Standard or magnum primers

[Dobson]

Hi there, i have just had given 3000 magnum large pistol primers, nice one eh!!
However i reload for 45acp and use std primers. Can i just use the magnums and reduce the load of powder a wee bit? I have been using CCI 300 std and the new to me ones are CCI 350 magnum  large pistol. Now afore ye start  i know the one about them being totaly useless and a danger to all and sundry, and any right minded soul will just send em your way for safe disposal, do your bit for the planet and all!!  now have a good day everyone and we will speak in a while.
Regards
Dobson

[stimpylu32]

Dobson

In most cases I would say don't use them but with primers being somewhat hard to find these days you may not have a choice , that being said , you will need to go back to a starting load for sure and work back up to were you want to be .

The mag primer may have a much hotter spark causing more pressure so backing off " a wee bit " just an't going to cut it , as with any componant change you should start from zero and work up again .

stimpy

[mrbigtexan]

i have been told that a magnum primer does not have any "hotter spark" but that it is only a thicker primer case (jacket)  as to not allow any blowback through the primer. am i making any sense? i cannot think of any better way to say this.

[krod47nw]

I don't know where you live, but some guys have done some face to face trading of primers in the classifieds.  Take a look, maybe you can hook up with one of them.

Kevin

[Lloyd Smale]

yes you can use them if you back off the charge weight but in cases that  are small like the acp ive never had luck getting accuracy out of them. The combination of fast burning powder and a hot primer are probably a bit much for the bullet to indure.

[GH1]

When looking for reloading advice I've had good luck contacting powder manufacturers.  There's a good chance they'll be able to help you.
GH1

[Ron T.]

Dobson

In most cases I would say don't use them but with primers being somewhat hard to find these days you may not have a choice , that being said , you will need to go back to a starting load for sure and work back up to were you want to be .

The mag primer may have a much hotter spark causing more pressure so backing off " a wee bit " just an't going to cut it , as with any componant change you should start from zero and work up again .

stimpy

ANYTIME you change ANY component in a reload, you should "start over", as Stimpy indicated.  You might "short-cut" it by starting with a 5% reduction from the "maximum load", but to error on the SAFE side is not a bad thing, you should reduce the Max load 10% and work up to the most accurate load again.

CAUTION:  If you are using H-110 powder, Hodgdon indicates you should not reduce the load more than 3% !!!

I really don't know whether the magnum primers are "hotter" than a standard primer or not... but, generally, with almost a HALF CENTURY of reloading behind me, I've generally found that magnum primers either make little or no difference in apparent presure, but tend to be less accurate than standard primers in most loads.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

[kitchawan kid]

Some black powder shooters use magnums"as they give very consistent ignition and keep fouling down better then do standard primers"