mag primmers with ball powder - is it necessary

[charles p]

I have begun loading ball powders for my 7mm-08.  I've used large rifle primers and BR primers.  A friend says he uses LR Mag primers with all ball powder loads.

My friend has my rifle now and says it shoots 3/4" with my BR primers and WW760 loadings.  I'm leary of changing unless I'm going to get inconsistency, especially in very cold weather.  Who uses LR Mag primers with ball powders?

[wncchester]

"Who uses LR Mag primers with ball powders?"

Well, it seems a lot of people do.  Doubt they need to unless the case capacity is larger than a 30-06 tho.  I mean, ball powder ain't exactly fire proof!

[Old Syko]

Try it you'll like it!  I shoot thousands of rounds a year in 223, 22-250 and 308 with either WW748 or WW760 and the mag primers with an otherwise identical load cuts standard deviation by at least half or better in all cases and gives anywhere from 30 to 50 fps higher velocity.  Besides, at the present time mag primers are more readily available than some others.

[The Sodbuster]

The Speer #13 manual generally lists magnum primers with ball powder loads.  I don't have the #14 yet, but I doubt that's changed.

[Grumulkin]

If possible try both LR magnum and regular LR primers.  Sometimes you'll get better accuracy with one than with the other.  Most of the time, even with ball powders, I think you'll do better with regular LR primers in cases up to 30/06 size.

[beemanbeme]

Uuuhhhh, having a 7-08 that shots .75" groups ain't no big deal. 'course if I had a load that did that, I certainly wouldn't change it.
 I've tried blind mini test with mag primers and non mag primers and didn't see where they did anything for me.  Not especially with ball powder however.
I loaded 10 rounds using mag primers and put them in a paper sack with a data post it.  I loaded 10 rounds with standard primers and did the same.  I had my wife mark sack A and B and keep the post its.  I shot 2 groups from sack A, cleaned the rifle and shot 2 groups from sack B.  I did that with a 30-06, a 7-08 and a 22-250 (H380) and none of the groups improved with magnum primers that I could see.
I've heard that you need magnum primers if you hunt where it gets really cold.  I've hunted where it gets cold enough that the pee can in the tent would freeze at night. And I used standard primers in a 30-06, a .280 and a 7-08 and they worked fine.  If it gets much colder than that, I ain't gonna be there.

[dw06]

I've heard that you need magnum primers if you hunt where it gets really cold.  I've hunted where it gets cold enough that the pee can in the tent would freeze at night. And I used standard primers in a 30-06, a .280 and a 7-08 and they worked fine.  If it gets much colder than that, I ain't gonna be there.

My experience mirrors beemanbemes,just never saw any difference in cartridges from 30-06 on down.If your 7-08 shoots 3/4 with BR primers and you are happy with that,thats what I would use and never worry about it.