reloading 243 winchester with large rifle magnum primers?

joey.franko · May 8, 2013, 05:36 PM

is it ok to use large rifle magnum primers to reload 243 wincheshter(not 243 short magnum rounds).the guy at the gun store said it wouldn't hurt anything,the guy is a gun smith also,he said it would burn a little hotter but shouldn't hurt my gun or shells.i always like to get 2 or more people to tell me its ok to do something i am not sure about,especially when reloading.please would someone give me an educated response so i don't kill myself,I'm new at reloading,thank you [email protected]

Gster · May 8, 2013, 06:03 PM

In my opinion no, I wouldn't do it. There will probably be some more experienced reloaders on here that would. But I would not tell a newbie to go against what the manuals say are safe. JMO

jmr40 · May 8, 2013, 06:24 PM

I can't say for sure about a 243, but would think it would be no different than other chamberings. A lot of experienced target shooters report better accuracy with magnum primers in non-magnum chamberings. Same with folks who hunt in extreme cold to get better ignition. I've used them in both 308 and 30-06. Typically you get a little more speed (25-50 fps) from your loads and if you're loading close to a max load you need to back off some on the powder charge. This is one of the big reasons every reloader needs a chronograph so you will know for sure.

Many standard primers burn hotter than some magnum primers.

Brian Pfleuger · May 8, 2013, 07:15 PM

You can use any primer you want to use. Start at starting loads and work up. The primer makes, at MOST, a difference equivalent to 10% powder and that would be an extreme outlier event. Many times, it makes no discernible difference.

There are "regular" primers of one brand that might be hotter than magnum primers of another.

Just like cases, bullets, powder lots, barrels, chambers, etc, you are not using the same primers as the people who published the data. That's why we start low and work up. If everything was the same, there'd be no reason to not have a single, max load that everybody used.

Check out the differences, here.

JMP · May 8, 2013, 08:59 PM

My main load for .243 is 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tips, RL22, and CCI large rifle magnum primers.

joey.franko · May 8, 2013, 09:18 PM

thanks jmp

May 8, 2013, 05:36 PM	#1
joey.franko Junior Member Join Date: May 8, 2013 Posts: 4	reloading 243 winchester with large rifle magnum primers? is it ok to use large rifle magnum primers to reload 243 wincheshter(not 243 short magnum rounds).the guy at the gun store said it wouldn't hurt anything,the guy is a gun smith also,he said it would burn a little hotter but shouldn't hurt my gun or shells.i always like to get 2 or more people to tell me its ok to do something i am not sure about,especially when reloading.please would someone give me an educated response so i don't kill myself,I'm new at reloading,thank you [email protected]

May 8, 2013, 06:03 PM	#2
Gster Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2012 Location: N.central Pa. Posts: 302	In my opinion no, I wouldn't do it. There will probably be some more experienced reloaders on here that would. But I would not tell a newbie to go against what the manuals say are safe. JMO __________________ Gun control means: Being able to hit what you are shooting at.

May 8, 2013, 07:15 PM	#4
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	You can use any primer you want to use. Start at starting loads and work up. The primer makes, at MOST, a difference equivalent to 10% powder and that would be an extreme outlier event. Many times, it makes no discernible difference. There are "regular" primers of one brand that might be hotter than magnum primers of another. Just like cases, bullets, powder lots, barrels, chambers, etc, you are not using the same primers as the people who published the data. That's why we start low and work up. If everything was the same, there'd be no reason to not have a single, max load that everybody used. Check out the differences, here. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

May 8, 2013, 09:18 PM	#6
joey.franko Junior Member Join Date: May 8, 2013 Posts: 4	thanks jmp,im going to go with what u say thanks jmp

May 8, 2013, 06:24 PM	#3
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	I can't say for sure about a 243, but would think it would be no different than other chamberings. A lot of experienced target shooters report better accuracy with magnum primers in non-magnum chamberings. Same with folks who hunt in extreme cold to get better ignition. I've used them in both 308 and 30-06. Typically you get a little more speed (25-50 fps) from your loads and if you're loading close to a max load you need to back off some on the powder charge. This is one of the big reasons every reloader needs a chronograph so you will know for sure. Many standard primers burn hotter than some magnum primers.

May 8, 2013, 08:59 PM	#5
JMP Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2010 Location: Wyoming Posts: 118	My main load for .243 is 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tips, RL22, and CCI large rifle magnum primers.