One gap in my preps that has come to light in the aftermath of this year's panic caused by COVID19 and civil unrest is my stash of small pistol primers. I have around 2500 - 3000. If you've been paying attention, small pistol primers are currently unobtanium at anything resembling a reasonable price.
In contrast, I have at least 5000 large pistol primers, which I primarily use for .38-40, .44-40, and also Magtech brass shotshells.
One cartridge I load for is .38 Special. I have thousands of .38 Special empties, so the thought occurred to me that I could convert 50 - 100 to take large pistol primers.
When primers become more easily available I am planning on stocking up on them but in the interim I want to increase my options.
In doing a bit of online research, I learned that there used to be .38 brass produced with large primers. So, why not convert some .38s to large primer pockets?
So what is the best cutting tool to use to enlarge the primer pockets? I'm leaning in the direction of a .210" center cutting end mill, chucked in a drill chuck in the tailstock of my 7x14 mini lathe. The deprimed cases would be held in my lathe's chuck.
The other option for a cutting tool would be a Hornady #041211 Large Primer Pocket uniformer.
I am aware that changing from small to large pistol primers is likely to increase pressure, so for safety I'd be using mild .38 Special loads and doing any initial testing in revolvers chambered for .357 Magnum.
Has anyone tried this?
@Outpost75, I'm especially interested in your thoughts.