Magnum Primers in non magnum loads?

[solman]

I have a good amount of large pistol magnum primers on the shelf from years ago. I no longer load magnum rounds and wanted to use them for my plinking loads. Lately I have been loading 7.5g of Unique with a 240g cast bullet in a 44mag case. I find this shoots well and doesn't beat me up.
Can I use the magnum primers on this with no ill effects?

Solman

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Take this at your own risk

That said, the consensus is it’s fine to use them, just work up your load like you would when you change any component, and always error on the side of safety.

I’ve have some I bought during the Obama scare and I’ll be doing the above.

Disclaimer. I’m not saying to do this or not. I’m simply saying what has been reported. I’m not responsible for anything someone does.

 

[Blue68f100]

With a large case like the 44 mag it will work fine. It will act like you may have bumped the charge up a little. On smaller cases it can have a bigger impact.

 

[whughett]

Winchester’s are either or and unless your pushing the envelope I personally can’t see why not. I have used them but I never load to max on Magnum or otherwise.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

I accidentally loaded a bunch of .38 Special once with magnum primers. They were a tad hotter than regular loads, so I’d say you’d be ok with loading them in light 44 magnum cases. I’m no expert though, so don’t take my word for law and gospel.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I had a medium 357 Mag load that I shot for years. I won't repeat it, because it's off book.

What I will report, is that I loaded that same charge behind the same lead bullet, substituting Magnum primers instead of regular.

I ran it over my Chrono, and gained 100 fps. The only change was the primer.

Take that for what you will.

 

[Charlie98]

I wouldn't have a problem with it using the Unique charge you are working with. I would load a small lot (20) and test them before going whole hog with it, though. I'm pretty familiar with Unique and how it behaves, I wouldn't make a blanket statement like that with any other powder.

 

[mdi]

Early in my reloading, way pre-web, I experimented with different primer substitutions. From my research/reading magnum primers are a bit more "powerful/hotter" than standard primers to get hard to ignite powders and can raise the pressure. "Normally" the pressure rise is not drastic enough to cause problems and in some instances can improve the performance of the round. I had some good results substituting magnum primers for standard in a couple 9mm loads. I wouldn't worry about substituting magnum for standard in your load, but if you are concerned, drop the powder charge a grain or two. (I rarely use magnum primers in my 44 Magnum loads, mainly just with WC820, but have played with magnum primers in my 44 Special/Unique loads)..

 

[243winxb]

loading 7.5g of Unique with a 240g cast bullet in a 44mag

Any primer will be safe to use with the above loading.

Accuracy may change.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

For many years now Winchester LPP have been used for both with no warning to lower the charge weights on standard pressure cartridges. In this litigious society if there were any danger there would be warnings no matter how small the danger possibility.

Like when you change any component drop back and work up your load looking for accuracy. You might see .1gr or .2gr charge difference with velocity, maybe.

 

[gotboostvr]

Heck, I've used small rifle primers in 38 special using RedDot and a 158gr SWC.

The great primer/powder shortage of 09 made for some interesting load work ups for alot of people.

 

[solman]

Thanks for all the responses. I didn't think it would be a problem but I wanted to make sure. I have a lot of magnum primers and might as well use them.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks for all the responses. I didn't think it would be a problem but I wanted to make sure. I have a lot of magnum primers and might as well use them.

Yup, dance with the date you brung.

 

[FROGO207]

I use LPM, LRM, SRM type primers in most of my reloading and have worked up safe loads for their use. I find that some pistols that are striker fired need to be loaded with SPP so they will ignite reliably and I keep some on hand for that use as well. This works well for me.

 

[horsey300]

Thanks for all the responses. I didn't think it would be a problem but I wanted to make sure. I have a lot of magnum primers and might as well use them.

Sooooo, I worked the loads up specifically with the ccI magnum primers in all of my hand loads thus far and I will say, sticky cases come well before data for non magnum primer data. For my 158s 2400, max was 2.5 gr lighter than alliant, (nosler had magnum primer data so I worked with that). In .38 and .327 they seem to follow the same trend. Absolutely no issues when you remember that you're throwing more gas in the fire than you were before.

 

[FROGO207]

I use my Crony to keep the speed close or lower than the speed of factory rounds or book max. That will keep your charges in the safe range you just have to work up the load with the MAG primer in the first place.

 

[Charlie98]

For many years now Winchester LPP have been used for both with no warning to lower the charge weights on standard pressure cartridges.

I thought I was being clever when Winchester came out with those... and once I'd burned up all my CCI LP primers, I switched to the Winchesters for everything LP. I have not had as consistent results with the Winchester primers vs standard CCI LP's in most handloads. I did a quicky test with IMR4227, one of those nebulous powders that some swear needs a Magnum primer, and some don't, in the .41MAG, I found the Winchester primers bridged the velocity changes between standard primers and Magnum primers, all else being equal, so there IS a difference compared to the standard primer... that might be noteworthy on a load approaching maximum where someone would switch to the Winchester primer from standard.