Primers for 56-50 Spencer

[Bad Ramon]

Recieved my 56-50 brass from Starline today. The primer pockets have a depth of .127. By contrast the primer pockets in my Starline 44-40 brass(which were designed for large pistol primers) is .123 deep. As there is only .004 difference in depth, would it be feasible to use large pistol primers in the 56-50 brass?..........

[French Jack]

I use large rifle, to be exact, Federal 215, a lot less fouling left in the barrel.

[Hoot-3rd Ga]

Size-wise....Use large rifle primers.......the large rifle magnum primers work just slightly better for black powder loads. Some brands have softer cup metal and go off more reliably. Spencers have a very indirect transfer of the hammer strike force to the firing pin and needs all the help it can get.   Hoot - 3rd Ga

[Advertising]

[Fox Creek Kid]

DO NOT use pistol primers in Starline 56-50 brass as they are shorter than rifle primers & will peen the breech face.

[Arizona Trooper]

Another reason not to use pistol primers is that they are a lot more sensitive than rifle primers. If you have one that's just slightly high, it's far more likely to go off in the magazine! Hoot's got the right advise. Standard Deviation is lower with magnum primers in black powder loads, and my groups have been consistently smaller with them too. (Not by much, but enough to get an extra hit now and then.)