Magnum primers by accident...

[wsryno]

Hi all, have been lurking THR for months and just joined. I hope you can help me.

I've reloaded maybe 4-5 hundred rounds, rifle and pistol, so I'm really new to handloading. I purchased a brick of primers and bought MAGNUM large pistol by mistake. I'm loading for .45 ACP which should use a standard primer. I've loaded several hundred rounds and am embarrassed to say I shot 20 or so before I noticed the error. Not because the loads seemed different, but because I simply happened to notice MAGNUM on the box this afternoon.

So my question is, is it safe to use these primers in non-magnum rounds? I don't load my handgun ammo hot, it's at the second-lowest FPS weight in the data table. Or do I need to buy a Magnum handgun to use up the remaining 800 primers?? Thanks in advance...

 

[Damon555]

If you loaded them up with the listed starting load in your manual they will probably be fine....what loads are you using?

 

[NCsmitty]

Welcome to THR, wsryno.

Tell us what's the load that you're using. If its not a maximum load, and is accurate enough for you, it should be fine. You probably won't notice much difference with a midrange load.

it's at the second-lowest FPS weight in the data table.

I see that it's not a heavy load.


NCsmitty

 

[wsryno]

Thanks for the quick response. The 20 rounds that I already shot were Hornady 185 gr HP-XTP loaded with 6.8 gr PowerPistol. This is the 900 FPS load according to Hornady's data, and it's on the lower end of the powder range (6.1-8.9)

The remaining rounds that I haven't shot are Hornady 230 gr HP-XTP loaded with 6.4 gr PowerPistol. This is 0.1 gr over the 800 FPS load according to Hornady's data, but this load is in the upper-middle of the powder range (5.5-7.1)

(Secretly, I was hoping someone would recommend a magnum handgun and list a few of their favorite .357's to be had for under $600)

 

[kingmt]

Sounds like you need to buy a new gun.

Magnum primers aren't for magnum cartridges. Just use them as the same.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks for the quick response. The 20 rounds that I already shot were Hornady 185 gr HP-XTP loaded with 6.8 gr PowerPistol. This is the 900 FPS load according to Hornady's data, and it's on the lower end of the powder range (6.1-8.9)

The remaining rounds that I haven't shot are Hornady 230 gr HP-XTP loaded with 6.4 gr PowerPistol. This is 0.1 gr over the 800 FPS load according to Hornady's data, but this load is in the upper-middle of the powder range (5.5-7.1)

(Secretly, I was hoping someone would recommend a magnum handgun and list a few of their favorite .357's to be had for under $600)

With those light loads there is very little if any chance you will push the pressure limits. Who knows, you might find a load you like and stick with it.

As for a good .357 Magnum revolver, I would suggest a used 4" S&W Model 686. That revolver can be found for well under $600 and can handle any ammo you want to feed it. (within SAAMI limits)

BTW, don't count on the velocities listed in load manuals to be even close to correct. The real velocities generated by the ammo you load are usually much lower than the book lists...

Welcome to the forum...

 

[4895]

I don't think the magnum primers pose any danger at all. I would treat them as adding .1 grain of powder charge to a load. No problem. Load them up and shoot them all.

P.S. reloading is a long, dark path. Welcome!

P.P.S. If you load for .357 magnum, H110 powder is highly recommended. Anything else, just wouldn't be right. Just be sure to stay at the high end of the scale and use magnum small pistol primers. Your large pistol magnum primers won't work for .357

 

[Fullboar1]

Like the others have mentioned I don't think it would matter as with some powders like Winchester ball powders, Winchester recommends Magnum primers (for rifles anyway).

 

[wsryno]

Thanks All, your response has been great.

 

[sig220mw]

One more piece of advice. In the future pay a little more attention to what you are buying. You could have just as easily loaded one of the hotter loads and had something bad happen.

 

[chhodge69]

Also, don't extrapolate.

Maybe this time, with this powder, in this cartridge through this gun, standard vs magnum doesn't make a difference.

That means nothing in any other context. You'll probably hear someone chime in with "oh just drop the charge a touch and you'll be fine".... not necessarily. Assume nothing and be cautious.

Box of primers: $40
New Gun: $400
Emergency Room: $4000

 

[wsryno]

One more piece of advice. In the future pay a little more attention to what you are buying. You could have just as easily loaded one of the hotter loads and had something bad happen.

This advice is not lost on me. I have already beaten myself up over "what could have happened". I have a wife and 2 young kids.

Since I am new to reloading I have limited myself to 2 rifle rounds, .270 and 7mm08 using the same IMR4350 powder and 2 handgun rounds, 9mm and .45 ACP using the same PowerPistol powder, and loading everything in the low range for just this reason. I would have to work really hard to mess up so badly that a mistake could injure or kill me or somebody else. But yes, anything is possible. You have no idea how many times I have checked my powder, primer, cases, etc. And still I missed "MAGNUM" printed on the box of primers. How many of us are willing (or still alive) to admit a mistake and ask for help? Yes I consider myself lucky.

