44 magnum primers

[BunnMan]

I'm a novice reloader and based on Stretch's post I'm a little confused about a batch I just built. I had some old H110 and used it up building 97 rounds of .44mag using CCI #300 Large Pistol Primers, 180gr XTP's, and 29.0gr of the H110. I then bought some new H110 and built another 75 rounds. This recipe is a starting load out of Lee's Modern Reloading second edition I kept the two batches separate so I know the old powder vs. new powder at the range. There is a "warning" in a list just before the reloading charts on page 205 that says "Use standard primers for all powders except Winchester 296 use magnum primers". I was not aware that Win296 and H110 were the same powder and H110 is not mentioned in the warning. I had magnum primers on the shelf that came with the first reloading outfit I bought used a few years ago. Now it kind of makes sense they were in the kit as the old H110 came with the outfit as well. Is this gonna be a problem? I sure don't want to clog up the bore of my gorgeous ported S&W 629 with a squib!!

The trend I see in this Lee manual is to list the two separate, they even have different seating depths for each of these powders with the same bullet in one of the .44 mag tables.

 

[murf]

bunnman,

apparently, hornady doesn't think w296 and h110 are the same. loads for the two are always different in their reloading manuals.

if you are going to load xtps, i suggest you spend the thirty bucks and get the hornady manual.

the current hornady manual doesn't list h110 or w296 for the 180 grain xtp (probably due to excess flame cutting of the top strap (my opinion, not theirs)).

an older hornady manual lists h110 for the 180 grain xtp. min - 27.8 grains, max - 31.5 grains. they used a wlp primer and a ruger super blackhawk for that data.

i don't think you will have a problem with sticking a bullet in the bore, but it's your call. if you are uncomfortable shooting your loads, either pull the bullets, or make sure your bullet makes it out of the barrel.

also, suggest you switch to magnum primers as soon as possible.

murf

 

[Muddydogs]

I use CCI mag primers in all my loads. Had a couple hang fires out of the 44 and 7mm years ago using standard primers in a load that called for standard primers. After doing research (the hard way before the net) I found that cold temps can cause this in high volume cases like the 44 and 7mm. It was around Zero that day. After that day I used up all the standard primers and switched to mag primers and as I added small pistol and small rifle to my collection I never though twice about primers and purchased mag's for both. I like to keep it simple so all I buy is CCI and have never had a problem but then again I work up my loads like a guy needs to and with todays puplished loads getting safer and safer there is really no issue that is unless I pull out the old reloading books to work up a trully hot load.

 

[BunnMan]

I doublechecked the load recipe on Hodgdon's web site and it lists the min and max just as it is in the Lee manual for the 180gr XTP and H110. Obviously John Lee got that line staright from Hodgdon. Other recipes I've seen for the same bullet and powder are more conservative as quotes a few posts back. There is no mention, symbol, or hint in the data from the Hodgdon site indicating what kind of primer to use. Interestingly enough though, Hodgdon lists a Win 296 fueled load for the same bullet with identical data item for item. Definitley supports that the two powders are similar if not identical. I'm gonna shoot the stuff with the #300 primers while carefully observing the result. I will be using the mag primers on the next batch. I would hope that if there was a real concern here the stats would have called it out instead of ignoring it on the data tables I checked before building.

 

[Metal Tiger]

Thanks Smitty

grandutefan, your load mentioned is basically a start load and will be fine in your rifle.

The key here is that magnum primers are not needed to ignite Alliant 2400 powders, it works fine with standard primers. That does not mean that you cannot use magnum primers with 2400, rather if you work up from a start load with magnum primers, it means that you may not be able to use the maximum listed load, but there is no hard and fast rule regarding whether you can use magnum primers or not.
What you don't do is to select a maximum load to start, using magnum primers, when the manual calls for standard primers, because you never know.


NCsmitty

Like I said previously (I agree with everything you said BTW) I use only CCI Large pistol primers for Unique and 2400. Don't use the slower burning stuff.

 

[trapper500]

44 mag

I agree 100% with joed i have been taught this also