Magnum primers

Jeryray · June 4, 2018, 08:49 PM

I ordered 5,000 primers from Powder valley. Thought I ordered Federal match, guess I was not paying attention. I received Magnum match.

Don't know what to do now.

These are for use in (9mm and .38)

Help?

**Unclenick** · June 4, 2018, 09:21 PM

The 38 won't mind because of the long case. Just knock your loads down 10% and work back to matching velocity. The 9 mm may experience some velocity consistency issues from the primer unseating the bullet before the powder is burning well, but check with your chronograph to see if the velocity SD is actually worse or not. Sometimes it's actually better. The 10% reduction applies to the 9 mm, too, though I've never actually seen more than 5% charge difference and sometimes it's backward due to the bullet unseating and you actually need more powder to achieve the same velocity with the magnum prime. Get out your chronograph and see.

Jeryray · June 4, 2018, 09:32 PM

Thanks for the reply, I would much rather exchange them, but don't know if is possible, with all the hazmat rules. I am in New York City...

Nathan · June 4, 2018, 09:35 PM

If it is a mistake, call Powder Valley and see what they say....

Or maybe you are better off buying a s&w 357 and chalking it up as a learning experience!

TJB101 · June 5, 2018, 04:27 AM

My LGS did a swap for some new primers I couldn’t use. Worth a call to see if they’d help you out

USSR · June 5, 2018, 06:49 AM

Jeryray,

Exchanging them will be costly, if it's even possible. What you do is: go and buy yourself some HS-6 powder which is suitable for both .38 and 9mm and pretty much requires a magnum primer to burn well.

Don

Hammerhead · June 7, 2018, 07:40 PM

Yup, HS-6 loves a mag primer, and is an excellent powder for both calibers.
Go back to starting data, and work up, HS-6 really smooths out twords the upper end and will be very consistent with the mag primers.

zxcvbob · June 7, 2018, 07:55 PM

They should be fine, and might possibly work better. (Federal small rifle primers work too. I used to use them in everything) But like the others said, you'll need to work up the loads again because the pressures will be different; probably higher.

Remow2112 · June 8, 2018, 01:58 AM

I personally found a 25 fps difference between reg primers and mag. If you have a chronograph take the max and min load and find the load in the middle. Load up 20 reg primer and 20 mag.

Run them over the chronograph and check the speeds. If there is no significant change in velocity or pressure signs. Load them up.

Dan...
Use LRMP in 45/70 for all my loads. (LRMP was much easier to find during the shortage.)

T. O'Heir · June 8, 2018, 12:30 PM

"...pretty much requires a magnum primer..." Not according to Hodgdon. CCI 500's used to test their 9mm and .38 Special HS-6 loads. Not that it really matters. The worst that can happen is you might see slightly higher pressures. None of which will cause any grief.
I'd still be inclined to call Powder Valley. As they mucked up your order.

USSR · June 8, 2018, 12:48 PM

Quote:

"...pretty much requires a magnum primer..." Not according to Hodgdon. CCI 500's used to test their 9mm and .38 Special HS-6 loads. Not that it really matters. The worst that can happen is you might see slightly higher pressures. None of which will cause any grief.
I'd still be inclined to call Powder Valley. As they mucked up your order.

Just because you can use something, doesn't necessarily make it a very good choice. There are several handgun powders besides HS-6 that benefit from using a magnum primer, among them W296/H110 and IMR4227. Oh, and Jeryray admitted he "was not paying attention", so I hardly see how Powder Valley "mucked up" the order.

Don

FrankenMauser · June 8, 2018, 01:10 PM

Sounds like you have 5,000 perfect excuses to buy a .357 Mag...

Hammerhead · June 8, 2018, 01:32 PM

Just because Hodgdon uses standard primers in their testing doesn't mean it's the best primer for the job. They use magnum primers for testing all 357 powders, inlcuding Clays, HP-38 and others that have no need for a magnum primer.

HS-6 works best with a magnum primer. Proven by those of us who actually use it.

Risasi · June 8, 2018, 04:55 PM

I concur w/ Hammerhead and USSR. HS-6 is my favorite "do it all" powder in 9mm, 38 +p and up to medium power 357 Magnum loads.

