If I reload some 300WM with 155gr bullets and 61 grains of IMR4895, is there anything nasty that can happen if I don't bother to use magnum primers? This is for summer plinking, not cold weather hunting, if that makes any difference.
What if I don't use Magnum rifle primers?
- Thread starter Grizzlypeg
- Start date
I'm currently using around 45 grains of IMR4895 in my 308 reloads, so this is just 16 grains more, and I thought I'd give this combo of components on hand a try. It should produce the equivalent of a pretty zippy 308. Same twist rate, 1 in 10. Just want to have some cheap target fun with my massively overweight 300WM.
blacksmithden
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I've been interchanging magnum and large rifle primers in my 300 win mag using 16 to 16.5 grains of Unique powder. It's made absolutely NO difference in ignition, or accuracy.
16 grains of Unique doesn't translate into a 45+ gr load of 4895. That said, you'll probably get it to work fine in warm weather, but I wouldn't be surprised if you experienced velocity fluctuations. Worth a careful experiment or two if Magnum primers are unavailable.
They will, I'm sure they will.
I'm sure someone is wondering why am I doing this. Well, I've got this heavy bbl gun I built and really don't do anything with. And I've got 100 Sierra 155gr match bullets lying around I'd like to shoot through something. Maybe with sixty some grains of IMR4895 this gun will make some nice groups and be some cheap entertainment for me. What's it cost me? 26 cents worth of powder and a couple of cents for a primer.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
Should light up fine this time of the year. Ive done it with 65 grains of 4064 in that same case, burn rate is fairly close.
Probably a silly question, but what if you do the reverse (use magnum primers insted of large-rifle ones)?
There is a reason I ask before I do anything..:redface...it's called safety...
That question I did run across frequently, and it seems you may increase pressures and therefore should start with a minimum load and work your way up. I couldn't find an answer to my question, but it sounds like at the very least I can try it and see how it works. If the only issue is consistent burns and accuracy, at least that doesn't involve issues of safety.
OK, I will give my usual answer. In many years of reloading quite a few different calibres of rifle and pistol, I have never detected a single bit of difference in pressure, whether the primer was a magnum or a standard.
I have the results of an extensive lab test done on primers. They tested every kind of primer, not only just for strength, or fire power, but tested it using differnt strengths of the firing pin hitting the primer.
The bottom line from the tests was there was more difference in primer fire power, or strength, from the difference in striking power of the firing pin, than there was from different primers.
In short, a magnum with weak firing pin gave less power than a standard primer with a strong firing pin.
Much is made of igniting the powder in colder weather.
I grew up in an area and at a time where all homesteaders hunted big game year around. They hunted in the winter at temperatures of 40 below, or some times colder.
This is not BS, or exaggerated, I saw it and I know it.
Every hunter, including all the trappers, knew that in the fall they had to thoroughly clean the action of their rifle in kerosene, so as to remove all traces of oil from and around the firing pin, spring and other related components. With this precaution, their rifle never failed to fire and kill a moose or elk,the same as it would at any other time of the year.
Did they have magnum primers? What a joke. The ammunition was CIL Dominion. The same standard ammunition they used year around.
From all my observation of what it was like, before someone got the brain wave to make primers called magnums, I think it matters not one wit, what type of primer is used, magnum or standard, any time of the year.
My own experience has born this out, also. I have shot in minus 30, at least, temperaures, and neveer had any failures, or hesitation, from using standard primers to ignite heavy charges of H4831 powder.
I have the results of an extensive lab test done on primers. They tested every kind of primer, not only just for strength, or fire power, but tested it using differnt strengths of the firing pin hitting the primer.
The bottom line from the tests was there was more difference in primer fire power, or strength, from the difference in striking power of the firing pin, than there was from different primers.
In short, a magnum with weak firing pin gave less power than a standard primer with a strong firing pin.
Much is made of igniting the powder in colder weather.
I grew up in an area and at a time where all homesteaders hunted big game year around. They hunted in the winter at temperatures of 40 below, or some times colder.
This is not BS, or exaggerated, I saw it and I know it.
Every hunter, including all the trappers, knew that in the fall they had to thoroughly clean the action of their rifle in kerosene, so as to remove all traces of oil from and around the firing pin, spring and other related components. With this precaution, their rifle never failed to fire and kill a moose or elk,the same as it would at any other time of the year.
Did they have magnum primers? What a joke. The ammunition was CIL Dominion. The same standard ammunition they used year around.
From all my observation of what it was like, before someone got the brain wave to make primers called magnums, I think it matters not one wit, what type of primer is used, magnum or standard, any time of the year.
My own experience has born this out, also. I have shot in minus 30, at least, temperaures, and neveer had any failures, or hesitation, from using standard primers to ignite heavy charges of H4831 powder.
Loaded up 20 of them with the Palma bullets as described and got a chance to fire them off tonight. All shot quite well and I am getting a real nice group at 100 yards. Recoil is noticeably lighter than factory 180's. Even this light load heats up the heavy barrel fast and after 3 shots its time to take a rest and let it cool. I did notice that time after time, the 3 shots I'd fire would form a perfectly verticle groove of 3 shots stacked on top of each other, with the best groups having no real gap between the 3 holes. My theory: Either the barrel is warming and rising or the pressure changes as the chamber heats up. I'm too impatient to wait 5 minutes between each shot.
I did pick up a package of Magnum primers so I could have them on hand for winter loads, should it make any difference.
I did pick up a package of Magnum primers so I could have them on hand for winter loads, should it make any difference.
