Alliant 2400 regular vs magnum primers

[legi0n]

I was re-reading some old and new reloading books and in 357mag Alliant 2400 used to require magnum primers but not any more in the newer manuals.
So I decided to run an experiment to determine which is better.
I loaded 40 rounds with
15gr Alliant 2400
Winchester brass
Federal primers.
Gas checked (thanks Pat Marlins) cast bullets Lee 358-158-RF sized 0.3595" cast in the same session. Weight: 162gr lubed.
Homemade lube.
Medium crimp (no Lee FCD used)

I loaded one round regular one round magnum to minimize thrower variance. My Lyman 55 is pretty accurate (+/- 0.1gr) with 2400.

Guns: 6" Ruger GP 100 (0.3575" bore) and 18.5" Marlin 1894C (0.3565 bore)
Weather: sunny, 68ºF (20ºC), no wind

Shooting Chrony chronograph. RIP. The sandbag fell off the rest and terminated the experiment

Ruger GP100


Marlin 1894C


It seems the magnum primers yield less velocity but only marginally.
Can't really say there's a difference between regular and magnum primers for this powder and caliber.

[williamwaco]

I would call that a complete toss-up.

Those numbers are so close that you might get the reverse results if you try it six months later.

[jmsj]

legi0n,
Very intresting, was there a difference in the group size between the two loads using different primers?
Thanks, jmsj

[USSR]

E.K said years ago, that standard primers were best with 2400, and I tend to listen to him.

Don

[legi0n]

legi0n,
Very intresting, was there a difference in the group size between the two loads using different primers?
Thanks, jmsj

Not that I can tell. Yet I was not shooting for groups but rather trying to shoot straight through the chrony. Which in the end I did, pun intended

[jmsj]

legi0n,
Thanks for the reply.
I was asking because this spring while cleaning up the cabinets below my reloading bench, I found an old 3lb. coffee can full of never fired .357 mag brass that I had primed. The note inside the can had the date, trim length and that I had primed them w/ CCI mag primers. I remember buying 500 cases on a Midway sale way back when but about that time I kind of quite shooting .357's. I had primed all these cases back in 1997.
Thanks, jmsj

[MtGun44]

magnum primers cause fliers with 2400 for me in .44 mag.

Bill

[Wilsknife]

I've had issues with 3578/2400 loads with incomplete burning. Any thoughts?

[Wilsknife]

Oops ...357 Mag/2400 powder/sm pistol magnum primers

[Char-Gar]

2400 has never required magnum primers.

Willsknife... Use more crimp and/or neck tension on the bullets.

[legi0n]

Oops ...357 Mag/2400 powder/sm pistol magnum primers

what barrel length?
what bullet weight?

[Wilsknife]

4" Security Six, SWC 158 gn lead

[MtGun44]

+1 Heavy crimp & good neck tension are imporant, as stated by Chargar.

[legi0n]

4" Security Six, SWC 158 gn lead

4" may not be enough to burn all of such a slow powder.
Quickload says only 83.4% of 15gr Alliant 2400 would burn in 4" of a 0.357" barrel.

[Char-Gar]

A 4" .357 Mag. will burn 2400 just fine.

[Bula]

When I down load 2400 in .357 or .44 mag, I got unburned powder granules. I now only use it for the higher velocity loads-good crimp helps too.

[btroj]

I too get unburned powder grains. I ignore them as they don't seem to affect anything at all.

[101VooDoo]

legi0n,

I tried a similar test last fall with Federal primers:

Powder Gns Boolit Gns Alloy BHN Primer ES Avg SD
2400 13.5 Saeco 382 156 H-Ball 15 SPP 71 1280.2 23.8
2400 13.5 Saeco 382 156 H-Ball 15 SPM 68 1272.7 22.1

Ruger Blackhawk Anniversary Temp 80-88 Degrees
.357 Magnum Wind <5
4 5/8 Date 2-Aug-10


Ended up with similar results; slightly slower, slightly tighter SD.

[legi0n]

legi0n,

I tried a similar test last fall with Federal primers:

Powder Gns Boolit Gns Alloy BHN Primer ES Avg SD
2400 13.5 Saeco 382 156 H-Ball 15 SPP 71 1280.2 23.8
2400 13.5 Saeco 382 156 H-Ball 15 SPM 68 1272.7 22.1

Ruger Blackhawk Anniversary Temp 80-88 Degrees
.357 Magnum Wind <5
4 5/8 Date 2-Aug-10


Ended up with similar results; slightly slower, slightly tighter SD.

Hi 101VooDoo,
Peer review is incredible helpful in such experiments. It either removes the subjective factor or points out the error in method. The former apparently in this case.

ps: I've got a brand new chrony

[exile]

Interesting post. I just bought my first pound of 2400 the other day, have been using AA # 9 previously for magnum loads. So, is the consensus here that magnum primers should not be used with 2400, or that it makes no difference one way or another?

Mostly concerned because I have heard that using the wrong primer with a particular powder can produce pressure spikes?

exile