Magnum Primers in 9mm?

[gene10pntr]

Is it safe to use magnum primers in 9mm reloads? I use magnums in my .204's for faster ignition for some powders and wondered if they would work similar in pistol loads?
Thanks!

[Larry Gibson]

With any proper powder for the 9mm there is absolutely no reason nor need to use a magnum primer.

Is it "safe"? Depends on the load. It will raise pressure dramatically in that small case so if loads are at top end pressures then the answer is .....NO.....

[243winxb]

I use mag primers in everything. But have no 9mm.


Too Much Primer
You can have too much primer. When the output gas volume of the primer approaches that of the cartridge case, sometimes special handling is required. I remember when CCI was working with some experimental primers for 9mm Luger, and we started seeing odd time-pressure curves on the computer. Instead of the normal single peak, we saw two. One QA tech commented that it looked like the dual humps of a Bactrian camel.

It was a classic case of high gas volume but too little temperature. The primer’s extra gas unseated the bullet while still trying to light off the main charge, producing one peak. Then the bullet retarded as it engaged the rifling, creating the second peak. Although a shooter would never notice this in a production firearm, that double hump was worrisome, and we abandoned that mix.



Read more: http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammo/ammunition_st_mamotaip_200909/#ixzz4wR07McPf

Not all primers are the same. The 9 mm is a high pressure round. Remington will tell you to use there 5 1/2 primer.

In general, ball powders need a magnum primer.

[tazman]

I have used magnum primers in my 9mm loads. The first time was when I couldn't find any other primers to use. It turned out that with the particular load I was using, it actually improved the load's accuracy markedly. However, this is the only load I use them in.
As others have said, if you are running max loads, don't expect switching to magnum primers to be completely safe. They will make a difference.

[gene10pntr]

Thanks for the replies and the information. Sounds like standard primers are my safest choice.

[Meatpuppet]

I would have to defer to those members who are true authorities in the Cast Boolit field. A lifetime of experience is priceless.

However, my personal experience in shooting 9mm (emphasis on 9mm only) in USPSA has been that Magnum primers made almost no meaningful difference in velocity, but often resulted in slightly better groups at 20+ yards with lower velocity deviations. This is using 124gr and 147gr coated and JHP projectiles. During the “primer panic” a few years ago, Federal Small Pistol primers were as rare as Mike Tyson showing up to compete in a Spelling Bee. But Federal Small Pistol Magnum and Small Pistol Magnum Match were available. So I loaded up on them (ha-ha… see what I did there?). I have shot many thousands of The Blue Bullet 147gr (actually 150gr) 9mm coated rounds using Nobel Sport Vectan Prima V (after running out of VV N320). Clean, cool and soft shooting.

My current go-to load is 3.2gr Prima V / TBB 147gr / 1.10 oal / Fed SPP Magnum / light taper crimp on Lee FCD / Chrono at 890fps in my CZ
Accu-Shadows.

My experience that you are fine using them in in 9mm loads. But note... it is limited to small charges of fast burning powders in a small 9mm case. I suspect a Magnum primer in a large capacity case full of slow burning powder will have a much different result.

[NoAngel]

Start your load development all over again. Start from the bottom as pressure will be higher and 9mm is a firecracker to begin with. Pressure climbs FAST when you change things.

Having said that, I have two loads I used magnum primers for. Working with a chronograph to mind the velocity they worked just fine. With my particular load I noticed 1.0g below max gave me about the same velocity as book lists max load for. That information is hardly usable as hard fact as it was taken from a 16 inch carbine. Not a pistol length barrel.

[vzerone]

Just happen to have a reloading manual sitting here on the desk an old Speer. Looking up 9mm I noticed they recommended a magnum primer for certain powder, mainly slow burning ball powders.

I don't see why, especially if you work a load up from a safe beginning, that you can't use magnum primers for the 9mm.

[JDL]

I'm told that Federal uses mag. primers in their premium 9mm loads.

[Wayne Smith]

I'm told that Federal uses mag. primers in their premium 9mm loads.
Then they worked up that load in their ballistics lab with the train load of powder thay had to use. Means nothing to what we do.

[JDL]

Then they worked up that load in their ballistics lab with the train load of powder thay had to use. Means nothing to what we do.

But if it caused problems, they sure would not use them. Work up your loads with mag primers and you will have no problems. Oh, wait a minute, that is what the factory does!

[zomby woof]

only notice a 10-15 fps difference in Federal magnum vs regular. Looks like pistol powder burns fast once ignited.

[Shingle]

I use magnum primers in everything 9mm only difference I have noticed is with fast powders like Titegroup you need to lower max. powder charge. Watch foreign made mag. pistol primers the cups are as hard as rifle primers.

[aelred]

Hello,
I read the above posts regarding magnum primers in 9mm and I believe I should be ok. My load is 3.8 grains of Bullseye with a 124 grain lead round nose bullet(Lee mold) to be used in a Barretta M9A1 pistol. Primers to be used are Federal small pistol magnum primers. The manual I'm using is the Lyman Cast Bullet handbook--4th edition. Max load in the manual is 4.1 grains of Bullseye. In my local area, none of gun shop have any small pistol primers. Thoughts/comments---appreciated
Thanks

[tazman]

Hello,
I read the above posts regarding magnum primers in 9mm and I believe I should be ok. My load is 3.8 grains of Bullseye with a 124 grain lead round nose bullet(Lee mold) to be used in a Barretta M9A1 pistol. Primers to be used are Federal small pistol magnum primers. The manual I'm using is the Lyman Cast Bullet handbook--4th edition. Max load in the manual is 4.1 grains of Bullseye. In my local area, none of gun shop have any small pistol primers. Thoughts/comments---appreciated
Thanks

I would suggest you run your standard primer load over a chronograph and try to match the velocity using magnum pistol primers. If 3.8 grains of Bullseye works for you when using standard primers, drop your powder charge a couple of tenths when starting to use magnum primers.
Don't load up large numbers of cartridges until you have tested them.
I have data from a 2001 Alliant manual that says 4.9 of Bullseye with either 125 grain cast or FMJ with an OAL of 1.150. Different manuals show different load data.
The Beretta M9 pistol is a very robust design made to use NATO 9mm loads(plus P by US standards). You are probably safe but please do the testing suggested.