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June 5, 2012, 11:30 PM | #1 |
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Can you load 357 mag with regular primers?
I have some 357 cases but only have regular (not magnum) small pistol primers. I have Berry's plated 158gr RN bullets. I will probably be using Bullseye or Accurate #5 for the powder. Are there loads that work with standard primers for this?
Last edited by marklyftogt; June 5, 2012 at 11:40 PM. |
June 5, 2012, 11:41 PM | #2 | |
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There will often (not necessarily, but often enough) be a lower pressure with standard primers. What manuals do you have on hand, what powder are you contemplating and what amount and bullet? That information would be helpful. Lost Sheep Your post and my edit crossed in time. I use Bullseye all the time. It is VERY easy to ignite. I believe it does better with standard primers (though that is just an opinion). As it is a very quick powder, it is best for low and mid-power loads, as it gets to full SAAMI pressure very fast. I don't have any personal experience with Accurate #5 is listed as slower in quickness than Bullseye, but I imagine it is probably as easy to ignite. What velocity do you seek? Last edited by Lost Sheep; June 5, 2012 at 11:53 PM. |
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June 6, 2012, 12:17 AM | #3 |
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I have Lee's Modern Reloading and Lyman's. Lee's says small pistol primers but I am not sure that means standard or if magnum is assumed with 357. I want to shoot lighter loads.
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June 6, 2012, 01:16 AM | #4 |
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I'm on-board with standard primers and Bullseye, too.
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June 6, 2012, 01:55 AM | #5 | |
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June 6, 2012, 04:28 AM | #6 |
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depends on powder but SP primers is mostly the norm in 357 and I use
2400 powder which is SP specific ..... |
June 6, 2012, 05:35 AM | #7 | |
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Quote:
Do you have other (higher-performing) powder options available to you? |
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June 6, 2012, 06:36 AM | #8 |
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I've really never used magnum primers in .357, not even with powders like WW 296, which is considered difficult to ignite.
I just make sure my crimp is up to snuff, which really helps the ignition process.
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June 6, 2012, 07:05 AM | #9 |
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357 Magnum
My not-hot ammo normally gets standard primers; hotties get tested with numerous primers.
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June 6, 2012, 07:12 AM | #10 |
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Concur. I've never seen a need to use magnum primers in the .357 magnum. Every powder we might use in that cartridge is relatively fast on the burn scale and lights up easily with a standard primer.
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June 6, 2012, 07:27 AM | #11 |
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I also never have used mag primers in 357 mag, even when using 296. I actually use small rifle primers in everything I load that takes a small pistol primer.
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June 6, 2012, 07:50 AM | #12 |
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What is the difference in a small pistol primer and a small rifle primer ?
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June 6, 2012, 11:23 AM | #13 |
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Rifle primers are generally a bit more potent given that they have to ignite larger amounts of powder.
The big difference is that the primer cup is thicker to better handle the higher pressures that a rifle primer might encounter,.
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June 6, 2012, 12:05 PM | #14 |
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Thanks guys. This will save me a hazmat charge as I just restocked through Powder Valley.
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June 6, 2012, 01:45 PM | #15 |
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If you go way back 25-30 years, magnum primers were often called for with .357 Mag loads. For example, Lyman #46 (1982) stipulates magnum primers for all .357 loads. Speer # 11 (1987) calls for mag primers with some loads. Over the years most loadbooks have gone to strictly plain jane regular small pistol primers for nearly all .357 Mag loads. They've learned a lot and refined their data through the use of better chronos, better ways to measure pressure (piezo vs. copper crushers) and just plain more experience over the dam.
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June 6, 2012, 05:18 PM | #16 |
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I tend to agree with using standard small pistol primers for the easy to ignite powders and magnum primers for 296/H110.
However all the loads listed at the Hodgdon Reloading Center show using Winchester SPM primers. And I normally start a new load by trying to use the same primer that was used for testing before I start deviating. This is where your chrono can help you decide what performs best. |
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