.44 magnum primer question

[under_dawg]

Is it ok to use a magnum primer with Trail Boss powder (240 fr lswc hard cast / 44 mag case)? I bought 1000 of the Federal magnum primers to use with H-110. Primers around here are getting hard to find.

I load mostly .357 mag and asked Hodgdon about the mag primers in .357 and they said that is what they used in test rounds so I'm hoping it won't make much difference in 44 mag loads either.

 

[GRIZ22]

It should be okay. I would back down the load 10% and see how it works to be safe.

 

[Walkalong]

Yea, it should be fine, but like GRIZZ22 posted, back off the data a little.

 

[under_dawg]

Thanks guys, I don't like to push lead past 1000 fps, so I usually load in the bottom half of the load range. Doesn't seem like it will be a problem unless you're near max loads.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Understand one thing though, just because you are loading a .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum round doesn't mean you have to use a Magnum primer. Magnum primers are needed to reliable ignite hard to ignite powders like W296/H110. If you're using a easy to ignite powder like Trail Boss or even 2400 which is normally used in Magnum rounds, a Magnum primer isn't necessary.

This isn't to say you can't use a Magnum primer with almost any powder, only that it isn't always necessary even when the word Magnum is in the name of the caliber. It's the powder that you need to consider. With some powders you will adversely effect accuracy when you use a Magnum primer instead of a standard primer.

 

[under_dawg]

I called Hodgdon today. I think I spoke with a guy named Mike. He said magnum primers could cause too much pressure in the 44 mag. When I started reloading .357 mag about a year ago I got a hard copy of Hodgdons free reloading guide(s). One was just for cowboy loads, the other had all loads. I can't recall them mentioning the primer type in the load data so I called them. I was told .357 magnum was tested with a magnum primer. I was hoping they used mag primers in the 44 mag as well (since that's all I can find locally right now). I guess I will keep looking before I load up some cowboys.

 

[Mal H]

I called Hodgdon today. I think I spoke with a guy named Mike. He said magnum primers could cause too much pressure in the 44 mag.

Was that all he said? No qualifying statement like, "without backing off a little" or something like that?

 

[rundm]

I loaded up cci 350 for 44mag the other day and did not have any problems whatsoever with titegroup and 240gr bullets. I was a 1/2gr under top end in the book. RG

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I called Hodgdon today. I think I spoke with a guy named Mike. He said magnum primers could cause too much pressure in the 44 mag.

Like Mal H said, there has to be more to it than that. I know it's best to ask the manufacturer but you also got a lot of good advice from those who answered this thread.

 

[under_dawg]

Like Mal H said, there has to be more to it than that. I know it's best to ask the manufacturer but you also got a lot of good advice from those who answered this thread.

I suppose like everyone one else in the firearm and reloading business these days, the people at Hodgdon are very busy. No, he did not offer any other information than what I stated. In an attempt to find out out more, I mentioned that when I talked to them a while back about 357 mag loads I was told that they used magnum primers with trailboss (for 357 testing) even though the load data makes no distinction as to which primer they used. He did not say it would be fine to use magnum primers in 44 mag loads with trailboss if you back off the charge a little. I assume it's a liability issue for Hodgdon to tell people it is ok to use different components than they actually tested. I don't know if they tested magnum primers and determined they were too hot or if they saw no reason to test them because trailboss ignites fine without them. You are correct about the good advice, and I appreciate tremendously.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you go to the Hodgdon load data site and pull up the .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum page, then pick a bullet weight, then click the print button on top you will see which primer they used. On the .44 Magnum page using a 240gr bullet they report they used a Remington 2 1/2 primer which is the only Large Pistol primer Remington makes. I'm guessing they also combined their standard LP primer and Magnum LP primer like Winchester did. According to Winchester their LP primer is hot enough to ignite all pistol powders reliable. I'm guessing the same holds true for Remington primers too since they only manufacture 1 LP primer.

Since you are telling us you have a LP Magnum primer I'm guessing you bought CCI primers. I'm not telling you what to do but if all I had was a Magnum primer I would use it and back off my normal charge just a little. Heck, the starting charge is 6.0gr and the Max charge is 7.3gr. There's plenty of safety built into that range. Like I said, back off your normal charge by .2gr or so and run them over a chrono.

 

[under_dawg]

Since you are telling us you have a LP Magnum primer I'm guessing you bought CCI primers. I'm not telling you what to do but if all I had was a Magnum primer I would use it and back off my normal charge just a little. Heck, the starting charge is 6.0gr and the Max charge is 7.3gr. There's plenty of safety built into that range. Like I said, back off your normal charge by .2gr or so and run them over a chrono.

I bought the last box (1000) of Federal Magnum primers on the shelf (I prefer CCI, but they were sold out). I agree with you that they should be safe in the lower half of the load range. I am still waiting on my lead to arrive, so I will keep checking the Sportsman's Warehouse for non mag primers.

 

[Walkalong]

The guy at Hodgdon gave you the "safe" answer. He does not know your mindset or skillset. They have to be careful and he gave you good, sound, safe advise. That said, many here have proven that you can use them if you back off on the load some.

During this primer crunch, many folks are resorting to using the "less than ideal" primer to be able to load and shoot. Ya'll be careful out there.

 

[243winxb]

Start low , work up, not a problem. Use WLP or Rem 2 1/2 primers, they are for standard and magnum loadings.