Magnum primers

Stump1 · July 17, 2006, 06:24 PM

I just ordered a .44 mag (ruger superblackhawk). As soon as it gets here (not to mention the new dies), I plan to start doing some reloading for it. The higher velocity loads call for magnum primers with W296. I've reloaded quite a bit, but I've never touched magnum primers. What can I expect? What are the pros and cons? Are they really necessary?

LAH · July 17, 2006, 08:19 PM

You ask: What can I expect? They will fit and sure enough work. Should feed through your loader same as standard primers. Personally I use Winchester LP for all my loading from Bullseye to H-110.

**Unclenick** · July 17, 2006, 09:51 PM

The Winchester works fine and does double-duty as standard and magnum primer. The reason the loads call for magnum primers is that H110/W296 is a fine ball powder (they are different brand labels, but it is the same powder from the same plant). Ball powders are notoriously harder to ignite consistently than either flake or stick powders, and they need the larger flame of a magnum primer to do it successfully. A magnum primer can raise pressures a little, so if you switch primers (or any other component) on an established load of any other powder, you must work the load up over again, watching for pressure signs.

The exception is H110/W296 loads. The peak pressure margin with this powder is so safe that you can just load the factory recommendation. This used to be a single recommendation for each bullet in .357 and .44 magnum from Winchester, but is now a narrow 3% range. You should not underload this powder in a revolver because its pressure peaks after the bullet jumps to the barrel and an undercharge can bleed enough pressure out the barrel/cylinder gap to fizzle, leaving a bullet stuck in the barrel.

Nick

Stump1 · July 18, 2006, 08:50 AM

Sounds like you knew what I was getting at. I was specifically looking at the magnum primer/ W296 load.

Ammo Junky · July 18, 2006, 06:03 PM

I have found my loads with H110 shoot and chrono the same with wlp and flpm.

LAH · July 20, 2006, 04:31 PM

Thanks for the info Ammo Junky..........Creeker

roger1shot · July 20, 2006, 05:54 PM

Hey,
I've had my Ruger Super Redhawk 44mag.7 1/2"for right at a year now.
And I'll have to say,it's a blast to shoot,the H110 20.0 grains and a 250grain Nosler.
I've got a Leupold 4 power and its great.
Sure it takes a bit longer to find the targer at first.
But the more you shoot it, the faster and better you get.
Sure some say that you can see the cross hairs move more on the targer, with a higher power.
But I would rather know when I was off the target,than to shoot and miss.
Right now once the sun sets here in Texas at 98 HOT HOT,but feels like 103.
I'll be going for my 2 mile walk,with my 44.
I 'm dry firing the Ruger and keeping in shape for hunting season.
as I walk.
This saves a lot of reloading and it's ok to dry fire.
Great choice

Stump1 · July 20, 2006, 06:29 PM

That's the kind of stuff I want to hear. I appreciate it.

Scorch · July 20, 2006, 08:32 PM

I load WW 296 in my 44 mag, and I use Winchester large pistol primers. No magnum primers, they give erratic pressures and velocities.

Ausserordeutlich · July 21, 2006, 08:16 AM

Was recently loading up a batch of 10mm, when I realized that I only had magnum lp primers on hand. Loaded them; shot them; can't tell any difference. I'm not loading max loads, though.

temmi · July 21, 2006, 05:13 PM

I ask the same question to Hornady about the .480 Rugar.
They said:
1: Win LP primers are ok because they are intended for Magnum rounds too.
2: If I use Fed Primers… I must use Magnum
3: If I used Fed LP non-magnum primers, I should pull & de-prime, and use fed LP Magnum primers.

So I did.

July 17, 2006, 06:24 PM	#1
Stump1 Member Join Date: March 20, 2006 Posts: 21	Magnum primers I just ordered a .44 mag (ruger superblackhawk). As soon as it gets here (not to mention the new dies), I plan to start doing some reloading for it. The higher velocity loads call for magnum primers with W296. I've reloaded quite a bit, but I've never touched magnum primers. What can I expect? What are the pros and cons? Are they really necessary?

July 17, 2006, 09:51 PM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	The Winchester works fine and does double-duty as standard and magnum primer. The reason the loads call for magnum primers is that H110/W296 is a fine ball powder (they are different brand labels, but it is the same powder from the same plant). Ball powders are notoriously harder to ignite consistently than either flake or stick powders, and they need the larger flame of a magnum primer to do it successfully. A magnum primer can raise pressures a little, so if you switch primers (or any other component) on an established load of any other powder, you must work the load up over again, watching for pressure signs. The exception is H110/W296 loads. The peak pressure margin with this powder is so safe that you can just load the factory recommendation. This used to be a single recommendation for each bullet in .357 and .44 magnum from Winchester, but is now a narrow 3% range. You should not underload this powder in a revolver because its pressure peaks after the bullet jumps to the barrel and an undercharge can bleed enough pressure out the barrel/cylinder gap to fizzle, leaving a bullet stuck in the barrel. Nick __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 18, 2006, 08:50 AM	#4
Stump1 Member Join Date: March 20, 2006 Posts: 21	Thanks Sounds like you knew what I was getting at. I was specifically looking at the magnum primer/ W296 load.

July 18, 2006, 06:03 PM	#5
Ammo Junky Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: IL Posts: 537	I have found my loads with H110 shoot and chrono the same with wlp and flpm. __________________ Will work for brass. I apologise in advance for spelling errors.

July 20, 2006, 05:54 PM	#7
roger1shot Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: TEXAS Posts: 102	Great Gun Hey, I've had my Ruger Super Redhawk 44mag.7 1/2"for right at a year now. And I'll have to say,it's a blast to shoot,the H110 20.0 grains and a 250grain Nosler. I've got a Leupold 4 power and its great. Sure it takes a bit longer to find the targer at first. But the more you shoot it, the faster and better you get. Sure some say that you can see the cross hairs move more on the targer, with a higher power. But I would rather know when I was off the target,than to shoot and miss. Right now once the sun sets here in Texas at 98 HOT HOT,but feels like 103. I'll be going for my 2 mile walk,with my 44. I 'm dry firing the Ruger and keeping in shape for hunting season. as I walk. This saves a lot of reloading and it's ok to dry fire. Great choice

July 17, 2006, 08:19 PM	#2
LAH Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2002 Location: In The Hardwoods Posts: 1,188	You ask: What can I expect? They will fit and sure enough work. Should feed through your loader same as standard primers. Personally I use Winchester LP for all my loading from Bullseye to H-110.

July 20, 2006, 04:31 PM	#6
LAH Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2002 Location: In The Hardwoods Posts: 1,188	Thanks for the info Ammo Junky..........Creeker

July 20, 2006, 06:29 PM	#8
Stump1 Member Join Date: March 20, 2006 Posts: 21	Glad to hear it That's the kind of stuff I want to hear. I appreciate it.

July 20, 2006, 08:32 PM	#9
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I load WW 296 in my 44 mag, and I use Winchester large pistol primers. No magnum primers, they give erratic pressures and velocities. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

July 21, 2006, 08:16 AM	#10
Ausserordeutlich Junior member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Posts: 996	Was recently loading up a batch of 10mm, when I realized that I only had magnum lp primers on hand. Loaded them; shot them; can't tell any difference. I'm not loading max loads, though.

July 21, 2006, 05:13 PM	#11
temmi Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 531	I ask the same question to Hornady about the .480 Rugar. They said: 1: Win LP primers are ok because they are intended for Magnum rounds too. 2: If I use Fed Primers… I must use Magnum 3: If I used Fed LP non-magnum primers, I should pull & de-prime, and use fed LP Magnum primers. So I did.