Magnum primers with Longshot

[Buck13]

I was browsing around for comments on Longshot in handgun rounds, and found a post by someone recommending using magnum primers with Longshot to get it to burn more thoroughly. That surprised me, since I'd assumed that any shotgun powder in a handgun (other than starting loads in a mild revolver round) would be operating at a higher pressure than any shotgun, and would cook off more or less completely. Do shotgun powders in high pressure pistol or magnum revolver rounds ever need a magnum primer?

I do get a lot of residue with Unique in my .32-20, but that is a tiny charge in a rather big case, so that seems inevitable. But I wouldn't use Longshot for anything milder than .38 +P.

 

[NCsmitty]

If you can find a published start load for the cartridge that your loading, it should be fine to use a magnum primer, and work up towards the published maximum.

This is my rule of thumb on using magnum primers with most powders that have published data for the cartridge that you are loading. Using a magnum primer will not grenade any start load that I am aware of, and I have been doing this for many years.

Let's hear what others have to say.


NCsmitty

 

[gamestalker]

What someone else does that should conflict with published data, is simply what someone else does, and with their firearms.

I have used, and do use magnum primers with L.S., not in all applications though. But this isn't something I do out of necessity, as I haven't noticed a problem with burn efficiency. Instead, this is something I've experimented with, that for me, with my firearms, at the charge I've worked up, and the bullets I use, seems to deliver a bit more consistency, primarily with regard to velocity.

I think I recall having said something in a previous post about mag primers and L.S. and it's possible I may have over stated this, I hope not. So, if in fact this is based on a comment I've made, please note that in my opinion, Long Shot doesn't have a problem igniting with standard primers.

Hope this helps.

GS

 

[Buck13]

What someone else does that should conflict with published data, is simply what someone else does, and with their firearms.

I have used, and do use magnum primers with L.S., not in all applications though. But this isn't something I do out of necessity, as I haven't noticed a problem with burn efficiency. Instead, this is something I've experimented with, that for me, with my firearms, at the charge I've worked up, and the bullets I use, seems to deliver a bit more consistency, primarily with regard to velocity.

I think I recall having said something in a previous post about mag primers and L.S. and it's possible I may have over stated this, I hope not. So, if in fact this is based on a comment I've made, please note that in my opinion, Long Shot doesn't have a problem igniting with standard primers.

No, it wasn't you, unless you post on another forum under another name. The comment I'm thinking of was on the S&W forum.

Hodgdon shows all loads for .357 with magnum primers, while in, say .40 S&W, they ignite similar charges of the same powder with standard primers, which I take with a grain of salt. Since some very experience people here report that some magnum powders (e.g. 2400) perform better with standard primers, I'm interested to know if there is a consensus one way or the other for Longshot.

 

[BluewaterLa]

I use longshot for 357 mag and 9mm with great results, only used standard primers. I have never had an issue with LOUDshot being dirty or having incomplete burn. I'm very fond of the powder and enjoy the look on a few faces
When they are trying to figure out why the report is so profound

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I can only speak to 9mm but I use Longshot in it, 5.5gr with 5.7 I believe being max load.

I don't use magnum primers with 9mm or .357mag. The only unburned powder I get is with 2400.

I found it shoot pretty clean once you get in the upper end of the load data. In 9mm it makes good load with a 124gr bullet and I can still keep the bullets within their speed limit. (plated bullets).

I would certainly think 40S&W would be the same.

 

[rclark]

I did all my testing with Long Shot with standard primers (.45 Colt, .44Mag, .44Spec, and .357) except I did do a back to back test (curiosity) while doing my .44Mag testing. Draw your own conclusions. At the distance I was testing both were accurate.

.44Mag 6 1/2"
10.0 Long Shot, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1099, 20 SD, 65 ES, 14 shots
10.0 Long Shot, 240g SWC, CCI-350, 1148, 16 SD, 49 ES, 15 shots
10.5 Long Shot, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1143, 18 SD, 62 ES, 15 shots
10.5 Long Shot, 240g SWC, CCI-350, 1189, 14 SD, 45 ES, 14 shots

BTW, ES kept dropping until I stopped my tests at 12.0g (started at 9.0g)

12.0 Long Shot, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1282, 7 SD, 23 ES, 14 shots

 

[Buck13]

Nice data. Thanks!

If you were going to load 100 rounds of .44, what charge would you choose?

 

[riflefan]

I have experimented with magnum primers a good bit with several powders in 9mm and 40SW. What I have found is that my ES and SD are smaller with magnum primers but nothing else really changes. I primarily use Power Pistol and Longshot powder, but have found the same to be true with WAP and IMR 4725. Even at max loads I have not seen any preasure signs with the magnum primers that I did not see with standard primers.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have not found Longshot to be hard to ignite or not have a complete burn. I have used Longshot in the 9mm, .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum. All were loaded without a magnum primer with good success.

As for your question on light loads, I would not use Longshot for standard pressure .38 Special loads but I do like it in the .38 Special +P especially with heavier bullets.

 

[Buck13]

OK, sounds like I could go either way, which is good, because in the last couple months I've had no problem getting all pistol primers except small magnum, which I'm now kinda short on.

As I said in OP, I have no intention to use LS for anything less than +P (and maybe not even that low). I have Trail Boss, Red Dot, Titegroup, and still a little HP-38 for that.

 

[rclark]

Buck, for .44Mag, I marked 10g-12g as 'accurate' on my load table. I settled on 11.0g with standard primer (240g SWC at 1182fps) for 'my' load if I ever need to use this powder again. YMMV of course!