Primers for ball powder

[charles p]

Does anyone use mag primmers with ball powders in short action cases?  I use ball powders in 308-class cases and have a friend who uses mag primers for all his ball powder loads.  Is it necessary?  I can't tell a difference with H-380.

[Dave in WV]

I use standard Win LR primers with ball powder with no problems.

[The Sodbuster]

Speer's #13 reloading manual generally recommends magnum primers for use with ball powders (they always spec CCI primers).  I've generally just used regular CCI large rifle primers 'cause that's what I had on hand.  I did try some CCI magnum small rifle primers will ball powders in my .223 Rem.  I don't have a chronograph, so I can't speak to velocity, but I didn't notice any difference accuracy-wise.  Of course, I wasn't shooting in an Alaskan winter.  Some say the mag primers give more reliable ignition in cold weather.  I shoot year round, though admittedly more during the warmer months.  I haven't had any misfires with standard primers in non-magnum chamberings.

[Siskiyou]

I use Winchester LR primers for most of my ball powder loads.  I so use magnum primers loading stick or ball powder for the 7 Magnum.

[Don Fischer]

I've always used standard primers too. Never had a problem but then don't use a whole lot of ball powder. I think, if I remember right, they reccommend mag primers because the ball powders are supposed to be harder to ignite due to some coating on the powder. Could be the only way to tell the difference might be with a cronigraph and look at the extreame spred. But if the extreame spred is 200fps but the stuff shoots 1/2" groups with an average MV of 2900 fps, who cares?

[nomosendero]

I believe that Win. in some of their std. rounds with ball powder use their std. primers, not magnum, nuff said.

[Dave in WV]

nomosendero , you are correct. Winchester didn't make large rifle magnum primers for many years but their standard primers are hotter than most other makes.