Jim Taylor
Awhile back I ran across a deal on Small Pistol Primers
Wednesday, August 28, 2024, 08:54

They were a little less than $60 a thousand which these days is a pretty good deal. They were made in Argentina but I decided to take a chance on them. After getting them I figured it would be a good idea to get some kind of comparison to US-made primers so I decided to test them against Federal Small Magnum Pistol primers.

My test was to fire loads with no powder and see how the primers performed. I decided to use the Saeco 158 gr. SWC and a .375" ball. The SWC would be loaded with no crimp and with a crimp. I set up 8 sections of cardboard as a backstop.

The test would be fired with my S&W Model 340 that has a 1.75" barrel.

Measurements would be with my Browne and Sharp calipers.

I loaded the Argentine primed, uncrimped load and from a distance of about 6" to the cardboard I pulled the trigger, resulting in a loud POP but nothing exiting the barrel. Then I measured where the bullet stopped in the bore. I apologize for the unfocused photo. I did not pay attention to the camera in my haste.

1.75" minus .78 equals .97" down the bore.

I shoved the bullet out of the bore with a brass rod.

Next I loaded the crimped round. When I pulled the trigger all I got was the CLICK of the hammer dropping. I pulled the cartridge and found the bullet still crimped in place.

Pulling the bullet showed the primer had fired.

Next I loaded the round ball load and about 6" from the cardboard I pulled the trigger. At the shot the ball hit the cardboard and bounced back onto the floor.

The cardboard had a small dent.

I then took the loads with the Federal Small Magnum pistol primers and tried them. The first was the 158 gr. Saeco SWC uncrimped. It popped the bullet down the bore.

1.75" minus 1.02" equals .73"

After getting the bullet out of the barrel I tried the crimped bullet load and had the same results as the first. The bullet did not move. Then I loaded the .375" round ball load. At the shot nothing came out of the barrel. I opened the cylinder and found the ball in the end of the chamber.

To make sure I fired on more. This one popped the ball just past the forcing cone.

To keep things equal I fired one more ball load using the Argentine primers. This load popped the ball almost to the end of the bore.

Chronographing would tell more but for my purposes this was enough. I am loading a standard .38 Special load of 3.0 grains of Bullseye and these primers will do just fine.