




For novice reloading primers reloader, some might think that hunting is all about the rifle. The rifle brand, rifle weight, rifle accuracy, bullets, powders, ammo, consistency, precision, cartridge, velocity, grain, rifle calibers, and many more. But there is one component that has the tendency to be overlooked and this is the bullet primer.

WHAT IS A BULLET PRIMER?
A primer provides the spark that will ignite the powder and causes a chain of reactions that will eventually lead to a bullet cap firing.
Now, standard primers like boxer primers are hard to reuse because of the small, fine pieces that need to be taken apart, put into place, and then put together again.
In short, you do not have the option of reloading it properly and will cost you money. This article should x tips for reloading primers.
Primers are small in size and can be easily distinguished by color. The biggest primer factory manufacturers are CCI and Winchester.
RELOADING PRIMERS GUIDE
Centerfire cartridge primers are seated in the center of the base case head while rimfire cartridges can be seen on the rim of the case head.
It is a separate part of the bullet and usually located in the prime pocket. This means that it can be reloaded as many times as possible. Once firing a shot, the color should be white. This means that it has already ignited.
Reloading is easy. First, you want to use an unused primer from the supplied container in the box. Carefully set your die so that it will push out the back of your brass case. The red ring inside of it should line up with the bottom of the shell when you’re reloading. next, simply place a small tube into the opening of your case and push it down on your handheld reloading tool lever to load it with primers. Once you have loaded the primers, you can now start putting in the gun powder. That’s it.
What Are the Four Primer Sizes?
Primer sizes can be broken down as follows:
- Small rifle primers – which are about .175 inches in diameter and .120 inches tall.
- Small pistol primers – which are about the same size as small rifle primers but designed specifically for handguns.
- Large rifle primers – which measure about .128 inches in height and .212 inches in width.
- Large pistol primers – which are an average of .120 inches tall and.212 inches wide.
Every time you walk into a gun shop or sporting goods store, you may notice that there’s a shortage of ammunition and reloading supplies. Primers seem to be so hard to find nowadays. The next thing that comes to mind is to use small rifle primers during the pistol’s loading process. But is the substitution even possible? Read on to find out!
SMALL RIFLE PRIMERS VS SMALL PISTOL PRIMERS
Small rifle and the small pistol magnum primers look essentially the same to the unaided eye. But, when evaluated more carefully, under a microscope, these two show clues that can somehow distinguish them.
SR primers and SP primers have the same dimensions in terms of diameter (0.175”). On the other hand, large rifle primers (LR primers) and large pistol primers (LP primers) have 0.210″ diameter. There is a cup height difference, so they can’t be interchangeable with each other.

The boxer primers consist mostly of a soft brass circular cup and a pressed-in anvil. Between the cup’s base and the anvil lies the priming compound. The modern primers are known to be non-corrosive and usually contain compounds including lead styphnate. Seating the mag primers must squish the anvil into the pellet, once they are seated flush in the cartridge.
SRP and SPP don’t show a difference dimensionally or on the amount of driving compound used. However, SRP is generally made up of thicker materials than SPP. The efficacy of the factory loads by deformation may be past the safe levels of load if the cup used is thicker or made up of harder brass
CAN SMALL RIFLE PRIMERS WORK IN PISTOL CARTRIDGES?
While there are lots of small rifle primers and a dwindling supply of small pistol primers, they can’t be substituted for each other. The SR primer and SP primer may be virtually identical in size, as with the primer pocket of their respective cases. However, the rifle primer has a higher cup thickness and a higher pressure.
As of writing, there is still no verifiable data showing the difference in the fire rate between the two. Thus, interchanging the load components of these two guns is irresponsible.
THE BASICS OF PRIMER
Primers are used to initiate the burning of the propellant. The construction varies depending on where it is used. They are available in five sizes namely large rifle, small rifle, large pistol, small pistol, and shotgun.
The large-sized usually has a diameter of around 0.210 inches, while the small primer’s diameter is 0.175 inches. Shotgun primers have the biggest diameter of about 0.243 inches.
PRIMERS MANUFACTURER IN THE USA
Despite the number of major and minor ammunition manufacturers in the country, only four domestic manufacturers produce primers.
- Federal Premium Ammunition – located in Anoka, Minnesota
- Cascade Cartridge Inc. (CCI) – located in Lewiston, Idaho
- Remington Ammunition – located in Lonoke, Arkansas
- Winchester Ammunition – located in Oxford, Mississippi, and East Alton, Illinois
These four firms produce several million primers every year. They are responsible for the entire primer supply in the country, including those used in the military and law enforcement. All the primers manufactured in the US use non-mercuric and non-corrosive chemicals. The most common example of materials used includes lead styphnate, antimony sulfide, and barium nitrate.
BEST PLACE TO BUY PRIMERS
Some say that primers are easier to find than powder since each size can work well with a variety of calibers. However, there are still some differences like its hardness.
If you love competitive shooting, optimize your loaded ammunition with a lightened hammer and softer primers like the ones supplied by more prominent companies. Otherwise, the cheapest available in your preferred size is a good option.
Remember that primers and powder are alike. Due to the “boom”, spring for the Hazmat fee is needed, even if you order one. It is best to buy a bunch and combine them with the purchase of the powder. But keep track as there’s likely a limit for the retailers, though it’s pretty high.
You can also load hard primers such as Tula and Sellier & Bellot, especially if they are available with a good deal. With that, the best place to score primers is probably the same store where good reloading powders are found. Also check out the website of leading industry insider and distributors of primers, Modern tactical .
If you’re having trouble figuring out the kind, and the number of primers to buy, you can check the average weight of the charges for the caliber. It’s usually written in the reloading manual. Do the math to know the appropriate amount of primers to buy – it always depends on the number of rounds the powder can make.

