Magnum primers

[Sanders]

In working up a load for my son-in-law's Desert Eagle .357 mag, I found I had no small pistol magnum primers for my H110 loadings. The DEAGLE requires a hot load to function properly - preferably a 158 gr. bullet or heavier. With a little research, I found I can use small rifle primers, instead. The only problem I may run into is they are a little harder than pistol primers. I don't think the DEAGLE will have trouble with them, as the bolt in it is an M16 bolt.

He had the pistol loaded with .38 Specials. I asked him if he had a lot of problems, and he said he did. Gee, I wonder why?

[4thIDvet]

Excuse my senior citizen brain Sanders but what type of problems was he having? With our govts. around the world deciding things were slow economically so it would be a great time to blast the dog piss out of some other country that pissed them off. Could be as simple as not liking their flag or a property line dispute doesn't matter send their young off to war. Bullets fly good kids die but now both countries economies get rolling again. $$$
Reloaders problems were they were buying all the damn gun powder and primers etc. etc.. So I was wondering from your post if anyone ever did some tests switching correct primers for others then adjusting their powder loads to get correct firing load pressures?? If I remember correctly guys were using shotgun primers shortages were so bad??
Just a thought??

[Sanders]

I got a substantial amount of powder and primers when a fellow, who had been hoarding them, died and his wife sold everything off just to get it all out of the house. His hoard wound up supplying not just me, but my brother-in-law, his brother, and several other guys. You can't take it with you. From what I learned about small rifle primers vs. magnum pistol primers that they are the same except for the thicker walled rifle primer and that I don't have to adjust my loadings for them. I never got desperate enough to try shotgun primers in anything but shotguns or in-line muzzle loaders.

[4thIDvet]

Interesting thank you. I have to get back into re-loading. All my equipment was kinda shut down and just sitting when the shortage of powder and primers hit a year or so ago. Availability seems to be coming back but like every other damn thing out their git yer wallet out to buy.

[ColonelKorn]

I load .357 but only have devolvers. I use IMR-4227 which some have suggested need magnum primers but I'm not having any issues. The Desert Eagle is gas operated, isn't it?

[Sanders]

I load .357 but only have devolvers. I use IMR-4227 which some have suggested need magnum primers but I'm not having any issues. The Desert Eagle is gas operated, isn't it?

It is gas operated. My loads worked like a charm in it. Only stoppages were my fault from getting my crimp offset. I tried the loading out in my 4" GP100, and it was a little too stout for enjoyment. The Deagle is so heavy, recoil isn't even a factor, so I didn't really notice it much. But, dang that badboy was loud!

Edit: I was using almost a max load of H110 and 158 gr. Hornady XTPs.