It just runs better with a magnum primer, prefers heavier bullets too, and if in a revolver a firm roll crimp also makes for a more consistent SD and ES.

June 4, 2018, 08:49 PM	#1
Jeryray Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2016 Location: NY Area Posts: 310	Magnum primers I ordered 5,000 primers from Powder valley. Thought I ordered Federal match, guess I was not paying attention. I received Magnum match. Don't know what to do now. These are for use in (9mm and .38) Help? __________________ NRA Life Member NRA CSRO NRA Pistol Instructor NYS CCL Instructor

June 4, 2018, 09:21 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	The 38 won't mind because of the long case. Just knock your loads down 10% and work back to matching velocity. The 9 mm may experience some velocity consistency issues from the primer unseating the bullet before the powder is burning well, but check with your chronograph to see if the velocity SD is actually worse or not. Sometimes it's actually better. The 10% reduction applies to the 9 mm, too, though I've never actually seen more than 5% charge difference and sometimes it's backward due to the bullet unseating and you actually need more powder to achieve the same velocity with the magnum prime. Get out your chronograph and see. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

June 4, 2018, 09:32 PM	#3
Jeryray Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2016 Location: NY Area Posts: 310	Thanks for the reply, I would much rather exchange them, but don't know if is possible, with all the hazmat rules. I am in New York City... __________________ NRA Life Member NRA CSRO NRA Pistol Instructor NYS CCL Instructor

June 5, 2018, 06:49 AM	#6
USSR Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2017 Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY Posts: 1,442	Jeryray, Exchanging them will be costly, if it's even possible. What you do is: go and buy yourself some HS-6 powder which is suitable for both .38 and 9mm and pretty much requires a magnum primer to burn well. Don __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor

June 7, 2018, 07:55 PM	#8
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	They should be fine, and might possibly work better. (Federal small rifle primers work too. I used to use them in everything) But like the others said, you'll need to work up the loads again because the pressures will be different; probably higher. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

June 4, 2018, 09:35 PM	#4
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,325	If it is a mistake, call Powder Valley and see what they say.... Or maybe you are better off buying a s&w 357 and chalking it up as a learning experience!

June 5, 2018, 04:27 AM	#5
TJB101 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2017 Posts: 498	My LGS did a swap for some new primers I couldn’t use. Worth a call to see if they’d help you out

June 7, 2018, 07:40 PM	#7
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Yup, HS-6 loves a mag primer, and is an excellent powder for both calibers. Go back to starting data, and work up, HS-6 really smooths out twords the upper end and will be very consistent with the mag primers.

June 8, 2018, 01:58 AM	#9
Remow2112 Member Join Date: May 3, 2005 Posts: 51	Mag primers. I personally found a 25 fps difference between reg primers and mag. If you have a chronograph take the max and min load and find the load in the middle. Load up 20 reg primer and 20 mag. Run them over the chronograph and check the speeds. If there is no significant change in velocity or pressure signs. Load them up. Dan... Use LRMP in 45/70 for all my loads. (LRMP was much easier to find during the shortage.)

June 8, 2018, 12:30 PM	#10
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...pretty much requires a magnum primer..." Not according to Hodgdon. CCI 500's used to test their 9mm and .38 Special HS-6 loads. Not that it really matters. The worst that can happen is you might see slightly higher pressures. None of which will cause any grief. I'd still be inclined to call Powder Valley. As they mucked up your order. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

June 8, 2018, 01:10 PM	#12
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Sounds like you have 5,000 perfect excuses to buy a .357 Mag... __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

June 8, 2018, 01:32 PM	#13
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Just because Hodgdon uses standard primers in their testing doesn't mean it's the best primer for the job. They use magnum primers for testing all 357 powders, inlcuding Clays, HP-38 and others that have no need for a magnum primer. HS-6 works best with a magnum primer. Proven by those of us who actually use it.

June 8, 2018, 04:55 PM	#14
Risasi Member Join Date: June 29, 2005 Posts: 41	I concur w/ Hammerhead and USSR. HS-6 is my favorite "do it all" powder in 9mm, 38 +p and up to medium power 357 Magnum loads. It just runs better with a magnum primer, prefers heavier bullets too, and if in a revolver a firm roll crimp also makes for a more consistent SD and ES.