Magnum vs. standard LRP in ammunition for semiautomatics and bolt-action rifles

GunsNotPuns

GunsNotPuns

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Location
People's Soviet Socialist Republic of Canada
I may be looking for rabbit holes that don't exist but here I am. That and I contracted the unnameable virus of "unknown" origin so I might not be thinking straight.

So I was in a LGS the other day and was about to buy some magnum LRP due to not finding any of the usual stuff. I discovered that the store had military spec LRP -- CCI#34 -- designed for semi-automatic rifles. I did some research and found that CCI#34 isn't all that dissimilar to magnum LRP. Well, there is some debate about that, but many believe that the CCI#34s have a similar cup to magnum primers and the same sort of performance.

I ended up buying the Winchester LMRPs anyway but that got me to wondering along a related line: Assuming that was true, would the LMRPs be ideal for use in semiautomatic rifles and what limited stock of LRPs I had should be saved for ammunition for bolt action rifles?
 
Post #2 is exactly what I had thought - that #34 had harder cups to reduce slam fire, and that "Magnum" primers had greater heat / fire to ignite more certainly. #34 can likely be used in "normal" hunting loads, but if your firing pin strike is "tentative" - those primers may not fire off reliably. Someone will confirm, but I thought the #34 were developed to reduce "slam fire" (harder cup) but also to ignite ball powder (so they produce magnum-like "heat / fire").

There were several Internet postings that Winchester primers had a history of cracking - allowing flame to gouge out the bolt face - several firearms permanently damaged from that - I suspect that particular issue has been resolved for "fresh" production - but is something that I continue to watch for. I think is of concern to know that, since so many hand loaders are appearing to come into older reloading components and are using them - it likely helps to research the issues, lot numbers, etc.
 
Last edited:
Potashminer said:
There were several Internet postings that Winchester primers had a history of cracking - allowing flame to gouge out the bolt face - several firearms permanently damaged from that...
Click to expand...

Magnum or standard Winchester primers? I've been using the standard ones for years and have never had an issue with them.

At any rate, post number 2 is what I thought as well but it always behooves a man to ask around to see what the collective hive mind thinks. I am sometimes surprised by what comes of it.
 
I typed "Winchester primers cracking" into Google Search and got many pages of hits - a quick skim - seems the "cracks" that I referred to - that caused flame gouging into bolt faces - many posts from 2012, 2013, 2014. And reports came in for AA shotgun primers, WSR primers and WLR primers. Is worth your while to look up and confirm lot numbers, perhaps.
 
Go here: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/current-winchester-primer-quality.865041/

Is typical from what I just read - many posters having had product replaced by Winchester; others never having had a problem. The thread that I linked to appears to be from 2020, which appears to be AFTER the majority of the incidents occurred.

Sort of sounds like someone could have bought a sleeve of 1,000 primers in 2010, used a tray per year - then, bought next sleeve in 2020 and would not known there was an issue - versus someone who was buying "fresh" primers each year through that time? I must have bought at least a dozen sleeves over the past 30 years - but almost all were Fed 210 or Fed 215 for various loads / cartridges. They were readily available where I was - so I do not have much, if any, experience, with Winchester primers over the years. I do have remnants of a sleeve of CCI 400 which I use in 223 Rem - could not find the Small Rifle Federal, at that time, and have most of a sleeve of CCI BR-2 Large Rifle that I bought when the store was out of the Fed 210 that I wanted.

EDIT: for another reason, I was looking at some old reloading notes - in 2000 and 2001 I was using WLRM in a 338 Win Mag - no mention of concerns about those primers - I must have found at least a tray or two and was using them, then.
 
Last edited:
The #34 are equivalent to the 250 primer. Just less sensitive as they have a harder cup and different anvil angle. In case of a floating firing pin issue in some rifles. They are designed for 7.62 ammunition which is usually ball powder.

I have used them in a 264 that had a firing pin issue due to sloppy tolerances. I can't tell the difference between the #34 and the 250. Neither can my labradar.

Just if you have a light firing pin spring you might have trouble.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom