Magnum primers vs. standard primers

[M-Rex]

What is the difference between magnum and standard primers? Will I see any variations in pressures by using large rifle magnum primers as opposed to large rifle standard primers?

Thanks.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Absolutely...You will see higher presures and velocities. Not that much that you can't work up to them, although I would try some of your powder used in magnums with a standard primers. You might be a little surprised as to the results... Having a chronograph would help a whole lot here...

 

[M-Rex]

Hmm...I just reloaded 20 rounds of .30-06 with Sierra 180 gr. Spitzer Boattails, and 49 gr. of IMR 4064. That load is 1 full grain less than what is called for as the maximum for that combonation in the Speer Reloading Manual #12. I always go a grain light, just in case.

I grabbed the wrong primers and didn't realize it until I was done and put the box away. Think it will make much difference, or should I disassemble all the rounds?

 

[Stinger]

You already know the answer.

Better safe than sorry.

Pull 'em and be thankful that at least you were paying enough attention to notice before firing.

Regards,

Stinger

 

[Sharps Shooter]

I'd be a little scared of it. My Sierra manual shows a max load of only 48.8 grains of IMR-4064 behind that bullet with a STANDARD primer. I guess you used the Speer manual because that's what you had. You know your rifle, but I would sure be cautious about firing those rounds.

 

[M-Rex]

Dang.

I suppose I'll break them down tomorrow. You guys are right. Better safe than sorry. No need to risk it. I won't be losing anything.

Thanks!

 

[Smokey Joe]

Good on you!

M-Rex--good on you, doing the safe rather than the convenient thing!

 

[Strongbad]

To answer your question, the difference between regular Large Rifle primers and Magnum Large Rifle primers is that the magnum primers burn longer, since magnum rounds traditionally have more powder in them.

 

[BluesBear]

To answer your question, the difference between regular Large Rifle primers and Magnum Large Rifle primers is that the magnum primers burn longer, since magnum rounds traditionally have more powder in them.

What planet did that logic come from?

Reckless, errant advice such as that can get someone HURT!
(Another reason I don't shoot others people's handloads.)


Magnum primers burn HOTTER. It has nothing to do with the amount of powder a cartridge uses. It's about the type of powder used.
Magnum primers were designed to be used with some difficult to ignite powders.


Interestingly enough, the August 2005 issue of Handloader magazine has an article on pressure signs.

In their testing they tried six different primers ithe the same bullet and powder charge. They were using a 7mm Remington Magnum.

It's interesting to note that with six different primers they only saw a difference of 21fps in average muzzle velocity while at the same time they experienced a difference of 12,800 psi in average chamber pressures.

12,800 psi !!! DAMNNATION!
That's nothing to sneeze at.

The loading manuals have been warning us for years that changing components can have a significant effect.

This article also ilustrates how easy it is to get into areas of marginal safety with no readily visible warning signs. Higher velocities aren't always a reliable sign of higher pressures.

Just another reason that I have always compared loads in one manual against loads in another. Typos are always easy to make and sometimes difficult to notice.

Until they perfect the regeneration of body parts I'll just try my best to keep the ones I already have.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Ease up a little, BluesBear. He is just trying to help. Even though a little miss guided...So inform him...Don't run over him! He might be a good guy...And he may be just learning.

 

[Strongbad]

Ugh I’m assuming that you’re talking about this information? Quoted from a Chuck Hawks article.

“The A-Square Company conducted pressure tests involving six different primers. These tests used the 7mm Remington Magnum cartridge with a 160 grain Sierra BT bullet and 66.0 grains of H4831 powder and the results were reported in the A-Square reloading manual Any Shot You Want. A-Square used CCI 200 and 250, Federal 215, Remington 9 1/2M, and Winchester WLRM and WLR primers in these tests. They revealed a total spread in pressure of 12,800 psi from the mildest standard (the CCI 200) to the hottest magnum (WLRM) primer tested.”

I never said that Magnum primers wouldn’t increase pressure, so I’m not real sure where you got that. I also never said that pressures wouldn’t be different from brand to brand. I only said that they burned longer not hotter, and to that point I was half wrong. Nor did I advocate that the gentlemen in question go switching all of his loads to magnum primers without working his way back up. If you want to go off on someone I don't mind being called on the carpet but atleast get your facts straight first. It's not like we don't have enough hostility in the world already, we don't need it around here.

 

[The Bushmaster]

You have to forgive BluesBear...He's our very own fallen reloading angel that came to earth and forever lost his wings...And he blames us for it. That'll teach him to come to earth during duck season...

