Magnum Cartridges with regular primers

Pathfinder

Pathfinder

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I know some people regularly load some magnum cartdriges with regular primers. e.g. 300 wm.

Ive recently cured some pressure issues on a rifle by switching to wlr's instead wlrm's . just wondering if im risking hangfires etc... The only thing I noticed working up the load again is that velocity is lower than expected which is not a big deal for me.
 
I think the main concern (and I am only guessing) is that you may have efficiency issues at lower temps. (I.E. shooting in -30 during the winter). Other than that, I have read a few reloading books that said you should use regular primers all the time anyhow. I could care less myself which kind I use, as I only load for hunting. If it consistently goes bang, and at the short ranges I hunt, I am not worried about a little velocity loss. I would guess It to be more important when target shooting and long range shooting at animals, as consistency is more important. You want the same speed each time (as close as you can get to the same speed) so that the drop is the same and your aimpoint is the same.
 
IMO it is more important which powder you are using than the name on the cartridge case.

Check your reloading manual for the primer they recommend for your powder.
 
I use regular primers for magnum cases loaded with extruded powders - which I use for target shooting.

BUT, for hunting (which might be cold weather) and for all ball powders I use magnum primers. I had an occassion when standard primers and ball powders were giving me about 50% click-bangs.
 
Yeah, this is a ball powder. Its 100% ignition so far. I dont' think I would use this combination for winter hunting anyways. I may end up going to a different magnum primer as im a little leary of using the regular primer on ball powder. We will see how it goes.
 
The name of the cartridge has nothing to do with the primer used. The powder used determines whether or not you need magnum primers. Whether or not you use ball powder doesn't matter either. If your manual doesn't say to use 'em, you don't need 'em.
 
Magnum powders are often indicated when:

- there's a large volume of powder;
- when using a ball powder; or
- under other hard to ignite situations like cold weather.

I never use them in handgun loads, nor with 80% or less load density (i.e. with faster powders) in magnum rifle cartridges.
 
I use magnum primers in all of the larger capacity cases,regardless of the powder used.I would not use regular primers for a hunting load in a 300winmag.If I had pressure issues,I would reduce the powder charge,not change the primer.
 
Pathfinder said:
I know some people regularly load some magnum cartdriges with regular primers. e.g. 300 wm.

Ive recently cured some pressure issues on a rifle by switching to wlr's instead wlrm's . just wondering if im risking hangfires etc... The only thing I noticed working up the load again is that velocity is lower than expected which is not a big deal for me.
Click to expand...


I was shooting a .300 WSM with 64 gr H4831 with 168gr bullet. I got 1 click boom with CCI BR2's. Shot hit 7 '' low at 200yd. Group was around 2.5 " not including low shot. Federal 210M produced no click booms, velocities and group inconsistent. Federal 215Ms velocities much more consistent, not much change in max speeds and groups around 1/2-3/4 inch at 100 yds. WLRM produced similar results to the 215m's but groups were a little bigger.

I think you need a magnum primer to light short fat cases consistently.
 
NormB said:
I think you need a magnum primer to light short fat cases consistently.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ. I am starting to load my 7WSM and after 20+ rounds downrange, I have no issues using CCI 200LR primers. Groups are nothing to write home to for many precision shooters here, but for me it's plenty good.

DSC03050.jpg


100 yard, 3 shots, 62gr H4831sc, 168gr SMK, Win brass, CCI 200LR primer, COAL 2.860".

DSC03055.jpg


67gr H4831sc, 140gr Partition, same stuff.
 
stubblejumper said:
If I had pressure issues,I would reduce the powder charge,not change the primer.
Click to expand...

Ive been down that road, Seems What I mostly need is to get the rifle's throat modified (best I can do is around minimum OAL) so that I can seat bullets out a little farther . I will probably stick to lighter bullets for now until I send this out to a smith after hunting season. Ive got other options in the safe so no big deal for now.
 
rishu_pepper said:
I beg to differ. I am starting to load my 7WSM and after 20+ rounds downrange, I have no issues using CCI 200LR primers. Groups are nothing to write home to for many precision shooters here, but for me it's plenty good.

100 yard, 3 shots, 62gr H4831sc, 168gr SMK, Win brass, CCI 200LR primer, COAL 2.860".

67gr H4831sc, 140gr Partition, same stuff.
Click to expand...

Nice groups. The only primer I didn't try was CCI200. My buddy has a 7 X68 40deg improved( 72gr RL22). Almost all of his loads using CCIBR2 were hangfires...click booms. Another friend has 6.5 30-06 35deg improved. CCIBR2' light them (54grRL22) to winning performance. This is a long and thin cartridge.

NormB
 
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NormB said:
Nice groups. The only primer I didn't try was CCI200. My buddy has a 7 X68 40deg improved( 72gr RL22). Almost all of his loads using CCIBR2 were hangfires...click booms. Another friend has 6.5 30-06 35deg improved. CCIBR2' light them (54grRL22) to winning performance. This is a long and thin cartridge.

NormB
Click to expand...

Thanks. Gotta love the 7WSM :cool:

I've had a couple of misfire happen on me with the same primers, in my M70 25-06, but that was when I was still a noob reloader so I might have done something wrong and not realized it. Since then, the CCI 200 has served me well. I bought a bulk pack of 1000 and you can never have too many primers! :D
 
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