Switch to CCI Magnum Primers--Question

[VonFatman]

I'm set up on a couple different loads using Winchester LP primers:

.44 mag (11gr. Blue-Dot behind a 240gr. Rainier HP)
.45 Colt (10.6gr. Blue-Dot behind a 250gr. RNFP--6-700 fps)

I have a box of CCI (500) Magnum Pistol Primers and was interested
to know if at the loads mentioned (which are not what I consider hot), would work with the jump to the magnum primers?? I'd like to use up these primers...they were given to me...I normally use (non-magnum) Winchester primers.

The guns I'm using:

.44 Mag: S&W 29-5 & Ruger SBH
.45 Colt: S&W 25-5

Thank you.

Bob

[Mal H]

For those specific loads, I see no reason why you shouldn't use up the magnum primers with them. They are no where near a 'hot' load, so I'm not even going to say the usual "but be sure to drop down a little and work back up." Those loads are below what I would have dropped to in order to work back up!

But, why not save the magnum primers? Why the urge to use them up? They won't go stale and you can use them later with some good old H110 or W296 when the need for speed hits you.

[VonFatman]

Mal H,
Thank you very much. My "need" to use them is two-fold:

One, these are old primers...old CCI packaging, a buddy picked them
up at a pawn-shop as part of a "deal". I would not want to trust them
for hot/warmer hunting loads...nor would I want to work up a warm load
based upon an expectaion that they will be consistant as a fresh box
of magnum primers.

Two, I'm almost out of my Win. primers and was thinking that
I'd see if these would work with these current loads for my current run
of range/loads.

Again, thank you for taking time to help me out.

Bob

[Mal H]

Ah! Ok, good reasoning - Blast away!

[WESHOOT2]

CCI500 are small pistol, CCI350 are Large Pistol Magnum.
(Primers don't go bad from old age....)

If switching to magnum primers first consider the 'location' of your load; is it at the top? middle? low down on the 'how hot is this thing' list?

I often use magnum primers in handgun loads (I got my reasons) but I start low and work up slow.


Don't forget that part.

Oh, the answer is yes.

[VonFatman]

I unboxed my new Chrony (a Christmas gift) today and after an hour of "interpretation issues" with their so-called instructions...I got that Chrony-Beast figured out.

I thought I'd practice with the .44 Magnum load I mentioned above just to see what the difference in velocity might be...

15 rounds fired w/the older (see photo) CCI Magnum Pistol primers


15 rounds rounds fired w/fresh Winchester Large Pistol primers

CCI Magnum Pistol Primers:
Avg. Velocity 15 rounds: 810.75

Win. Large Pistol Primers:
Avg. Velocity 15 rounds: 876.16

I have no idea:
-What the difference would be if I'd used new CCI Magnum Pistol primers.
-What the age or past storage of my CCI primers are/was.

I do know:
-All the CCI primed cartridges fired w/o issue.
-I loaded them the same in all respects but for the primers.
-I used a Dillon 650 which can vary the charge 2/10's grain.

This was just for fun...but if factory fresh CCI Magnum Pistol primers are expected to have more "umph" and if CCI's design/"umph" is the same today as it was when these CCI primers were produced, then I would venture guess (a thin ice guess) that age or storage can effect primers in their ability to stay fresh and hold the same "umph".

It's just amazing what an afternoon w/out anthing important to do can lead a man to do!...more wasted bandwidth!

Have a great weekend!

Bob

[WESHOOT2]

storage, yes........

Wonder when CCI went from CCI300 = regular LP to CCI350 = LPM.

[Robert M Boren Sr]

CCI-300's are regular large pistol primers, 350's are magnums. I sure don't see magnum on the box anywhere. I have always used mag primers in my mag pistols, but I do whatever the book says. Winchester primers has a tendency to run on the hot side due to their ball powder line. That's why you see very little winchester mag primers. Anyway, you shouldn't have any problems.

[VonFatman]

Robert M Boren Sr,
Correct you are...I photo'd the wrong box...but not only that, I made the assumption that both of the CCI boxes I was given were magnum.

The primers I used in my reloads were out of the 300 CCI box.

Thus, the chrono info would be for the regular CCI 300 box.

A good lesson fo me...although I errored on the side having a lessor powder charge w/the "magnum" primers...it could have been the other way around.

I'll try some of the REAL magnum CCI 350's tomorrow with the same powder charge...now I'm curious as to the FPS impact the magnum primers will have.

WESHOOT2,
Sorry for any confusion...my bad!

Bob

[Robert M Boren Sr]

Good luck on your test. It never hurts to double check stuff while you're loading.

[Paul Fitz Jones]

The best and most reliable primers in my opinion are Federal and Winchester.

When CCI was invented they shortly came up with the first Magnum primers that in my tests were equal in power to the standard Federal and Winchester primers. What did that say to me about CCI standard primers.

JUNK or rejects from the other companies?

[Cowled_Wolfe]

I dun work with any cartridge primers, but when it comes to my .50BP, I prefer CCI's magnum caps (#11 sized)...

IMHO, they're hotter than my girlfriend... Err... In a different way of course.