2400 Mag Primer ?

[Luke Duke]

In these times of reloading components in such short supply. I find myself with 8#'s of 2400 and 4 thousand Large Magnum Pistol Primers. I realize that Alliant says Mag Primers are not necessary, but I'm going to have to use them if I want to shoot my 41 and 44 Mag.
Cant imagine having problems if I start low and work up a load.

 

[rockquarry]

Standard primers are usually recommended with #2400 but I've seen slightly better accuracy in some instances with magnum primers, but this can and will vary considerably with all the changeable factors. You're right, start low and work up.

 

[Narragansett]

When I reloaded, and I am saying this from memory, I used nothing but CCI mag primers, and nothing but 2400 powder. 21-23 grains. Like I said this is just a memory thing. Not to be used!!!!!. I am sure of the primers, but not the grains of 2400.Actually I found a full box of reloads the other day.

I like 2400 powder, but to me it was a safety thing. You can't double charge a case without it spilling all over.

 

[Luke Duke]

I keep good track of my supplies. Guess Ive been shooting up more Standard Large Pistol primers than I thought. Unfortunately I find myself with way more powder than primers! Hopefully just enough to get threw our currant administration
Or start shooting my rifles alot more , got plenty of Large and Small rifle primers

 

[alwslate]

Use your mag primers without fear. Mag primers have been used with 2400 for many years with no problems until recently Speer said to use standard primers with 2400 in the .357 magnum. I have chronographed loads with mag and std primers in the .357 for comparison and I will never use std primers with 2400 again. You don't have to start low and work up with your .41 and .44 magnum loads. Just use the old published data that has been in use for many years and don't worry.

 

[Maurice H]

Cant imagine having problems if I start low and work up a load.

Exactly...wouldn't give it a second thought. Sierra calls for a mag primer with 2400 while most do not but that wouldn't faze me.

 

[DWalt]

I doubt you will detect any performance differences between Standard and Magnum LP primers in your reloads.

 

[Erocksmash]

Save the mag primers for the h110, standard PP will set 2400 just fine

 

[dave1918a2]

Like You I have thousands of LP Mag primers. Why? Because I have used Magnum primers with 2400, H110, H4227 for decades without a problem. My 44 load is 20.5 Gr 2400, 23 Gr H110, or 18 Gr H4227. All mag primed.

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

fifty years ago my standard 44 load was the Magnum primer with 21/2400 with the 250 grain swc

 

[twodog max]

Not necessary IMO and Alliants but perfectly acceptable. I have done so myself many times in the past

 

[alwslate]

Save the mag primers for the h110, standard PP will set 2400 just fine

Yep, std PP will actually ignite 2400. They will also give you low velocities and large extreme spreads compared to mag primers. The first time that I loaded some .357s with 2400 after seeing Speer's recommendations I used Winchester std primers. The velocities were so much lower than what I was used to seeing that I thought there was something wrong with my chronograph. A little experimentation showed me what was wrong. Std primers with 2400!

 

[LostintheOzone]

Save the mag primers for the h110, standard PP will set 2400 just fine

That's what I would do.

Mag primers are usually recommended for ball powder. 2400 isn't ball powder so no need to waste those on 2400 unless that's all you have.

 

[ruggyh]

... Unfortunately I find myself with way more powder than primers! ...

Start reloading 460 or 500 S&W and it will fix that problem.

 

[just plain joe]

You are wise to work up the load, starting low. Speaking for myself, whenever I load 2400, I utilize magnum primers. It is a slow burning powder and the magnum primers help it ignite and burn more consistently (my experience).

I found that when shooting .357 Magnum reloads, there is less unburned powder beneath the extractor star and a little less flash from the unburned powder at the muzzle with magnum primers. Different caliber I understand, but your results may be similar.

HTH.

JPJ

 

[Luke Duke]

Mag Primers

On a side not; Ive found with my lot of Unique and my load of 10.0 grains and a 250 Keith, Magnum primers burn it much cleaner and accuracy is way better.
Also , I have 2000 Remington 6 1/2 . My understanding is that these are similar to a Mag Small pistol Primer. That their not a very hot SRP?

 

[DGNY]

I also believe that (a) magnum primers raise pressures; (b) providers of reloading information wanted users to be aware of that.

Hence, they recommended magnum primers, in order that their loads not be over-pressure when some reloaders used mag primers instead of standard. Simply a matter of safety and, yes, in occasional instances, better combustion of the 2400.

I personally never used mag primers and had very good combustion, with good looking primers, easy extraction and fine accuracy.

 

[AJ]

Use what you have, just start low and work up slowly.

