recoil shield.

[MONGO]

I reload .44 with 240grn RNFP by Redline and a local Co. Aardvark. I use large pistol and have never really givin thought to the large rifle primers. I reload for plinking mostly, using Accurate #9 and Unique. No probs with either I shoot a 4 5/8 Ruger SBHSS and a 7.5 Ruger SBHB and a Marlin 1895 and I hit where I aim and Im happy with that.   Good Luck

Remember 'Happiness is a large gut pile"

[KN]

If its a pistol round use pistol primers. Using rifle primers in pistol rounds and vice versa is a bad idea.  KN

[williamlayton]

question from one who knows nothing. i'm trying to learn as to make a decision if i want to do this reloading thing. if your talking a pistol round in the same caliber as a rifle round--ie .45 lc--then the primer would be the same--is this a good thought? give me an example of two rounds which would need to have different primer--maybe not a .380 primer in a 44 mag or .308 but you get the idea.
blessings

[John Y Cannuck]

Put the two primers side by side on a flat surface. The Rifle primer is notably higer. So obviously, when seated in a pocket designed for the pistol primer, it may protrude. Not a safe condition.  :eek:

[Ron T.]

Advocate... I can see how it might be confusing... and it's a "good" question.

The .44 magnum was originally designed as a PISTOL cartridge... and regardless of whether it is fired in a handgun or a carbine/rifle, it is still a PISTOL CARTRIDGE, so use standard or magnum PISTOL PRIMERS when reloading it, even if the cartridge is going to be fired in a carbine or rifle.

Good Hunting!

Strength & Honor,

Ron T.