Reloading 44 mag for lever guns - LR primers?

[Wapiti]

Hi to the more experienced reloaders out there, a question.
With a 44 magnum rifle, mainly a quality lever-gun being stronger than a revolver, be fine to handload with large rifle primers one has at hand?
Should one try, I would imagine starting lower and working up?
This would also be only with full power loads using ADI 2205.
Anyone done this?

[bladeracer]

Hi to the more experienced reloaders out there, a question.
With a 44 magnum rifle, mainly a quality lever-gun being stronger than a revolver, be fine to handload with large rifle primers one has at hand?
Should one try, I would imagine starting lower and working up?
This would also be only with full power loads using ADI 2205.
Anyone done this?

Yep, the rifle primers don't make significantly higher pressure, they're just a harder cup to withstand rifle pressures. Prime a case and fire it to confirm the hammer strike is sufficient to fire it. A lot of untuned handguns can also fire rifle primers, but tuning the springs down can make the primer hits very light.

[Wapiti]

Thank you sir.
That makes sense.
I remember when getting revolvers for the farm, two stainless Blackhawks. Each was worked over by different gunsmiths to give a very nice trigger, One, the 357, ended up only being able to use handloaded ammo with soft primers, but the 44 shoots anything, factories or handloads. Yet both have similar light crisp triggers.
Not all trigger jobs are the same!
That's weird huh.

[mickb]

Any time there is a shortage of large pistol primers in the US, the gun forums fill up with guys asking whether its safe to do. Most replies are along the lines of dont do it. Im not sure whether it actually leads to any problems.

One point quoted is that Large rifle and Large pistol primers are different heights, the rifle primer is taller so may sit proud of the case once seated.

Small rifle and small pistol on the other hand are the same dimension and you see this substitution at times.

[Wapiti]

Thanks Mich.
I just picked up a bottle of 2205 powder, so I will try the rifle pimers and see if they do in fact seat flush.
If they don't, I can't use them. They will not work in the revolver then.

[jpsauer88]

primer will protrude from base. I wouldnt put them in a tube mag.