Primers question

k3new · May 3, 2009, 07:41 AM

Been off the handloading wagon for about 20 year... I have gotten a new press, and have begun buying supplies, primarily pistol stuff. I will be doing 98 percent 38/357 and 45 ACP. Vendors at shows are beginning to both ration purchases and have spotty supplies.

For general plinking loads Bulleye/W231, will loads be significantly affected by switching between standard and magnum primers? I am not overly concerned but curious.

Thanks in advance,

Joe

45Marlin carbine · May 3, 2009, 07:44 AM

use standard primers for BullsEye.
I've never used 231 so don't know for sure but it's used by a buddy to load for .45acp and he IIRC uses std lp's.

**Mike Irwin** · May 3, 2009, 08:41 AM

You can use magnum primers for Bullseye and 231, but you probably do not want to do so if you are pushing the upper limits of your loading data. Magnum primers can push pressures up, especially with very fast burning powders.

During the last primer shortage in the early 1990s all I could get was small pistol magnum, so I loaded several hundred .38 Spls. with a mid-power load of 231.

Never noticed a single problem.

WESHOOT2 · May 3, 2009, 10:00 AM

I very often test lesser-power loads with numerous and varied primers, and find the biggest difference, all other things being exactly equal, to be demonstrated accuracy.
I assume nothing, because until I test I am unable to determine which primer choice will 'work best'.

Test for yourself in your guns.......but never at maximum charge levels.

PBKing · May 3, 2009, 11:02 AM

Mike Irwin

No doubt.

S P Mag was all that was available here as well then.

Had to work up all my loads with them and have been using SPM exclusively since.

Truth be told the Wolf SPM is not a bad option in 5.56 in a pinch with a ball powder.

k3new · May 3, 2009, 03:43 PM

Thanks all. Appreciate the feedback.

SL1 · May 4, 2009, 11:27 AM

Actually, I have used mag primers to clean-up LIGHT loads, where I am not worried about adding about 5,000 psi to the peak pressure. The better ingnition sometimes helps light charges burn more completely.

But, I would NOT do that in a GUN that was designed for low pressures.

SL1

James R. Burke · May 5, 2009, 03:54 PM

Mike is correct. I mainly just load for the .357Mag I use Win-296 with a CCI Mag primer. Works great, but start at the bottom, and work up. The guys at the range call it the big boom powder. It is loud.

**Mike Irwin** · May 5, 2009, 04:08 PM

WW 296 is a much slower burning powder than what would normally be used in a .38 Spl.

For quite some time Winchester recommended their magnum primers be used with 296.

I never found it to be absolutely necessary, but I did use a LOT of crimp.

May 3, 2009, 07:41 AM	#1
k3new Member Join Date: April 17, 2005 Posts: 60	Primers question Been off the handloading wagon for about 20 year... I have gotten a new press, and have begun buying supplies, primarily pistol stuff. I will be doing 98 percent 38/357 and 45 ACP. Vendors at shows are beginning to both ration purchases and have spotty supplies. For general plinking loads Bulleye/W231, will loads be significantly affected by switching between standard and magnum primers? I am not overly concerned but curious. Thanks in advance, Joe

May 3, 2009, 08:41 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	You can use magnum primers for Bullseye and 231, but you probably do not want to do so if you are pushing the upper limits of your loading data. Magnum primers can push pressures up, especially with very fast burning powders. During the last primer shortage in the early 1990s all I could get was small pistol magnum, so I loaded several hundred .38 Spls. with a mid-power load of 231. Never noticed a single problem. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

May 3, 2009, 10:00 AM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	test to know I very often test lesser-power loads with numerous and varied primers, and find the biggest difference, all other things being exactly equal, to be demonstrated accuracy. I assume nothing, because until I test I am unable to determine which primer choice will 'work best'. Test for yourself in your guns.......but never at maximum charge levels. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

May 5, 2009, 04:08 PM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	WW 296 is a much slower burning powder than what would normally be used in a .38 Spl. For quite some time Winchester recommended their magnum primers be used with 296. I never found it to be absolutely necessary, but I did use a LOT of crimp. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

May 3, 2009, 07:44 AM	#2
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	use standard primers for BullsEye. I've never used 231 so don't know for sure but it's used by a buddy to load for .45acp and he IIRC uses std lp's.

May 3, 2009, 11:02 AM	#5
PBKing Member Join Date: April 21, 2009 Location: Water Winter Wonderland Posts: 49	Mike Irwin No doubt. S P Mag was all that was available here as well then. Had to work up all my loads with them and have been using SPM exclusively since. Truth be told the Wolf SPM is not a bad option in 5.56 in a pinch with a ball powder.

May 3, 2009, 03:43 PM	#6
k3new Member Join Date: April 17, 2005 Posts: 60	Thanks all. Appreciate the feedback.

May 4, 2009, 11:27 AM	#7
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	Actually, I have used mag primers to clean-up LIGHT loads, where I am not worried about adding about 5,000 psi to the peak pressure. The better ingnition sometimes helps light charges burn more completely. But, I would NOT do that in a GUN that was designed for low pressures. SL1

May 5, 2009, 03:54 PM	#8
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	Mike is correct. I mainly just load for the .357Mag I use Win-296 with a CCI Mag primer. Works great, but start at the bottom, and work up. The guys at the range call it the big boom powder. It is loud.