357 Mag small pistol primer

[jwk]

When loading 357 Mag with about 19GR of Win 296 can I use a small pistol primer rather then a small mag pistol primer?I know in the reloading manual it calls for the small mag primer but I been told it do not matter with this load,and would like to get some feedback from fellow CGN.Thanks

 

[liberal-hater]

296 is about the slowest burning (hardest to ignite) pistol powder in common use, and .357 cases are about the largest capacity that take a small pistol primer.

This is the the ideal situation for, and the designed purpose for magnum
small pistol primers. I strongly suggest you use them for this load.

 

[Abman]

or a small rifle primer

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Small rifle primers are harder, and some firearms designed for pistol primers will need to hit a rifle primer a couple of times to get Bang.

Non-Magnum primers MAY work, but I suspect that you will have a greater spread in velocities due to incomplete, or erratic ignition.

 

[Silverback]

Usually a magnum primer and a heavy crimp are recommended for good powder ignition with 296.