non-mag primers/2400?

[hancjamk]

I've been seeing a lot of comments on this site about using non-mag primers with 2400 for 44mag. Someone stated even an old speer manual recommended this. I've been using 2400 with CCI 350 mag primers since 1986 and never heard of using non-mag primers till now. I would like someone to explain why... Thanks.

 

[NCsmitty]

If you work up a load with Alliant 2400, it is fine to use either primer because Alliant 2400 is not hard to ignite, when compared to ball powders like H110/Win296, that are popular in magnum pistol/rifle cases.
2400 works well with standard primers, as long as the charges produce a good pressure curve that allows 2400 to burn cleanly.
Using mag primers gives you the advantage of a slightly thicker primer cup to take higher pressures, and a bit more brisance to ignite any powder that you may use.
Absolutely nothing wrong with using a mag primer if you do a work up from a starting load.



NCsmitty

 

[rcmodel]

Various tests I have seen over the years in Handloader magazine by Brian Pearce have proven to my satisfaction 2400 performs best with standard primers.

Mag primers almost always give a higher variation in velocity (SD) numbers from shot to shot.

IMO: Use Mag primers with ball powder.
Use Standard primers with flake powder.

I have been using standard primers with 2400 for nearly 50 years with no problems.
It might also be worth noting that there was no such thing as a Mag primer until Winchester ball powder came out in the 1960's.

Prior to that, .357 mag factory loads contained 2400 powder and standard primers.

rc

 

[Funshooter45]

I have used 2400 with standard primers and magnum primers as well as the Winchester LP primers which are somewhere in between I guess. I used whichever primer I had the most of at the time or whattever happened to be in the primer tray. For 2400, it never seemed to make any difference. It's one of my most favorite powders just because it's not very finicky about anything.

 

[RB98SS]

I spoke with Ben at Alliant a while back regarding 2400 in 50AE and he told me that Speer does not recommend using magnum primers with this powder as high pressures can result. The reason I asked was I was consulting two different load manuals and the starting and max loads for 50AE particularly, were different by 4.0 or 5.0gns IIRC. One used standard -- Speer, the other magnum -- Lyman. I've used both magnum and standard with this powder and prefer standard but have always followed the recipes with the correct primer. FWIW.

 

[gamestalker]

I think this is the second time in a week I've seen this question posed, and again my opinion as follows. More than just a few experts are involved in the R&D that established the data listed in the manuals. If someone decides that they don't believe the R&D results, and should decide that doing it off the charts is for them, than good luck. Personaly, I've experienced what happens when not using a magnum primer when the listed data states other wise. My rifle or pistol didn't go kaboom, but the load didn't perform properely, and most likely because of all the unburned powder that was blowing back in my face. Since I load with slow burning powders 99.9% of the time it is safe to assume the reasoning for a magnum primer, and also explains the high pressure signs that resulted when I substituted standard, for magnum.

 

[CraigC]

Elmer Keith has been pushing standard primers for 2400 ever since the powder hit the market. What was that, the 1930's? John Taffin, Brian Pearce and every other authority on the subject have carried the torch ever since.

 

[cheygriz]

I don't use magnum pistol primers at all. And I use H110 for all of my magnum loads.

 

[Jeff H]

I think this is the second time in a week I've seen this question posed, and again my opinion as follows. More than just a few experts are involved in the R&D that established the data listed in the manuals. If someone decides that they don't believe the R&D results, and should decide that doing it off the charts is for them, than good luck. Personaly, I've experienced what happens when not using a magnum primer when the listed data states other wise.

Since we're talking about 2400 here and not all slow powders, I should point out that the current load manuals don't use magnum primers for 2400, just standard ones.

 

[cheygriz]

And I've been reloading since 1965 and haven't ever had a problem witrh standard primers.!

Many years ago, I experimented with magnum primers, and found they didn't work any better than standard.

Of course, if I worked for CCI/Speer and wanted to sell a product..............

 

[243winxb]

WLP problems solved.

 

[ljnowell]

I have reloaded thousands of full throttle 357mag and also Ruger only 45colts and have never used a mag primer in any of them.

 

[hancjamk]

The reason I’m interested in this topic is a couple of weeks ago I loaded some 44 Spec. w/14.5 gr 2400 with 240 gr JSP. Normally, I would use CCI 350, but I had Win. WLP at my bench. For no other reason than being to lazy to get up and go into the other room to get some CCI primers, I used the WLP. I found that I had far less unburned powder in the case than I useually had. Of course, unburned powder has never been an issue for me with full tilt 44 mag loads…

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

I, have found, that my current favorite recipe works best with the magnume primer's. My next recipe may work best with standerd. That is the fun, in this frustrating hobby of our's.

 

[kelbro]

I just use WLP primers with all of my 44 Mag loads.

 

[918v]

If you are of the persuasion that case stickyness is the cut-off point for adding powder, then standard primers will allow you to add more powder to the case than magnum primers. In other words, you can get more velocity per unit of pressure out of standard primers.

With that said, however, if you like to crawl around in the snow, magnum primers are a better idea.