 

[BluesBear]

I reiterate;

Reckless, errant advice such as that can get someone HURT!

Magnum primers burn HOTTER. It has nothing to do with the amount of powder a cartridge uses. It's about the type of powder used.
Magnum primers were designed to be used with some difficult to ignite powders.

Stating emphatically that magnum primers differ only in burn time is a wreckless statment to make in a publically accessable forum.
This is precisely how false rumours get started.
To not do my best to correct such an error would then make me as reckless as the original poster.
Perhaps I take the safety of assembling ammunion a little to seriously...
Wait...
Hell no I don't. Because you can not ever take it too seriously.

I did have my facts straight. I replied specifically to the statement made and I stand by my response. If you don't like it get a moderator to erase it. I sure as heck won't. Better yet put me on your ignore list.

I have no sympathy for people who boldly stroll into a forum, make a potentially hazardous statement and then get their feelings hurt when taken to task on it.


I'll now turn this thread back over to Bushmaster since he feels he is the Grand Poobah of All Things Reloading. If you notice I rarely post in any thread in which he has already spoken.
Since he has been on my ignore list for months I only by chance saw his somewhat childish comments about me in the e'mail notification.
Urinals at 20 paces is not my idea of sport. Besides I'd never be as good at it as he is.

 

[db_tanker]

damn...the flames around here are hotter than those magnum primers!


I may be young, but I am a student of the old-school ways. I have been told by those older and wiser than myself that mag primers, when used on starting loads and worked up in SAFE ways, can help out with barrel fouling (getting a more complete burn) and making sure that you get more reliable ignition in cold weather.

But then, I am not the type of person to go out and hot-rod every firearm I load for...so I generally stay at or below the halfway mark on all loadings...

this is just MTCW and I have never had an issue with any of my loads. Some have told me that they don't like shooting others hand-loads...and I tell them good...thats more shooting for ME.

 

[atblis]

Semantics

Hotter and longer are perhaps the same thing?

 

[BluesBear]

Hotter and longer are perhaps the same thing?

You don't do much cooking or baking do you?

 

[Smokey Joe]

Good haw-haw!!

Bluesbear--ROTFLMAO at that response!!!

Then thinking of incinerated muffins, cake overdone on the outside and raw in the center, eggs chiselled out of the frypan, gravy my Labrador won't eat (and that's saying something!!), I ROTFLMAO all over again!

Only someone who cooks could appreciate that. Thanx for a good laugh!

 

[The Bushmaster]

Why thanks BluesBear...Knowing my personality as I do, I will take that as a compliment...

 

[Deavis]

I've actually got this slated as an experiment, I want to see if the velocity portion not being reflected with the raise pressure is true for handguns. Obviously, with a long enough barrel, you could catch the rise in velocity due to the integral nature of the relationship but then again maybe the resistance of the barrel would screw that up too... Does anyone know if quickloads can make an estimate for primer types too? Somebody mentioned a company that will do pressure testing on rounds, anyone know their name?

 

[cracked butt]

Will I see any variations in pressures by using large rifle magnum primers as opposed to large rifle standard primers?

Short answer: probably.

Use magnum primers if you are using ball powders, I pretty much only reload IMR powders so I haven't found a reason to use a magnum primer.

 

[anonanon]

Just like an oven takes longer to reach hotter temperatures and longer to cool down, mag primers burn longer as well as hotter. If you're into milliseconds, that is. They are for igniting what a standard primer has trouble igniting. It takes a major size lab to measure pressure differences, so all we humble handloaders can do is go with the manual's recommendation on which type of primer to use.

 

[M-Rex]

I received a good reply from Speer on this same question. Here it is:

I spoke to our reloading expert on your question. He recommends disassembly of the rounds. We have not performed any testing here at CCI/Speer to be able to tell you how much your pressures will be elevated by the use of a Magnum primer.

He went on to say that if it were him, he would disassemble, leave the primers intact and reload with a propellant that is compatible with a Magnum primer. Our Speer #13 manual lists three propellants : 760 , H414 and H380 in conjunction with the Speer 180gr. Spitzer boat tail you are using. Linda

Linda Olin
CCI/Speer Technical Services Technician
1-866-286-7436
Ext. 2343 E-mail: [email protected]
FAX (208) 799-3589

I pulled apart all the rounds. I'll build them back up this week with standard primers. Thank you for all of the input, folks!

 

[LAH]

BluesBear said: Reckless, errant advice such as that can get someone HURT!


I know there was a statement made but did I miss the advice? Did I not read the post enough? Correction is fine as we all need it from time to time and I'll place myself on top the list. It's better received though when done out of love.