Large Rifle/Pistol in .44 Magnum

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Death from Afar

New member
Lots of stuff on this issue online, but I just want to use the one load in the Smith and the Ruger .44. Can I get away with using either large pistol or large rifle in both, or is segregation prudent? Thanks guys.
 
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steveno

New member
use large pistol (or large pistol magnum)primers. I think the large rifle primers is slightly thicker. there really isn't any reason to use the rifle primer as it is still a handgun round regardless of what you shoot it in.
 
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TimSr

New member
On ANY rifle that is made to shoot a pistol round, you can assume the MFG designed its firing pin mechanism based on the assumption that you will shoot factory PISTOL ammo in it, which has pistol primers.
 
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Unclenick

Staff
To summarize and add something, though small rifle and pistol primers are the same height, large rifle primers are 0.010" taller than large pistol primers, so they tend to stand proud when seated in a large pistol primer pocket. The rifle primers are also usually harder to ignite, and so are less reliable with a firing mechanism not designed for them. Some revolver cartridges (e.g., 460 S&W) are designed for large rifle primers and the guns made for them are specified to fire same. Finally, rifle primers (large or small) make a larger volume of gas than their pistol counterparts do, in order to pressurize the larger rifle cases to start their generally slower powders burning well. In a small handgun cartridge case's powder volume, that extra gas can unseat the bullet before the powder starts burning well, and thereby make the ignition erratic despite the extra gas. Conversely, when the bullet stays put, they can cause the pistol powder to start burning faster than usual, raising the peak pressure and necessitating reducing the load.

So, broadly speaking, accept no substitutes.
 
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