MODERN tactical RIFFLE : YOUR AMMO RELOADING SUPPLIES SUPERSTORE
Buying primers can be tough and confusing. To avoid mistakes leading to improper loading and inaccurate shooting, get the guidance of the best suppliers.
At Modern Tactical Rifle, we cater to all your ammo needs, from bullets, brass, and a lot more. Our company carries a wide variety of brands and other reloading components needed for guns, shotshells, rifles, or even muzzleloading.
With our unbeatable customer service and competitive pricing, you are guaranteed to have the best adventure of your life. Our one-stop tactical shop will ensure that you spend less and enjoy more. Check the selection on our website and contact us so we can ship your items right away.
Don’t Let the Names of the Primer Sizes Fool You
It may not always be obvious which type of primer is right for a given firearm. In some cases, large rifle ammo does not always use large rifle primers. For example, there are many styles of 308 Winchester that come factory loaded with small rifle primers instead.
The same is true when it comes to handgun ammunition. For example, Federal .45 ACP ammo often uses small pistol primers to propel one of the largest calibers on earth.
To avoid mistakes that could lead to improper loading or inaccurate shooting, you should always follow the directions in your reloading manual to the letter.
Sizes and Standards Can Vary Across Ammo Manufacturers
Every ammo maker uses its own proprietary processes to manufacture a particular caliber or type of ammunition. As a result, there are small but measurable differences in the actual products that each company turns out.
This accounts for the frustration many reloaders feel when certain types of primers cause their reloading press to jam. If you run into this problem, then try a different brand of primer and see if that resolves the issue.
Sometimes, tiny variations between brands of primer actually benefit the gun owner. For example, the thin cups used in Federal primers make them a good choice for cowboy action shooters. That’s because they compensate for the light hammer falls that accompany rapid-fire shooting styles.
MODERN tactical RIFFLE: Your Source for All Your Reloading Supplies
Here at Powder Valley, we stock the finest gunpowder, reloading primers, and other essential reloading supplies at the lowest prices around. Our staff members are firearms experts who are always happy to share their knowledge and experience with our customers. Place your ammo order today and take advantage of our fast shipping!
Small Pistol Primers vs. Large Pistol Primers
What’s the difference between small and large pistol primers? The answer can be summarized as follows:
- Small pistol primers are a recent innovation that’s gaining favor among manufacturers. That’s because they’re more economical to produce, more affordable for consumers, and demonstrate greater environmental responsibility.
- Numerous tests show that the switch to smaller primers has had zero effect on ammunition’s reliability, power, and accuracy.
- Under no circumstances should you use a primer that wasn’t designed for the specific type of brass you’re reloading. Going outside the manual’s guidelines can damage your firearms, cause serious personal injuries, or even worse.
Let’s look at these topics in more detail.
Why Smaller Is Sometimes Better
Ammunition manufacturers are continually looking for ways to improve the quality of their products. This motivation is what’s behind the move towards smaller primers. The advantages of the change include:
- Reduced environmental impact – smaller primers use a smaller amount of lead styphnate and other toxic materials in their manufacturer than do larger primers.
- Improved safety for shooters – handling large amounts of ammunition can cause unhealthy levels of lead to build up in the blood. One way to minimize this problem is to make primers smaller and more efficient.
- Reduced manufacturing costs – this helps to keep ammunition prices affordable.
Despite these advantages, some shooters are reluctant to use smaller primers due to fears about reduced power or accuracy. But are these concerns well-founded?
Numerous gun owners and shooting experts have compared both types of ammunition and found no discernible difference. On average, a round outfitted with a small primer has the same power, range, and accuracy as one designed for a large primer.
What About Using Non-Standard Primers?
Ammunition is in short supply these days, as anyone in the firearms community knows all too well. Some reloaders have tried to get around this problem by forcing small-primer brass to accept a large primer.
Is this safe? NO. Here’s what can happen if you go down this road:
- You can damage or destroy your firearms. In general, large primers generate more explosive force than small pistol primers. Some reloaders have tried to compensate for this fact by fiddling with powder amounts. But this is simply asking for trouble.
- You can experience undependable or erratic results when firing the weapon. What advantage do you gain from saving a few pennies if your firearm will no longer perform properly?
- You put yourself at risk of injury or even death. This is why the ammunition companies themselves must follow painstaking safety precautions at every step of the manufacturing process. There’s no room for error when it comes to working with primers.
Shop Online and Save
At Modern Tactical , we offer a gigantic selection of reloading supplies for practically any caliber, all available at the best possible prices. Whether you’re preparing for a match, mass-producing plinking ammo, or preparing for an uncertain market, you’ll find the reloading supplies you need in our inventory. Brush up on reloading basics, and find the components you need to put together the perfect round at Powder Valley today.
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