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Author Topic: Mag Primers in 38 Special?  (Read 921 times)

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Offline tacotime

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Mag Primers in 38 Special?
« on: January 05, 2012, 05:34:05 AM »
Has anyone had experience using magnum primers in standard 38 special loads? 
 
Just discovered I had inadvertantly purchased a single sleeve of CCI small pistol magnum primers.  These were loaded with a low to mid-level Unique load about 4.2 grains out of the dispenser with 158 grain Lead SWCHP bullets and fired in a Model 36 before discovered. 
 
Seemed slightly crisp, but not really up to +P kick, easy extraction, no flat primers.  Comments?  Would you consider these dangerous loads?
 
Thanks.
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Offline keith44

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Re: Mag Primers in 38 Special?
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2012, 05:45:39 AM »
Be more careful in primer selection!!


You may be safe, but I would pull the loads and use the correct primer

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Offline spinafish

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Re: Mag Primers in 38 Special?
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2012, 07:51:04 AM »
shoot them up!
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Offline MePlat

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Re: Mag Primers in 38 Special?
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2012, 07:53:15 AM »
This is what I would do.  Just me only.  I would shoot them.  Especially if I had a larger frame than a model 36.  But if just a hundred or so I would still shoot them in the M36.  Now if I were really concerned I would call Speer,  Hornady or whoever made the bullets (I assume they are store bought swaged bullets) and pose the problem to them.
According to Speer for the Swaged 158 grainers you are still roughly 10 percent below standard 38 Special loads.  4.0 to start with 4.7 max with you at 4.2 gr.
With all that said I would shoot them and never think twice about it.
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Offline tacotime

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Re: Mag Primers in 38 Special?
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2012, 11:35:13 AM »
I guess there's maybe 50 left.  I think I'll chrono the next one this weekend and see where it stacks against the standard primed loads.  I think there is a little margin there, based on the load data and the ones already fired, which didn't cause an obvious +P impression. 
 
 
 
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Offline spinafish

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Re: Mag Primers in 38 Special?
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2012, 12:13:02 PM »
sounds good!
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the most heartwreching words any man will ever hear
"depart from me, I never knew you"  Jesus
We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito.” C.S. Lewis

Offline Ron T.

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Re: Mag Primers in 38 Special?
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2012, 12:31:32 AM »
I'd go ahead and shoot 'em... but you may not get the accuracy with magnum primers that you'd have gotten with standard primers... and your bullet's muzzle velocity may be somewhat greater, but not very much.

As you probably know, magnum primers are meant to ignite large charges of powder... often large charges of slower powders.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.
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Offline tacotime

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Re: Mag Primers in 38 Special?
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2012, 03:34:24 AM »
I'll take a close look at the chrono and the cases this weekend...
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Offline cjrjck

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Re: Mag Primers in 38 Special?
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2012, 02:04:59 PM »
Several loading manuals use magnum primers with certain powders in the 38 Special. As always, any change in components should be approached with caution.
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Offline tacotime

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Re: Mag Primers in 38 Special?
« Reply #9 on: January 08, 2012, 03:38:50 PM »
Three of these through the chrono did not reveal any additional velocity, and the cases showed no stress.  I did not have time to assess accuracy...
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