Years ago I spent a morning climbing an exposed, vertical face of rock. When it came time for the descent, I was at the top of a 500 ft. rappel and I failed to remove the 3-point safety anchor before starting the first pitch down. No worries, as I was safe and tied into the 3-point before starting the rappel. But I remember thinking at the time, "This is not a mistake that will kill me." I had to climb up 10 feet to remove the 3-point, and even though this was not dangerous and wouldn't have killed me because I was already tied into the rappel line, nevertheless it has not happened again. That single, innocuous incident has lead to another 20 years of accident-free climbing.

I hope and pray that my primer error proves the same result. Here's an idea for a thread if it hasn't already been done: "What reloading mistake have you made that has lead to shame, humiliation, and embarrassment but not loss of life or limb?" I suspect that for the honest handloaders it would be a long thread.

Peace be with you,

 

[Dr_B]

I almost walked out of a store with a box of magnum pistol primers for my .45ACP loading. A sharp-eyed salesperson caught it and handed me another box of just large pistol primers.

 

[tallpaul]

Well if ya bought a 357 the magnum primers you bought won't work, they should be large pistol primers for normal 45 acp .... Ya would need something like 41,44 etc..

 

[ArchAngelCD]

This advice is not lost on me. I have already beaten myself up over "what could have happened". I have a wife and 2 young kids.

Since I am new to reloading I have limited myself to 2 rifle rounds, .270 and 7mm08 using the same IMR4350 powder and 2 handgun rounds, 9mm and .45 ACP using the same PowerPistol powder, and loading everything in the low range for just this reason. I would have to work really hard to mess up so badly that a mistake could injure or kill me or somebody else. But yes, anything is possible. You have no idea how many times I have checked my powder, primer, cases, etc. And still I missed "MAGNUM" printed on the box of primers. How many of us are willing (or still alive) to admit a mistake and ask for help? Yes I consider myself lucky.

Years ago I spent a morning climbing an exposed, vertical face of rock. When it came time for the descent, I was at the top of a 500 ft. rappel and I failed to remove the 3-point safety anchor before starting the first pitch down. No worries, as I was safe and tied into the 3-point before starting the rappel. But I remember thinking at the time, "This is not a mistake that will kill me." I had to climb up 10 feet to remove the 3-point, and even though this was not dangerous and wouldn't have killed me because I was already tied into the rappel line, nevertheless it has not happened again. That single, innocuous incident has lead to another 20 years of accident-free climbing.

I hope and pray that my primer error proves the same result. Here's an idea for a thread if it hasn't already been done: "What reloading mistake have you made that has lead to shame, humiliation, and embarrassment but not loss of life or limb?" I suspect that for the honest handloaders it would be a long thread.

Peace be with you,

While you are correct to worry about checking things twice (or more) I wouldn't beat yourself up too much about magnum primers in handgun ammo. Even if you were at the top of the charge range that primer would blow anything up let alone kill someone. In handgun ammo for the most part Magnum primers burn just a little hotter and a little longer than standard primers and do not increase the pressures all that much.

If Magnum primers were all that "dangerous" Winchester wouldn't have one Large Pistol primer that's rated for both standard and magnum use.

 

[wsryno]

...Even if you were at the top of the charge range that primer would blow anything up let alone kill someone...

Thanks. I assume you mean, "...would NOT blow anything up..."

 

[Walkalong]

If it was that critical, the boxes would have a skull and cross bones on them or something.

As others posted, unless you are at the top of the data, it will not hurt a thing. You will need to stop .1 to .2 Grs of powder depending on the application and powder speed.

As always, start low and work up. If substituting mag primers for standard primers in a proven load, the normal advise is to drop back a little (say .3 to .5 Grs) and rework the load.

I know you have already beat yourself up, and did not really want to hear about being more careful in the future, but the poster was only giving good well meaning advise. I drove a truck for a couple of years, and every single morning on the way out my boss told me to drive careful out there. Some mornings it was a good idea as I was not completely focused. I learned to appreciate it. I do the same thing to my children. They know I mean well and am not showing a lack of faith in them.

Good shooting. Have fun, be safe.

 

[kingmt]

Where did the .2gr rule come from?

If you get to stressed looking at all these things 5 or 6 times you will end up not looking at something at all.

 

[5thSFGroup]

primers

On the good side of what you loaded, I have seen primers that have burned through from time to time. I have switched over to CCI since they are the hardest primers that I know of. I have had periodic burn throughs on light to medium loads on other primers. I use magnum CCI primers on all of my pistols and they are not magnum pistols...some powders do not ignite as well with regular primers.

Personally, I have found Walkalong and RC to be reliable and grounded when it comes to advice.

 

[Walkalong]

Where did the .2gr rule come from?

Chronogragh results, common sense. Mag primers are stronger. They generally have a larger & longer explosion. Nothing set in stone, but .1 to .2 less is a good guide for pistol applications.

 

[Doogledog]

Don't worry about it. Back when primers were hard to come by I baught a box of one thousand magnum large pistol primers because that's all they had. I couldn't tell much difference at all. Isn't there some research done somewhere by someone on this forum where they discovered you achieve more consistant performance when using magnum pistol primers?