Remington 1 1/2 Primers Not Recommended for what?

[376Steyr]

Found this in a Midway item description:
" Special Note:
•These primers are NOT recommended for loading high pressure loads such as 357 Mag, 357 Sig or 40 S&W. Please conslut (sic) a Reputable Loading Manual for loading data."

First time I'd ever seen this for a small pistol primer. Checking the interwebs, I see the subject has come up before, but I can't find any reference to this issue at the Remington web page. Is this warning printed on the primer box? Did I just not see it?

[bhn22]

Remington 6-1/2 std small rifle primers are not recommended for high intensity cartridges like 223. I'm using mine up in 357 magnum, since I don't have anything like a 22 Hornet.

[376Steyr]

I did some checking on the Hodgdon powder loading data website, as they list pressures for their loads. Curiously enough, 9mm Luger and 40 S&W max out at the same pressure. 357 SIG and 357 Magnum both show some loads that run substantially higher than 9mm and 40 S&W. If 40 S&W is on the not recommended list, I would think 9mm Luger would be too.

[Ed_Shot]

I got a brick of Rem 1 1/2's when it was all I could find. They work great for .380, 38 Spl and small primer 45 ACP. I would not use them for 9MM, .357 or 40 SW.

[hawgfan]

I am wondering what the REM 1 1/2's will do if you use them in 9mm. I am wondering this because that's all I have ever used. I have shot about 1000 in the past month with no pressure signs. I am just curious what I need to be looking for. Thanks.

[tazman]

I just fired off 200 of the Rem 1 1/2 primers in 9mm this past weekend. No serious problems other than 3 blown primers on loads that were flattening the primers anyway and gave lousy accuracy.
I was working up a load for a 125 gr lee round nose using a new, fairly fast powder. When the load got too hot the primers flattened and 3 out of 10 had holes blown through at the firing pin.
Other than those three, which had a good excuse,I had no problems at all with them.

[lancem]

I guess I'm wondering when all of this came up, yeah I live under a rock... been using Rem 6 1/2 just short of forever (40 years??) in 223, rem 1 1/2 in 357 mag, 9mm and 40 s&w as long... What are you suppose to be using CCI ? :)

[fecmech]

Remington makes a 5 1/2 for the .357 mag which I guess is their mag primer and maybe what they recommend but I see no problem using 1 1/2's in mag loads. Over the years I've shot many thousands of 1 1/2's in .357 mag max loadings and similar max 9 MM loads.

[dale2242]

tazman,
Blown and pierced primers are why Remington does not recommend the for high pressure loads....dale

[tazman]

tazman,
Blown and pierced primers are why Remington does not recommend the for high pressure loads....dale


Just checked my reloading manuals. Most list cci500 or winchester small pistol primers for 9mm. However I have a hodgdon manual that lists remington 1 1/2 primers for 9mm and 38 super.
Interesting.

[Scharfschuetze]

The Remington 1 1/2 primer, as I understand, has a thinner metal cup than the 5 1/2. I know that back in my PPC competitive days, the 1 1/2 primer was the primer of choice for PPC revolvers due to their often lightened hammer springs. My custom made PPC revolver would not always fire the Remington 5 1/2 or the CCI 500, but it was pretty reliable with the Remington 1 1/2 primer. It's really a PITA to have a misfire at 50 yards and have to rotate the cylinder around to fire the round with a second strike and still make time for the total of 24 rounds required at the 50 yard stage of the PPC course.

Given that, I've always used the 1 1/2 primer in lower pressure rounds like the 32 S&W and the 38 Special. It's my favorite primer for the lower pressure rounds.

[Guesser]

I tried Remington 1 1/2 in 327 Federal Magnum, pierced every primer. Tried CCI 500 and WSP, worked fine, no pierced primers, all other things being equal in a recommended load recipe.

[Char-Gar]

I just fired off 200 of the Rem 1 1/2 primers in 9mm this past weekend. No serious problems other than 3 blown primers on loads that were flattening the primers anyway and gave lousy accuracy.
I was working up a load for a 125 gr lee round nose using a new, fairly fast powder. When the load got too hot the primers flattened and 3 out of 10 had holes blown through at the firing pin.
Other than those three, which had a good excuse,I had no problems at all with them.

I would consider that to be a very serious problem!!!

[tazman]

I would consider that to be a very serious problem!!!

So did I.
I was working up a load with titegroup and going up .2 grains a step. The last bump I fired went a little too far, hence the flattened pierced primers.
Titegroup appears to be an unforgiving powder as the pressure spike came suddenly. I was still well below the suggested max loads listed in my manuals for the powder bullet combination when this occurred. I pulled the remaining loads apart without firing them.
I consistently have to load medium to light book loads to get accurate, functional loads with no pressure signs in my pistol. All the recommendations to start low and work up apply in spades to my pistol.