 

[Luke Duke]

Use what you have, just start low and work up slowly.

Familiar with Remington 6 1/2 primers?

 

[AJ]

Familiar with Remington 6 1/2 primers?

Never used the Remington 6 1/2 primers. Have mostly used CCI Small and Large Pistol Primers.

 

[alwslate]

Some years ago when I wanted to develop deer hunting loads for my three screw Ruger Super Blackhawk I started with the standard full power loads in manuals and used by many handloaders for many years. I loaded 22.0 grs of 2400 and 24.0 grs of 296 with CCI 350 mag primers with 250 cast SWCs and 240 gr JHPs. I got higher velocities with 296 than with 2400 so 296 is what I have always used. If you are loading for a quality gun you do not have to "start low and work up very slowly while watching carefully for signs of high pressure". Pressure signs do not occur at magnum pistol pressures and at any loads listed in manuals.

 

[alwslate]

For those who think magnum primers are "wasted" with 2400, consider this. I like to do comparison tests with my chronograph so I tried a couple of .357 loads one day. The gun was my 4" mod 28-2, Winchester brass,2400 powder with a 158 gr cast SWC. First load was
13.0 grs, std primer, velocity 1144 FPS with ES of 130 FPS.
Second load was a full gr less at 12.0 grs, mag primer, velocity 1228 FPS and ES of 13 FPS. It seems that it's better to say don't waste your powder on std primers.I forgot to say that both std and mag primers were Winchester.

 

[twodog max]

From a scientific standpoint your results would mean more if the only variable was the primer selection. By varying the powder charge you changed more than one part of the equation and it is not an apples to apples comparison.
Have you chronographed with only the primer changed? Not saying you are wrong but in the interest of claims of primer selection it would give more validity to the claim.

 

[CH4]

I use mag primers when using 2400, especially if I have more of them than spp. I just finished loading 125 gr 357 mag using 16 grs of 2400. Also, my Lyman manual specifies magnum primers for all powders for this bullet weight, although not necessary with faster powders like unique and bullseye.

 

[Luke Duke]

Some years ago when I wanted to develop deer hunting loads for my three screw Ruger Super Blackhawk I started with the standard full power loads in manuals and used by many handloaders for many years. I loaded 22.0 grs of 2400 and 24.0 grs of 296 with CCI 350 mag primers with 250 cast SWCs and 240 gr JHPs. I got higher velocities with 296 than with 2400 so 296 is what I have always used. If you are loading for a quality gun you do not have to "start low and work up very slowly while watching carefully for signs of high pressure". Pressure signs do not occur at magnum pistol pressures and at any loads listed in manuals.

My 44 is a Super BlackHawk 10.5 in barrel . First run from 1979

 

[smoothshooter]

I think the old Rule Of Thumb has been when changing from standard to magnum primers, back the powder charge off a half grain to one grain for the same performance.
With some powders and loads that are not maximum, you can use the same charge.

 

[alwslate]

From a scientific standpoint your results would mean more if the only variable was the primer selection. By varying the powder charge you changed more than one part of the equation and it is not an apples to apples comparison.
Have you chronographed with only the primer changed? Not saying you are wrong but in the interest of claims of primer selection it would give more validity to the claim.

Well since you asked, yes I have. I have done many comparisons with my chronograph and since the original Hercules and Alliant data used Federal 200 SR primers for all loads with the .357 and I had some I decided one day to check for primer effect with a higher charge of 2400. Same gun, 4" 28-2, Winchester brass with a 158 gr cast SWC and 14.2 grs of 2400

Win SP std primer, velocity 1225 FPS ES 47 FPS
Federal 200 SR primer, velocity 1312 FPS ES 62FPS
Win SP mag primer, velocity 1348 FPS ES 28 FPS
It seems obvious to me that 2400 yields far better performance with hot primers at least in the .357. And I don't see why it would be any different with one of the other magnums.

 

[alwslate]

My 44 is a Super BlackHawk 10.5 in barrel . First run from 1979

With a Super Blackhawk you do not need to waste your components by starting low and slowly working up to any published loads in manuals.

 

[stansdds]

Although magnum primers are not required for proper ignition of 2400, they certainly can be used. There are two trains of thought regarding powder charge when switching to magnum primers. One says the powder charge stays the same, the other recommends a slightly reduced charge. I'd play it safe, back off on the powder charge and work up to a safe maximum.

 

[Warren Sear]

...If you are loading for a quality gun you do not have to "start low and work up very slowly while watching carefully for signs of high pressure". Pressure signs do not occur at magnum pistol pressures and at any loads listed in manuals.

That right there needs to be repeated!