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| LARGE PISTOL PRIMERS & PRIMER WADS IN BPCRs By Wayne McLerran |
Last update: 4/24/13
Here’s my “take” on Black Powder Cartridge Rifle (BPCR) reloading and using
large pistol primers and primer wads. At an earlier period in time, many moons
ago, the general consensus was that a “strong” primer was required to reliably fire
black powder. Hence, it was standard practice to use magnum rifle primers in
BPCRs and the Federal GM215M Gold Medal Match Large Magnum rifle primer
was very popular. More recently (around a decade ago or thereabouts), due to
experimenting by some well-know competitively successful shooters, it was
found that lowering the power (brisance) of the primer directly contributed to a
very significant reduction in the standard deviation (SD) of the velocity spread.
SDs generally dropped from well into the double digits to
single digits. And in some cases (no pun intended) the average velocity actually
increased slightly. I’m not aware of conclusive evidence as to why a weaker
primer reduces SD. It’s been debated that a strong primer can push the powder
column and bullet forward prior to full powder ignition, not a good thing.
For a chart comparing the power of various primers go to http://www.castingstuff.
com/primer_testing_reference.htm. There are a couple of ways to reduce primer
brisance. The most obvious technique is to use pistol primers in place of rifle
primers, but this can lead to problems with some older rifles, more on this later.
Another way to reduce or mitigate primer power is to cover the primer face with
a thin layer of paper or a similar material, commonly referred to as an under
powder wad (UPW) or over primer wad (OPW). Generally, once the case is
primed, the UPW is inserted and pushed down with a dowel rod or similar tool to
cover the primer hole. The OPW is inserted above the primer when the primer is
inserted in the pocket, more on this later. UPWs or OPWs also serves to keep
powder granules from entering the primer hole and possibly causing erratic
ignition. Some shooters believe this is more important than reducing the primer
brisance.
I understand that Steve Garbe discussed UPWs in an article in one of his 2002
editions of The Black Powder Cartridge News. Shooters have since
experimented with various paper thicknesses and used other more durable
material for primer wads. Some use a combination of large pistol (LP) primers
with UPWs or OPWs to further reduce primer power. Although it’s been shown
that primers can blow through thick wads, the wad thickness could have an effect
on SDs. Hence, additional experimenting may be required to determine the wad
thickness or material that works best for you.
I noted earlier that using pistol primers can lead to problems with some older
rifles. The reason is due to the softer metals used in the breechblocks of older
19th century or early 20th century receivers. Compared to rifle primers, pistol
primers seat slightly deeper or forward in unmodified rifle cases. When fired,
cartridge/chamber pressures will force the pistol primer to slam back into the
breechblock face, which can result in “peening” the area around the firing pin
opening of softer breechblocks. This is typically not a problem with modern
receivers and breechblocks. If you do detect signs of peening you can
experiment with large rifle primers and thicker over primer wads or seat a large
pistol (LP) primer “through” a thin wad, resulting in a over primer wad (OPW).
In other words, cover the LP primer with a thin sheet of paper prior to seating it
into the case. The primer punches through the paper creating an OPW and seats
the primer further back at the same time.
By the way, if you’re using UPWs, consider using a smaller caliber punch to cut
out the wads or you may have a heck of a time pushing them down to cover the
primer as they will typically flatten out against the inside wall of the case. In
other words, use a .38 cal. punch to make UPWs for .40 cal. loads and a .40 cal
punch for .45 cal. loads, etc. These will usually drop in and “flutter down” to
cover the much smaller primer hole.
Wishing you great shooting,
Wayne
Here’s my “take” on Black Powder Cartridge Rifle (BPCR) reloading and using
large pistol primers and primer wads. At an earlier period in time, many moons
ago, the general consensus was that a “strong” primer was required to reliably fire
black powder. Hence, it was standard practice to use magnum rifle primers in
BPCRs and the Federal GM215M Gold Medal Match Large Magnum rifle primer
was very popular. More recently (around a decade ago or thereabouts), due to
experimenting by some well-know competitively successful shooters, it was
found that lowering the power (brisance) of the primer directly contributed to a
very significant reduction in the standard deviation (SD) of the velocity spread.
SDs generally dropped from well into the double digits to
single digits. And in some cases (no pun intended) the average velocity actually
increased slightly. I’m not aware of conclusive evidence as to why a weaker
primer reduces SD. It’s been debated that a strong primer can push the powder
column and bullet forward prior to full powder ignition, not a good thing.
For a chart comparing the power of various primers go to http://www.castingstuff.
com/primer_testing_reference.htm. There are a couple of ways to reduce primer
brisance. The most obvious technique is to use pistol primers in place of rifle
primers, but this can lead to problems with some older rifles, more on this later.
Another way to reduce or mitigate primer power is to cover the primer face with
a thin layer of paper or a similar material, commonly referred to as an under
powder wad (UPW) or over primer wad (OPW). Generally, once the case is
primed, the UPW is inserted and pushed down with a dowel rod or similar tool to
cover the primer hole. The OPW is inserted above the primer when the primer is
inserted in the pocket, more on this later. UPWs or OPWs also serves to keep
powder granules from entering the primer hole and possibly causing erratic
ignition. Some shooters believe this is more important than reducing the primer
brisance.
I understand that Steve Garbe discussed UPWs in an article in one of his 2002
editions of The Black Powder Cartridge News. Shooters have since
experimented with various paper thicknesses and used other more durable
material for primer wads. Some use a combination of large pistol (LP) primers
with UPWs or OPWs to further reduce primer power. Although it’s been shown
that primers can blow through thick wads, the wad thickness could have an effect
on SDs. Hence, additional experimenting may be required to determine the wad
thickness or material that works best for you.
I noted earlier that using pistol primers can lead to problems with some older
rifles. The reason is due to the softer metals used in the breechblocks of older
19th century or early 20th century receivers. Compared to rifle primers, pistol
primers seat slightly deeper or forward in unmodified rifle cases. When fired,
cartridge/chamber pressures will force the pistol primer to slam back into the
breechblock face, which can result in “peening” the area around the firing pin
opening of softer breechblocks. This is typically not a problem with modern
receivers and breechblocks. If you do detect signs of peening you can
experiment with large rifle primers and thicker over primer wads or seat a large
pistol (LP) primer “through” a thin wad, resulting in a over primer wad (OPW).
In other words, cover the LP primer with a thin sheet of paper prior to seating it
into the case. The primer punches through the paper creating an OPW and seats
the primer further back at the same time.
By the way, if you’re using UPWs, consider using a smaller caliber punch to cut
out the wads or you may have a heck of a time pushing them down to cover the
primer as they will typically flatten out against the inside wall of the case. In
other words, use a .38 cal. punch to make UPWs for .40 cal. loads and a .40 cal
punch for .45 cal. loads, etc. These will usually drop in and “flutter down” to
cover the much smaller primer hole.
Wishing you great shooting,
Wayne