Can I load 357mag with non-magnum primers?
- Thread starter surfer365
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doubletap9
CGN Regular
- Location
- Niagara Peninsula
I've used CCI smalls for both my .38 and .357 loadings. They work just fine. None of my loadings call for a magnum primer in the books, so I never used them. I was advised to use magnum primers if I wanted to pep the .357 load up ... but that was all.
HTH .. DT
HTH .. DT
I was advised to use magnum primers if I wanted to pep the .357 load up ... but that was all.
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Bad advice. If you want to pep up a 357 magnum, or any other load, put a tad more powder in the case.
Keep on using the standard primers.
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Bad advice. If you want to pep up a 357 magnum, or any other load, put a tad more powder in the case.
Keep on using the standard primers.
and still alive
Wow you are brave
The reason I was asking is I wondered if all the powder would be burned if loading light cowboy loads without the magnum primer.
doubletap9
CGN Regular
- Location
- Niagara Peninsula
Can't see how it was bad advice. Just a little hotter ignition. Never bothered anyway because magnum primers were more expensive and not as easy to come by. SPP's do the job, enough said.
DT
Can't see how it was bad advice. Just a little hotter ignition. Never bothered anyway because magnum primers were more expensive and not as easy to come by. SPP's do the job, enough said.
DT
Thanks
There a bucket at my range, for all the #####es that fell off, when fellows used the wrong primers
Seriously though, except for the largest charges in the biggest cases, you don't really need them, and some would argue that, even then. For a case full of H110, you're best with a magnum primer, for a light cowboy load with trailboss or unique, just use whatever you have lying around.
Seriously though, except for the largest charges in the biggest cases, you don't really need them, and some would argue that, even then. For a case full of H110, you're best with a magnum primer, for a light cowboy load with trailboss or unique, just use whatever you have lying around.
There a bucket at my range, for all the #####es that fell off, when fellows used the wrong primers
Can't see how it was bad advice. Just a little hotter ignition. Never bothered anyway because magnum primers were more expensive and not as easy to come by. SPP's do the job, enough said.
DT
For starters, the magnum primer likely wouldn't add 2 feet per second to the bullet. The primer ignites the powder, but the primer is so instant that the pressure from it is gone by about the time the bullet starts to move. It is highly unlikely that the fast burning powder in the pistol case would be ignited any "better," by a magnum primer than it would by a standard primer.
Actually, I have never been able to detect any difference in a rifle, or big pistol, in whether I used a standard, or magnum primer.
I once did a test. I loaded bullets into the case with no powder, to see how far into the lands the primer would drive the bullet. I loaded a 22 Hornet with a 45 grain bullet and no crimping, with standard, then a magnum primer. Neither primer drove the bullet out of the case.
Next was a 420 grain cast bullet in a 45-70, without crimping. I first tried standard pistol, then magnum pistol, then standard rifle and finally magnum rifle. Not one bullet was shot out of its case!
I went to 30-06, 150 grain. Finally, a magnum primer drove it out of the case, but it did not stick in the lands. I only tried one of each and I was using well used 30-06 brass, so the one that went out of the case may have had a neck that didn't fit as tight.
Yes, it is bad advice to try and increase the power of a 357 magnum by simply changing to a magnum primer.
The primer has nothing to do with the cartridge name. Magnum primers are about the powder used. They burn a bit hotter for a bit longer and are for lighting hard to ignite powders and cold weather shooting.
"...Neither primer drove the bullet out of the case..." It will in a handgun.
"...Neither primer drove the bullet out of the case..." It will in a handgun.
easyrider604
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Greater Vancouver, BC
Sunray, you got it right.
The reason you can't use large rifle primers in .45 ACP is because they are slightly taller than large pistol primers and may not fit flush into the primer pockets. Small rifle primers can work in a pinch for pistol ammo, but you may get light strikes with some guns and you must re-do load development with them.
Magnum primers aren't absolutely necessary for practically any handgun application, and especially not for light loads with fast burning powder like Trail Boss.
Magnum primers aren't absolutely necessary for practically any handgun application, and especially not for light loads with fast burning powder like Trail Boss.
