Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Reloading Mistake, How Serious?

Okay, long story made short is that I loaded some 257 Roberts with large pistol primers instead of large rifle. My question is do I have to pull the load and start over or can these be used for plinking? It's hot enough here (about 100 degrees) that I don't think the cooler primer will cause a misfire. There are only 11 rounds, not that that really matters...

If those are anywhere near full power loads then I would recommend pulling them.

Pistol primers have softer cups to detonate under the lighter strike of handguns. You risk a pierced primer at least.

Chances are the loads would be safe, but then you're gambling your face* against 5 minutes work pulling them, not a smart bet.

*Or at least your bolt face - you wouldn't believe how a tiny pinprick in a primer will melt a chunk out of a bolt face, but it sure will. It gives you a great respect for a directed stream of white hot gas.

.......Sorry, but I just to laugh.

Just eleven....pull-em apart

! This is funny, but someone should tell him, might as well be me. Thinking that a large pistol primer is going to function properly in a large rifle cartridge because the temperature outside is 100 degrees is insanity. There's a reason that there's different types of primers, Large Pistol as you learned will fit in a Large Rifle case and vice versa, but, they were designed to work properly only in the cases they were made for and actually Large Pistol and rifle primers have different dimensions, Large Rifle are taller, you'd have really created a dangerous situation if you did the opposite, because Large Rifle primers stick out of pistol shells too far and you could have accidental discharges. So what would you rather lose, 11 shells with the wrong primers, your rifle, your hands, your head? Stop f!cking around and just pull the bullets man, it's not worth it.

primers stick out of pistol shells too far and you could have accidental discharges. So what would you rather lose, 11 shells with the wrong primers, your rifle, your hands, your head? Stop f!cking around and just pull the bullets man, it's not worth it. [/quote]
X2 .50$ worth of primers is not worth injury

Pull'em.... why run the risk?

Don't create a "Oh crap" moment when it can avoided.

You won't get 'slam firee' from pistol primers in a rifle case, perhaps especially in bolt gun, nor is temperature an issue. But pull them down, pistol primers simply aren't made to hold back pressures any where near rifle levels and a blanked primer can damage your firing pin and bolt face.

Just for your consideration, I've been reloading since '65 without a single incident, not because I'm so wise but my process prevents serious error. My guru told me to collect my components first but never have more than one type of powder, primer, case,etc. on the bench at once. And then to eyeball every charged case for powder colume consistancy before seating. I'm more than 40 years older now than he was then but I still do it his way and I've never had an over-charge or squib load, nor the wrong primer installed.

+1

I would pull them for both reasons.


Pistol primers with you may not get proper consistent ignition.


With a pierced primer you can damage you Rifle and yourself, why invite trouble?


IMO, It is just not worth the risk


Snake

Done deal; I figured I'd pull them but wanted a second (or nine) opinion. Thanks. Back story is that I loaded 25-06 one night, my son loaded some 44 SPCL during the day (I didn't know)and didn't empty the tray, and I loaded 257 the next night thinking they were my LRP... That's why you should always put your components away at the end of a session stupid (meaning me)!

Well, at least you asked before you shot them thank god, and now you know for next time, take care.