using sr primer to improve the burn of slower powders ?? 38 spcl

[crankycalico]

its also a refusal to accept things shooters and loaders have accepted since well, smokeless powder came about.

A shorter barrel yields less time to get the powder charge burned, thus you need to use powders, yes powders, that are actually able to be effiecient with them.

or as Charter Arms says,
We rate our handguns for +p 38 special, but do not recommend the use of +p in barrels shorter then 4" due to the large fire ball of powder igniting outside the muzzle.

Oh yeah, the muzzle blast is wasted powder, if its considered to be EXPECTED in 90% of all factory +P loads when used in a snubnose, I would only assume that most load data will create that issue of WASTED POWDER when fired in a short barrel.

or perhaps the issue is that somebody has gone into a hardware store asking for a "glognut" but holding a broken hammer in his hand, and refusing to accept anything labeled HAMMER on the price tag.

[xrayfk05]

Then pick up a box of s&b primers and right on the box they say for rifle, pistol or revolver.

Not sure what you mean but if you mean you can use those primers for rifle and pistol, it also says those are SP boxer ie. pistol primers.
They are fine for a low-end .223 load but will start to show overpressure sign pretty quickly. (Don't ask me how I know :P )

A rifle primer may or may not be "hotter" than a pistol primer, same goes for a magnum primer. Some only have a thicker cup.
Only way to find out is to try it.