Using Magnum Primers

[GregLaROCHE]

In which cases do people use magnum primers when a normal one is called for? I first tried using them in a 45/70 round that wasn’t getting complete powder burn. Didn’t help much. I finally went to a faster powder. I bought a box of 1000, so have plenty left to use on something. Do you think they have any advantages with BP? Any other situations to use them in?

[DDriller]

I use them and sometimes have to back off powder charge 0.5 grains loading hot loads, which I don't do much anymore. Like you I don't see much difference using them.

[Carrier]

Using HS6 you see the difference.

[NSB]

I use magnum primers simply because you can use magnum with all powders but cannot use regular where magnums are called for. The caveat is that you should back off a bit when substituting magnum for regular while watching for pressure signs.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I use them (Mag primers) when the reloading manual specifies it.

As to going "off book":
I've read on the interwebs that Mag primers are good to use,
1. For loads of slow burning and/or hard to ignite powders (typically used in Large Magnum Rifle cartridges).
2. For loads that will be shot in extreme cold temps.
3. For Loads where the powder charge takes up very little of the case capacity (ie 38 spl and 45 colt).
*Now there is much controversy over the third suggestion.

[Rich/WIS]

Use them with BLC2 and Win 748 for more reliable ignition. Tried them with WW 473 in 45 ACP when the regular primers were leaving a bit of unburned powder, didn't seem to make any difference.

[mdi]

I have used Magnum Pistol Primers in lieu of Standard, but as with any change in components, did another load workup. Of course when using slower powders I normally started with Magnum primers and as experiments tried Standard. Yes, not really a straight across comparison because of doing another load workup, but that's my SOP. IIRC; some loads (powder/bullet combos) were better with Magnum, more consistent, more accurate, but overall not a lot of difference...

[gwpercle]

Seems like the main use ... lately ... is when that's all you have and / or all you can get .

I was reading a magazine article about using small rifle primers in place of small pistol primers for the same lack of availability problems .

Necessity makes you do strange things sometimes ... just be careful !
Gary

[Texas by God]

I have never used small rifle magnum, small pistol magnum, or large pistol magnum primers and I've been loading since 1972. I've used a lot of large rifle magnum primers for ball powder and general use because I was given near 6000 of them way back when. I have saved them for primer shortages- and those come around as most of you know.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[lar45]

I use Fed215s in the 470NE, 375 Ruger and 300 Win mag where called for.
For handguns, I use mag primers with 296.
John Linebaugh cautioned me against using mag primers in the 500 Linebaugh, he said that it would jump the pressure around 10kpsi.

[hickfu]

I use Magnum primers in Magnum rifles but its good to know that I can use them in standard as well.

[243winxb]

Mag primer for ball powders. https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/ammunition_st_mamotaip_200909/100079

[Soundguy]

If I'm shooting in cold weather I'll use a mag primer.

[GregLaROCHE]

Mag primer for ball powders. https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/ammunition_st_mamotaip_200909/100079

Very interesting link. Thanks

[Buck Shot]

I use Russian (Wolf? Tula? I forget) SRMs for all match 223 loads (regardless of powder) in my SR simply because they're so consistent.
From what I've heard and seen, no American primer can hold a candle to them...and they are (were) cheap!

[shootinfox2]

WLP for mag or regular. No difference.

[Beaverhunter2]

LPM in 480 Ruger and SPM in 357 mag with W296. LRM in .375H&H (with RL15).

FWIW I did an experiment in .450 Marlin with CCI, Federal, Winchester and S&B LR and CCI 250s (LRM). Load was significant (50gr H322 400gr FNGC) but not near max. Zero was the same and groups were all acceptable for 150yd hunting.

[Jack Stanley]

I've used magnum small pistol primers in some cast bullet loads for the .223 Remington .

Jack

[Char-Gar]

Handguns: I don't use magnum primers. I only use Bullseye, Unique and 2400 powders.

Small Rifles: I don't load anything that needs a SRP

Large Rifles: I have a large supply of older Remington 9.5M primers so I used them with cast bullet. I notice very little if any difference with them.

Caveat: Winchester Large Rifle Primers may be problematic in cast bullet loads. The primer itself can, with some loads, start the bullet down the barrel by itself and the the powder change ignites and treats the started bullet like a barrel obstruction. This is based on 20 year old information and Winchester may have changed the primer formula, but I avoid Win. LRM primers...period.

[farmbif]

the decision to use magnum primers or not has lots of conflicting sources of information involved. the first reloading book I ever bought for myself was Speer no 11, prior to that I relied on hand me down Lyman manual from my dad and the free little pamphlets from winchester and Hercules that they gave out at the gun shop. I thought the Speer book was the absolute guide to follow. and it called for magnum primers for basically all ball powders and then some other loads too.
and as a matter of habit that is what I still do today

[Winger Ed.]

When I've had a bunch and didn't plan to load Mags. any time soon-
I've used them in calibers that will call for them, like shooting .38s in a .357Mag.
(That tells me the hammer strike is plenty hard enough to set them off.)
I just back off the powder about 1/2 a grain.

[PaulG67]

I have several thousand of mag primers in different flavors, never used them, never felt the need.

[243winxb]

WLP in 45acp& 44mag. Mag primers in 38, 357,9mm, 44. Rifles using IMR powders Cci450 in 223, rest test both. Mag primers have improved accuracy for me in some rifles.

Ball powder= Mag primers. As i said above.