Large Pistol Mag. Primers

[John Erickson]

I went threw my reloading inventory and found that I am low on standard large pistol primers. Checked around and all the reloading shops were out of standard large pistol, but mag. primers were all well stocked. I know there is not as big of a demand for mag. primers and some reloading manuals don't even ask for small mag. in them in the 357. So I am doing a test with w 231 powder for my 230 gr. fmj 45 acp. will load at min. starting grains with mag. primers, total of -5 and then -5 with standard primers loaded in the middle of the chart. I have no way to check for vel. but will use two targets, bench shoot both and look for primer issue's, recoil, target grouping, how far cases eject. I have 500 large pistol primers left from my 44 mag. days. Has any body used mag. primers when times are tough finding reloading supplies ? I know win. make a primer that can be used in both. Thank you! I wont be to the range for a few days to try out.

 

[arjay]

Yes,during the shortage in '08 I had to use mag primers for awhile.They worked ok as I didn't have the resources for load development that I'd had years earlier.I still have half a brick left that I use in my bp loads.

 

[AZ_M&P]

I know both Cabela's and Bass Pro have large pistol primers in stock (locally to me) as well as on-line.

 

[MichiganScott]

I've used mag primers before with no problems. I just reworked the load by starting low and working back up until the accuracy was the same.

I started loading .223 in 1995 during the original assault rifle ban. All I could find were small rifle magnum. I've never used anything else in that caliber.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

In the large 44 Magnum case you will see little to no difference using a Magnum primer instead of a standard primer. With a magnum primer and the large powder charges associated with that cartridge you will probably only have to drop the charge weight by .1gr or at the most .2gr less to achieve the same velocities as when you use a standard primer.

 

[David R]

It may be the same. Only a chrony would tell.

I tried it with the 45 ACP and velocities were more consistent with magnum primers.
The standard primers were CCI, the magnum ones were Federal and they flattened more because they are not as hard of a cup.

Just use em.

David

 

[bob1956]

The Mag primer are 33% hotter, I e-mailed CCI a while back when the first shortage of components was going on. They of course didn't recomend the substitution but I did any way reducing the load. I got away with it, I can't find the exact data but use caution if you decide to use them. Good luck

 

[steveno]

years ago I loaded up some 41 mag loads with both standard and magnum CCI primers. the load was 8 grains of Unique and a 215 grain cast swc. shooting them out of a 6.5 Blackhawk the only difference I could see was that the extreme spread was lower with the magnum primers. the average velocity was about the same.

 

[mikld]

Very common topic, so common that a google search will turn up many many hits...

 

[Nemo288]

Most of the time I use the WLP for everything.
Only if I want very low loads with fast powder do I go to the CCI 300.

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Nemo

 

[jubela#4]

I've used mag primers before with my standard load of 7.5 grains of Unique in .41, .44 and .45 Colt with no problems. I'd use them if I were you.

 

[arjay]

If you have a range close by,it can be worth the effort to work up a new load.If you don't,and your load is in the middle of the "recipe",just use them and see how it groups.You probably won't be able to tell the difference.

 

[John Erickson]

Thank you for the info. I will let you know what I find out after my test.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I see some posts are saying there is a big difference between standard and magnum primers. If so can you explain who Winchester can sell large pistol primers rated for both standard and magnum applications yet there is no recommendation to reduce the charge weights when using Winchester LPP? In this litigious environment if there was any danger at all you know there would be a warning about those primers.

Magnum primers will burn slightly longer and slightly hotter than standard primers. They will not create a nuclear explosion.

 

[Nemo288]

Been playing with those uranium bullets again have you?

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Nemo