Lyman book suggests Magnum small pistol magnum.
Lee book just says small pistol.
Lyman book suggests Magnum small pistol magnum.
Lee book just says small pistol.
Full loads of H110 or 2400... Magnum small pistol
Plinking loads of medium-velocity stuff... small pistol
If unsure, Winchester primers: they're magnum or standard pistol rated
If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord:
40. I will be neither chivalrous nor sporting. If I have an unstoppable superweapon, I will use it as early and as often as possible instead of keeping it in reserve.
I use small pistol, I think Winchester small pistol primers are for standard or magnum. I don't load full house magnums, they are more like .38+p.
Originally Posted by breamfisher
No. Not in my experience.
A max load of H110 and regular primes in my Blackhawk...good.
Max load of H110 and magnum primers in my Blackhawk..... beating the ejector rod to remove the stuck cases.
Same powder charge, on ly difference was primers.
Stick with standard, Rojo.
i use what my reloading manual says to use.
The ears never lie.
- Don Burt
That's what I was trying to do, but it's confusing when one manual says one thing, and another says something different.
And everyone said "Get more than one manual". I can't even stay out of trouble by following directions.
I loaded some .38 Special +P ammo with standard primers and had no problems. Ran out of regular primers and substituted magnum primers, and had to tap the ejector rod of a Ruger Security Six on the shooting bench to eject the brass. I didn't make that mistake again!
Jerry
Giving advice: $25.00 an hour
Listening to advice: $25.00 an hour
Arguments: $100.00 an hour!
Buffco, I never use a magnum primer where it is not specifically called for. That can get you in trouble fast. Magnum primers are for magnums with big cases full of slower burning powder that might be harder to light off. You put em in smaller cases or cases with faster powder and the pressure's going up.
I'm Just a Radical Right Wing Nutt Job, Trying to Help Save My Country!
Small pistol on mine.
timc - formerly known as timc on the last G&A forum and timc on the G&A forum before that and the G&A forum before that.....
AKA: Former Founding Member
Use what the specific load calls for.
You guys must be reading different manuals than I am.. My manuals list ONE type of primer. Not different primers for each load.
I don't think they're reading what you're saying.
If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord:
40. I will be neither chivalrous nor sporting. If I have an unstoppable superweapon, I will use it as early and as often as possible instead of keeping it in reserve.
Use standard and if you have unburnt powder, go magnum. Ditto on the Win for both STD and REG loads. Primers ain't equal , try different makes and see what gives YOU and yer loads the best results.
Also, reduce max loads by 10% or more when first using mag primers. Except when using H-110 cause most manuals says not to reduce H-110 by more than what 3%, but the exact Win powder is 296 (?) doesn't give the same warning...............go figure, confused yet.
Mag primers "Spike" quicker and reg primers are more gradual in their curve.
Last edited by Big Chief; 01-29-2013 at 12:28 PM.
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
9 Sillymeters are good fer shootin Skeeters
My impression as well.
Big Chief gives good advice. Heed it.
If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord:
40. I will be neither chivalrous nor sporting. If I have an unstoppable superweapon, I will use it as early and as often as possible instead of keeping it in reserve.
Thanks, Chief.
Buff, I think the most important thing is to work up the loads with the primer you decide on. I have loads that I use mag primers, I have some that I don't.
As you can see, either one will work, but the max is different. If you're going for roootin, tootin wrist breakin, start with mag and work up.
If plinkin is on your mind, start with standard and work up.
Also, different manuals will have differing load data, some more and some less. It may be when the manual was published and what gun was actually used, the bullet type (theirs?) powder type (theirs) or even if a test bbl was used.
Some cylinder charge holes are tighter than others , as well. Rugers may be a bit tighter. I know Ruger and Colt cylinders are a tad shorter than S&W in .357 magnum. I know this from shooting a King Cobra and GP-100 when my cast reloads protruded slightly from the face of the cylinder, but chambered and fired just fine in my 686. They were Truncated (?) 158 grain SWC, with a longish nose profile.
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
9 Sillymeters are good fer shootin Skeeters
The only thing I'd clarify with this concerns Winchester magnum pistol primers. Not the ones marked for standard and magnum loads, but the ones marked as magnum pistol primers, which they do offer. If it was me, I would not use those primers unless the load data specifies them exatly. It is my understanding that they are hotter than most other pistol primers. I believe it is the Accurate Arms load manual that states these primers should not be used with thier powders and that they found these primers to be hotter than many rifle primers.
Aside from that, I think Chief speaks wisely in his responses.
I'd say you're safe just following what the load manual says. Some say standard primers and other manuals say magnum. It is OK for different manuals to specifiy different primers. That is what they tested thier loads with and deemed to be adequate and safe.
Last edited by Jay; 01-29-2013 at 10:10 PM.
My Hornady sez Magnum small pistol and that is what I use period....
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