Please help with newbi mistake!

[JFranco]

Hello guys, this is my first posting here and I was wondering if you can help me. I just started reloading with 308, after many hurdles I finaly got to priming my brass, and another hurdle. Turns out that I picked up the wrong primers, WLR M (magnum primers) and had already primed my brass. Started reading on the subject and most people suggest lowering the charge by 5-10%. I decided to lower the loest charge 5% to 38.9 grains of Varget for a 168 Hornady BTHP with an OAL of 2.800".

Is this too small of a charge? What could happend if it is? Thanks!!

 

[Otto]

Does the published data recommend magnums?
If not, then don't use them.

 

[JFranco]

Thanks for responding Otto, I guess it makes sense!

 

[TacoMalo]

Otto beat me to it, if it ain't in print you're on your own.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Also, you are supposed to lower the "MAX" charge by 5% to 10% is there is no starting charge listed. You should NOT use a charge weight below the recommended starting charge weight.

As for magnum primers, like said above you should follow the published recipe at least until you get more comfortable with loading. Unfortunately even the use of Magnum primers won't make up for a charge weight of 5% below the minimum. You will need to pull those rounds apart and start over.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Happens all the time. I'd call Winchester and see what they say.

 

[tryshoot]

Pull the bullet, dump powder, trash brass. WE HAVE ALL MESSED UP! Keep reloading and don't beat yourself up about it. Why do you think everybody sells bullet pullers.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

No need to trash the brass or powder.

 

[whubbard]

You can just fire the primed cases (without power or a bullet), deprime and you're good to go.

 

[kingmt]

These guys don't know what they are trying to teach. We don't know what gun your using, powder, bullet, & so on.

You are more then likely safe. You may find that it wont function a auto.

 

[hang fire]

I have couple thou large pistol primers marked standard or magnum, think they are Winchester.

 

[frankmako]

first we will need to know what type of gun, bullet weight, powder, and charge weight before giving the corrrect infromation. back when primers where hard to get i use mag primers in 9mm and 40 s&w reloads. found that the mag primers only gave me 50 fps more with the same charge over standard primers.

 

[JFranco]

Thanks for all the response to this problem guys. The starting charge calls for 41 grains of Varget powder and I used 38.9. The gun is a remington 700 tactical AAC SD 20 inch 1/10 twist. Thanks for any extra help guys! The bullet is a 168 gr hornady bthp.

 

[FROGO207]

I agree that in THIS case the charge could be adjusted down 5% more when starting and work up a safe load with them. Be aware that SOME propellants can not be downloaded safely and the data is usually marked with that warning. Now when you are starting out reloading my advice is the BEST thing that you can do is to always use published data and stay within these until you are well versed with reloading. THEN when you are comfortable with the process and expected results, try something that is a little out of published data if your own experience passes the sniff test as to safety. To say reloading is not serious stuff is a disaster in the making.

 

[Walkalong]

If you have already loaded them, don't worry, you'll be fine. As a matter of tact, I would have stayed with the starting charge. Next time use the regular primers.

If you have only primed the brass, use a universal decapper, or your sizer, and knock out the primers with it.

All the posters who said to pull them you because you made a mistake are in one way correct, and are only being safe, but the mag primer just isn't going to make that big a difference with a charge slightly below the start charge with any powder well suited to .308.

 

[kingmt]

Let me say first that I don't know for sure because I haven't tried mag primers with that powder but I doubt you will see a difference with Varget. I see little difference with any powder I have tried them with. You might find that sweet spot for your rifle just below the starting charge listed in your book. You might even find that another publisher has listed that as where they started. Most bolt rifles gives you more room to adjust loads.

 

[steve4102]

If you have already loaded them, don't worry, you'll be fine. As a matter of tact, I would have stayed with the starting charge. Next time use the regular primers.

If you have only primed the brass, use a universal decapper, or your sizer, and knock out the primers with it.

All the posters who said to pull them you because you made a mistake are in one way correct, and are only being safe, but the mag primer just isn't going to make that big a difference with a charge slightly below the start charge with any powder well suited to .308.

^^^^^This^^^^^^^^

 

[JFranco]

Thank you guys, i feel a lot comfortable. I am taking the rifle out tomorrow, if i dont blow up, i will post my findings!! Again i appreciate all your help!

 

[Josh45]

Doubt you will blow up, Lol. You should be fine as long as you followed your loading data in your manuals. As for the mag primers, It shouldn't make to big a difference really. I used mag primers by mistake in my 38 special loads with a 125 Gr bullet and w-231. Nothing different was noticeable in recoil or anything else for that matter. Of course, I do not have a chrono.

Just stay at the start charge with them and you should be O.K. Otherwise, You can decap them with a universal if you want to and put them back in to their box for some other time.

 

[Steve C]

You have got good advice. Its OK to use the mag primers just use the start load and work up. If your brass is military brass (LC or IMI) then drop the other 5% down to 40 grs of Varget and use the start load as max since mill spec brass is thicker and has less case volume so pressures climb quicker.

Magnum primers are used for hard to ignight ball powders and for ammunition that will be shot in very cold weather. Not needed but not dangerous to use in every day ammo in moderate climates. If you change to standard primers you need to work your load back up for optimum accuracy as with any component change.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

if i dont blow up, i will post my findings!

I assure you, if you blow up, it won't be the magnum primers that caused it. Not at the starting load.
Happy shooting.

 

[JFranco]

Well guys, I did not blow up. Then again I did not go becuase of other reasons. I can tell you that I did call Hodgdon powders (makers of bith the Varget and the primers I used) He told me that I was too low and assured me, like Arkansas Paul, that I did not blow up. But instead to make sure I had barrel clearance of the bullet everytime but that even that would not be a possibility. Thank you all for your input and I will be letting you guys know what happends! Thanks!

 

[greyling22]

dropping 2 grains of powder off your starting load of 41 grns is not going to stick a bullet in the barrel. you're doing all right. shoot them up and don't worry about it.