Vely Difference: Mag Primer vs Regular Primer

[boxhitch]

Some ball powder is harder to ignite so mag primers are recommended for them, but mag primers can be used with any type of rifle powder.

Its relative though. Kernel size is smaller with more surface area so developed to ignite slower
that doesn't mean the over-all powder is harder or slower or faster
Powder sites never recommend magnum primers based on powder form, wonder what they know

 

[boxhitch]

Speer has been saying to use magnum primers for ball powders for years. I believe my Speer 8 says that... I could check Speer 5 but I'm at work now.

Speer reloading data online still says ball powders (in rifles) should use magnum primers.

YMMV

I see that now, for certain cartridge/bullet combos, but not straight across the board for all
If there is somewhere Speer makes the blanket statement, I can't find it?

 

[B]

Plenty of ball powders don't need it. I don't see where anyone said they do without exception. Some of the fastest powders out there are ball and you can set it off with anything just fine.

 

[Andy]

There's so much variation even in "Standard" primers (the older Std Win primers were considered "hot" and CCI "cold) that it's no surprise that you saw little difference in MV. Further, the primer contributes little in energy in comparison to a rifle powder load.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

There's so much variation even in "Standard" primers (the older Std Win primers were considered "hot" and CCI "cold) that it's no surprise that you saw little difference in MV. Further, the primer contributes little in energy in comparison to a rifle powder load.

The issue was never about how much energy the primer contributes but how much of the powder is ignited at the same time. The more of the powder that is ignited by he primer, the greater the pressure spike will be.

 

[todbartell]

A few years ago I loaded up a bunch of 223, half the cases were primed with CCI400 and the other half with CCI450 magnum small rifle

I tried 5 different powders and shot them in winter temps, spring, and summer to record the velocity and standard deviations

on average the results of the 5 powders :

-15c
CCI 400 2949 fps SD50
CCI 450 Mag 2908 fps SD22

+13c
CCI 400 2943 fps SD24
CCI 450 Mag 2908 fps SD19

+29c
CCI 400 2956 fps SD25
CCI 450 Mag 2942 fps SD15

 

[Ganderite]

A ball powder with a lighter bullet can have real ignition issues that a mag primer will cure.

 

[bearhunter]

The issue was never about how much energy the primer contributes but how much of the powder is ignited at the same time. The more of the powder that is ignited by he primer, the greater the pressure spike will be.

Maybe, but the real issue is igniting that powder evenly throughout the column.

The differences between standard and magnum primers from the same manufacturer isn't nearly as great as the difference between the products of a different manufacturer.

Remington primer tend to be hotter than most other offerings as well as having harder cups, making for inconsistent ignition.