Magnum Primers in a Low Power Load for 1873?

[Speedo66]

Like most people, I'm having difficulty finding primers.

I use a low powered load in an original 1889 vintage Winchester '73, 5g. of Trail Boss pushing a 180g lead bullet. The loading tables show a min. load of 4.5g, max. load 5.5g, with pressure at 9,900CUP, well under the 14,000 limit.

Question is, would it be safe to use a magnum large pistol primer rather then a standard primer with a 5g powder load?

Thanks

 

[au_prospector]

Uuphf......

I have heard you could start at a load reduced by 10% for magnum primers. Key point in your post is you are shooting a vintage firearm, so I dont know if I would personally chance it. I have been seeing primers here and there so unless you are desperate to try a 10% reduced load I would wait a month or two.

So you could go back to 4.5 grains and rework a load or you could wait until the proper primer is available. Did you mean to say Magnum Pistol?

 

[ny32182]

I'd use the magnums, if you are at a starting load anyway the primer isn't going to amount to anything in the overall pressure level.

 

[Wil Terry]

I'd use the magnums, if you are at a starting load anyway the primer isn't going to amount to anything in the overall pressure level.

I HAVE SEEN MAGNUM PRIMERS take the starting loads from standard primers and push 'em to pressure levels above the MAX loads. WSPM's do it quite well sometimes.
And so it goes...

 

[Speedo66]

I have heard you could start at a load reduced by 10% for magnum primers. Key point in your post is you are shooting a vintage firearm, so I dont know if I would personally chance it. I have been seeing primers here and there so unless you are desperate to try a 10% reduced load I would wait a month or two.

So you could go back to 4.5 grains and rework a load or you could wait until the proper primer is available. Did you mean to say Magnum Pistol?

Yes, I did mean large magnum pistol primer, I'm starting to run out of standard large pistol primers.

Thanks

 

[Maj Dad]

I HAVE SEEN MAGNUM PRIMERS take the starting loads from standard primers and push 'em to pressure levels above the MAX loads.

I don't have pressure testing equipment, but I use magnum large, small, rifle, and pistol primers almost interchangeably with standard, excepting maximum loads developed with standard. The difference in pistol cartridges with small starting loads is nil in my experience. I have never seen any indication of pressure, and I load 44-40 for my 1906 manufactured Win M92 with 200 and 240 gr bullets. Some say otherwise, like Wil Terry, but this is my experience over the last nearly 50 ( ) years.
Cheers,
George J.

 

[CraigC]

Some say otherwise, like Wil Terry, but this is my experience over the last nearly 50 years.

I think Terry has you beat on experience and with pressure testing equipment.