Regular or Magnum Primers in .44 Magnum?

[stchman]

Hello. I am working up a load for my .44 Magnum. I have CCI 300 or Winchester Large Pistol Primers.

FYI, I am using Winchester 244 with a 240gr LSWC. Was planning on making a few test loads with 10 grains of powder.

The loads I am making are for plinking at the range.

The Winchester primers say they are for regular or magnum loads and the CCI do not say that they are magnum.

My question is are "magnum" primers not really magnum since the Winchester says that their LPPs can be used in both. I cannot seem to get a straight answer. Some say it does not matter while others say adhere strictly to use of magnum or regular primers.

Thanks.

 

[mcb]

I use regular Winchester Large Pistol Primers in my 44 Mag reloads.

 

[Alaskamike]

It's really dependant on the powder. 244 definitely does not need mag primers.

That said, if mag primers are all you have, they certainly will work just fine. Just back down the load a bit if you originally worked it up with standard primers, or if the load data you used spec'd standard primers.

 

[.38 Special]

As @Alaskamike notes, it's mostly dependent upon the powder. (That's not necessarily true in giant cartridges like the .500, but can be considered a rule of thumb for the rest.) Certain powders, like H110, really need a hot fire to get going. Others, like 244, don't care at all, and any functional primer will do the job.

 

[bigpower491]

The winchester WLP will work just fine

 

[.308 Norma]

Hello. I am working up a load for my .44 Magnum. I have CCI 300 or Winchester Large Pistol Primers.

The Winchester primers say they are for regular or magnum loads and the CCI do not say that they are magnum.

CCI 300 primers are "standard" Large Pistol Primers. CCI 350 primers are Large Pistol "Magnum" Primers.

 

[AJC1]

Some powders burn better or get better standard deviations with mag primers. 244 shouldn't care.

 

[stchman]

I guess another question is HOW can a primer be BOTH magnum and regular at the same time like the Winchester?

 

[Buzznrose]

I guess another question is HOW can a primer be BOTH magnum and regular at the same time like the Winchester?

Good question. I’d like to know as well. My guess is they are simply made to magnum specs, but that’s a guess.

All I know is when I only have “magnum” primers, they still work for non magnum powders or loads.

 

[bigpower491]

I guess another question is HOW can a primer be BOTH magnum and regular at the same time like the Winchester?

Winchester primers are a bit hotter than the standard offering from others

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

Winchester primers have more energy. Brisance

 

[bigpower491]

To add to my above post.....I tested this about 8 yrs ago with my 44 special loads out of my Super blackhawk. I was shooting titegroup out of those at 4.5gr charge.
Loaded 30 each, CCI 300 and WLP.
The winchesters average 45fps higher over the Chrony according to my notes. Yes I wondered myself at one time if they really were different. Seems to me after that I'd say yes

 

[.308 Norma]

Good question. I’d like to know as well. My guess is they are simply made to magnum specs, but that’s a guess.

That would be my guess too.

All I know is when I only have “magnum” primers, they still work for non magnum powders or loads.

Yep. In fact, I use "magnum" primers in all of my .44 Magnum loads - even though probably 90% of them don't call for magnum primers according to my load manuals. That's because I started loading for the .44 Magnum back in the '70s, and CCI 350 ("magnum") primers were only $1.10 a box (of 100) back then - just a dime more per box than CCI 300 primers. I simply didn't consider a tenth of a cent per primer worth the trouble of trying to remember which primers (magnum or standard) I put in a tray full of .44 Magnum cases the night, or a week before I was ready to charge the cases with powder and seat the bullets.

 

[Frulk]

I only use WLP for .44 Mag regardless of whatever powder goes in the case.

 

[243winxb]

I have CCI 300 or Winchester Large Pistol

Test side to side. May the best primer win.

I tested W244 in 44 mag. from 8.5 grs to 9.2 grs. My notes say, go with the 9.2 loading. WLP, 251 gr lswc, using Remington brass.

Win & old Rem only made/make 1 LP each. I use mag in all pistols, even 38 spec with Bullseye.

Rifle gets mag for ball powders. https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/ammunition_st_mamotaip_200909/100079

 

[sparkyv]

I save my Win LPPs for H110 loads. The other powders get standard primers.

Certain powders, like H110, really need a hot fire to get going. Others, like 244, don't care at all, and any functional primer will do the job.

 

[Walkalong]

It's really dependant on the powder. 244 definitely does not need mag primers.

Yep.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I have not loaded .44 Mag.
But.
I was always told: Magnum pistol primers for hard to ignite powders if necessary.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Primers have several aspects: brisance is the concussive pressure; ejecta is burning material in the compound; pyroclastic gases are the “flame” of the detonator; the burn time is the duration of the detonation until all of the material is consumed. Magnum versus standard primers will have some combination of one or more of these: greater pressure, more and brighter ejecta, hotter and more hot gas, at a longer burn rate. I am not an expert, I just know what I’ve read and learned over the years but it seems like it’s not necessary for a magnum pistol primer to have every aspect in greater effect but it would seem a greater amount of burning particles to mix and ignite the powder would be a requirement.

 

[Ranger99]

Never use magnum primers myself.
Never any problems yet with what I
use or what I do
No personal experience with that
particular powder

 

[DMW1116]

My Lyman manual typically shows standard primers for 44 magnum. For certain powders it does denote use of a magnum primer, but most are standard.

 

[wcwhitey]

Test side to side. May the best primer win.

I tested W244 in 44 mag. from 8.5 grs to 9.2 grs. My notes say, go with the 9.2 loading. WLP, 251 gr lswc, using Remington brass.

Win & old Rem only made/make 1 LP each. I use mag in all pistols, even 38 spec with Bullseye.

Rifle gets mag for ball powders. https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/ammunition_st_mamotaip_200909/100079

Curious as to what bullet you used and more impressions of the W244 I’m the .44 Magnum.

I concur with Magnum primers in certain powders like 110/296. I used to use exclusively Winchester primers and was aware of the “good for standard and magnum” loads so I never gave it a concern and never felt it to be a problem. With todays lack of availability it would be good to know how that affects other brands. My primer stash although healthy is certainly varied based on that fact. With a ball powder like 244 any primer should work though.

 

[Targa]

I try to buy Winchester LPP for the versatility of their mag/non mag use. If they are not available, I will try to buy magnum primers from the other manufacturers which I use for everything rather it requires a magnum primer or not.
It does not make sense to me why a mag/non mag primer even exists, just make the things universal and other than the actual primer size you are good to go to touch off whatever powder you are using.

 

[243winxb]

what bullet you used

The Saeco, in the middle.

 

[wcwhitey]

The Saeco, in the middle.View attachment 1128319

Thank you close to what I am using out of 429421.