magnum primers in non magnum

Dannyboy303 · May 21, 2007, 02:45 AM

Ive ran out of large rifle primers and im wanting to reload the 303 to shoot some pigs.. love the enfields 10rounds. Im wondering can i remedy this by using large magnum primers or will that affect pressure too much and make it unsafe?

steve4102 · May 21, 2007, 09:24 AM

Any time you change a component you should "Start Low and Work Up". Mag primers can be used in a non-magnum cartridge. Mag primers work best with big cases and or ball powders. If you have a good load using LR primers and you switch to LR Mag primers you need to start low and work back up looking for signs of pressure along the way. The mag primers may affect accuracy as well as pressure.

Dannyboy303 · May 21, 2007, 09:35 PM

Thanks Steve i will do. I wouldnt have asked about this but i know mag primers can just about push a bullet out the end of the barrel so i thought it wasnt something to be taken lightly. thanks

elkman06 · May 21, 2007, 09:56 PM

Everything I have been told about Mag primers is that they effectively add one grain of powder to a load. Truth, I don't know. Wise to be careful I think. I use them in non mag rounds but with slower burning powders.
elkman

PeteQuad · May 21, 2007, 10:04 PM

Actually, I think it would be cool if primers were just able to push a bullet out the end of the barrel. Then you would never have to worry about having an empty cartridge. Of course, then primers would be more dangerous to handle.

T. O'Heir · May 22, 2007, 12:50 AM

"...mag primers can just about push a bullet out..." So can a regular primer. Either can and will push a bullet into the barrel with no fuss. The fuss comes if you then fire another round. The barrel will be bulged as a minium.
Magnum primers burn a bit hotter for a bit longer. They're made to ignite hard to light powders. Like steve4102 says, if you change one component, you need to work up the load again.
Go here. Lots of great info. Don't even think PayPal though. Steve is also selling .313" and .314" 200 grain jacketed bullets for Enfields with larger bores. A .303 barrel can measure(slug the bore) between .311" and .315" and still be considered ok. Larger than .315" and the barrel is shot out. http://www.303british.com/

PeteQuad · May 22, 2007, 11:49 AM

There's a big difference between pushing a bullet into the barrel and pushing a bullet out of the barrel.

May 21, 2007, 02:45 AM	#1
Dannyboy303 Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2007 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 116	magnum primers in non magnum Ive ran out of large rifle primers and im wanting to reload the 303 to shoot some pigs.. love the enfields 10rounds. Im wondering can i remedy this by using large magnum primers or will that affect pressure too much and make it unsafe?

May 21, 2007, 09:24 AM	#2
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,952	Any time you change a component you should "Start Low and Work Up". Mag primers can be used in a non-magnum cartridge. Mag primers work best with big cases and or ball powders. If you have a good load using LR primers and you switch to LR Mag primers you need to start low and work back up looking for signs of pressure along the way. The mag primers may affect accuracy as well as pressure.

May 21, 2007, 09:35 PM	#3
Dannyboy303 Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2007 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 116	Thanks Steve i will do. I wouldnt have asked about this but i know mag primers can just about push a bullet out the end of the barrel so i thought it wasnt something to be taken lightly. thanks

May 21, 2007, 09:56 PM	#4
elkman06 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2006 Location: Wyoming Posts: 885	Everything I have been told about Mag primers is that they effectively add one grain of powder to a load. Truth, I don't know. Wise to be careful I think. I use them in non mag rounds but with slower burning powders. elkman

May 21, 2007, 10:04 PM	#5
PeteQuad Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2007 Posts: 198	Actually, I think it would be cool if primers were just able to push a bullet out the end of the barrel. Then you would never have to worry about having an empty cartridge. Of course, then primers would be more dangerous to handle.

May 22, 2007, 12:50 AM	#6
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...mag primers can just about push a bullet out..." So can a regular primer. Either can and will push a bullet into the barrel with no fuss. The fuss comes if you then fire another round. The barrel will be bulged as a minium. Magnum primers burn a bit hotter for a bit longer. They're made to ignite hard to light powders. Like steve4102 says, if you change one component, you need to work up the load again. Go here. Lots of great info. Don't even think PayPal though. Steve is also selling .313" and .314" 200 grain jacketed bullets for Enfields with larger bores. A .303 barrel can measure(slug the bore) between .311" and .315" and still be considered ok. Larger than .315" and the barrel is shot out. http://www.303british.com/

May 22, 2007, 11:49 AM	#7
PeteQuad Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2007 Posts: 198	There's a big difference between pushing a bullet into the barrel and pushing a bullet out of the barrel.