Primer ???

[Allen in MT]

Loaded a bunch of 223 using H335 and 40 gr. bullet. Now getting ready to load some 55gr.HP. When checking the books one book calls for magnum primers and the other book, same bullet, same powder, same charge, regular primer, Why the difference.
thanks

 

[Walkalong]

Why? Dunno, but in my experience H335 seems to like mag primers better in .222 Mag with 50 & 55 Gr bullets, and .222 Mag is so similar to .223 I would assume the same.

 

[45lcshooter]

Different weapons used to fire test rounds. H335 works just fine with standard primers. That's my primary load for 223 in semis. Never had a hitch yet.

 

[oneounceload]

What does the powder maker's site say? That will be the most current with the best testing

 

[ArchAngelCD]

What does the powder maker's site say? That will be the most current with the best testing

While that used to be a good rule these days it seems the people who write the load data are getting lazy.

While Ball powders seem to react better to magnum primers it's not always true. I have tried H335 in the .223 with both standard and magnum CCI primers and got no difference in accuracy and only very slight differences in velocity. Same with pistol ball powders, W231 doesn't need a magnum primer while I wouldn't think to load W296 without them.

 

[oneounceload]

I suspect they are more cautious than lazy with a slew of new reloaders; I also suspect that after better pressure testing, a lawyer might have added something to the pot

 

[Lennyjoe]

CCI mag primers and H335 for .223 loads with 55 gr bullets. Winchester standard primers and H335 for my 6.8 SPC. The mag primers didn't perform as well in the 6.8 as the Winchester standard primers did.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I suspect they are more cautious than lazy with a slew of new reloaders; I also suspect that after better pressure testing, a lawyer might have added something to the pot

You can believe that if you wish but I'm a little upset the current load data is cheating us of the full potential of out chosen caliber. There is no reason for a 158gr .357 magnum round that only generates 1100 fps. Of course there are many other examples like .38 Special data that reportedly generates only 14,000 psi, why? (and at very low velocities)

 

[Slamfire]

If it is a ball powder, in cold weather ball powders are harder to ignite than stick. A magnum primer would be the best primer for that environment.

A magnum primer is not a bad recommendation if you want maximum reliability year round and accuracy was less important.