Lee reloading manual

[broham]

I just recieved the latest Lee reloading manuel. I will have to say it is a very deyailed book and a great read full of info, not just load charts but the process and why too. One thing that I coulldn't see was what style primer to use in the charts. On the cartridge drawing it shows the size, small or large but I didn't see where it says mag or standard. The book states to only use the designated primer for the load but I can't find where it says which one. I will be loading 357 mag soon, I don't think that all recipies for this caliber call for a mag primer. Thanks for the help

 

[nambu1]

I use both in 357's. The mag primers will raise the pressure.

 

[lordgroom]

Need some more info. What powder do you plan to use, what bullet (weight, type, jacketed or lead), and what will you be firing it from?

 

[PowderApe]

they'll usually give the primer stock # in the beginning of the load data.

 

[broham]

sorry for the lack of info. The gun is a GP100, the bullets are Zero brand semi jack hollow point 158 grain. I was planning on using h110 or 2400 for hotter loades and something like 231 for target. It is my understanding that the h110 will need a mag primer and maybe not 231. The thing is that my Horn and Speer book tells which primer but I can't seem to find it in the Lee. The psi issue is what I am concerned about.

 

[broham]

Powder ape the book I have says on page 49 THE RULE IS ALWAYS USE STANDARD PRIMERS UNLESS THE LOAD DATA SPECIFIES MAGNUM. From this no loads would take a mag primer but I am sure some do. I must be missing something real obvious.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Just because you are loading a Magnum round doesn't automatically dictate the use of a Magnum primer. You need only use a Magnum primer with powders that are hard to ignite. W231 will never need a Magnum primer. It's not recommended you use a Magnum primer with 2400, as a matter of fact you will get better results with a standard primer and 2400. H110 and W296 require the use of a Magnum primer because they are hard powders to ignite. Also, DO NOT load those 2 powders light. The usual rule of starting with a charge of 10% lower than the Max charge does not hold true with W296/H110. A reduction of only 3% is recommended because too light a charge will probably cause a squib.

 

[MMCSRET]

Lee recommends only CCI or Winchester primers be loaded using their machinery.

 

[JG2000]

On page 205 of the Lee book it says "Use standard primers for all powders except Winchester 296 use magnum primers." Thats the only mention of what primers to use I could find in that book. It sounds like you have several other books to cross reference your loads with so you should be ok. Does make me wonder if they worked up there H110 loads with standard primers.

 

[ants]

Lee doesn't work up any loads themselves.

As it explains at the beginning of the chapter, they compile data from the powder manufacturers' publications. To learn more about the primer for each load, go to the powder manufacturer's book or web site. That's also where you learn more about the brass case and bullet employed in each test.

 

[broham]

Thanks guys I knew I would get excellent info here. I will definately consult some of my other load books before I take the plunge.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

JG2000,
W296 and H110 are exactly the same powders, and I mean exactly the same. The only difference you will find is the normal difference you fine in different lot numbers like in any powder.

I am 100% sure of this because I verified it with Winchester/Hodgdon/IMR. The same holds true for W231 and HP-38, same exact powders. There are a few more but I forget the numbers right now.