.44 rem mag - when to use mag primers

Status
Not open for further replies.

thomis

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Messages
686
Location
NC for a spell
...Pretty sure I need to use them with H110. Is it all loads with H110 or just max loads with H110?

What other powders for the .44 require a magnum primer?

Also, who here has used the Hornady crimp lock silhouette bullets? Saw them today marked 50% off. Picked up a couple boxes. I figured they'd at least be good for plinking.
 
Mag primers are needed for the slow ball powders.
That can include H110, W-296, N-110, and several others.

Mag primers are not needed, or desirable with flake powders like Alliant 2400.

Some manuals may in fact show using them with all powders.
But that is because they have to be used with ball powder, and the manual publisher was too lazy or lawyer shy to say they didn't have to be used with half the powders listed.

One of Speer's retired ballistics Guru's, Allen Jones, who authored several Speer manuals came out in print in Handloader Magazine in a artical by Bryan Pierce and said as much.

rc
 
Thanks, RC. I knew there was something about the use of the mag primers that wasn't 100% reliable as far as the published data reaches. I have 3 manuals (2 Lyman and one Speer) and I've never been confident in their direction regarding the use of mag primers since I cam across that info years ago. Just couldn't find it. I'm going to google that article.
Thanks again.
 
"I knew there was something about the use of the mag primers that wasn't 100% reliable as far as the published data reaches."

As a rule of thumb you can figger mag caps for any ball powder, it's usually better to use standard caps with other powders for handgun loads.

There's a BIG difference between saying mag caps are 'needed' vs not to be used and that applies to rifles as well. If a load is developed with mag caps it will be safe enough but the velocities may swing more, contrary to noob ideas a hot primer is NOT an aid to accuracy or velocity; if the extra flame isn't needed it's a deterent.

If the loads are properly developed with any primer it won't matter what your loading books say to use.
 
I used standard CCI 500 primers in the 357 and WLP in the 44 Mag with W296/H110. No problem at all. Worked great.

WLP used to be one of the hotter pistol primers.
 
What calamity should I expect if I use magnum primers with 2400?
Wider extreme spreads.
Pressure spikes with max pressure loads.

Brian Pearce has written about it several times in Handloader magazine over the years.

rc
 
I have never used a magnum primer in my 44 Magnum loads. Never had any problems, and I shoot a lot with H110. By the way, when a manual lists a specific primer it doesn't necessarily mean you have to use that primer. It just means that's what they used when they worked up the load.
 
thomis,

in pistols, magnum primers should be used with ball powders, ie. h110, w296, hs-6. using them results in lower extreme spreads in velocity and no ignition problems in extremely cold weather (below freezing). caliber does not matter.

rifles are a different story, sort of.

can't help with the bullets. never heard of them.

murf
 
Wider extreme spreads.
Pressure spikes with max pressure loads.

Brian Pearce has written about it several times in Handloader magazine over the years.

rc

Yes! This exactly.

Back in the primer-deficit of 2008-2009 I was forced to use magnum primers or nothing at all in my 44 loads. Currently I'm burning through all my magnum primer stockpile by taking newbies out to the range. It's a lemons and lemonade thing for me.

Magnum primers for me create a wider spread and less accuracy, but at 7-15 yards the difference is negligible. My formula for mag primers FOR MY APPLICATIONS is to reduce the powder charge by ~5%. As always, you should work up your own loads safely without assuming and heed every bit of advice you find online with a grain of salt.

The hotter the load, the more pronounced the spread becomes. I usually cycle through my magnum primers in my 240gr unique loads. Usually 10.0gr is my charge, but I drop it to 9.5gr of unique with a mag primer and the difference is difficult to distinguish. YMMV.

-MW
 
I have never used a magnum primer in my 44 Magnum loads. Never had any problems, and I shoot a lot with H110. By the way, when a manual lists a specific primer it doesn't necessarily mean you have to use that primer. It just means that's what they used when they worked up the load.
Since you have never used a magnum primer with H110 how do you know you what you're missing? Using a magnum primer with H110/W296 is vastly superior than using a standard primer, really...

Have you ever shot that ammo in the very cold? If you have not don't try it or you will find out why magnum primers are best with hard to ignite ball powders.
 
Since you have never used a magnum primer with H110 how do you know you what you're missing?

I have in my 454 and found that the CCI magnum primers chrono about 50 fps slower. Switched after I pierced a standard Winchester primer. The 454 runs at way higher pressure than the 44 Mag though. And as far as cold weather goes only down to 30 degrees or so. It doesn't get that cold around here.
 
I have in my 454 and found that the CCI magnum primers chrono about 50 fps slower. Switched after I pierced a standard Winchester primer. The 454 runs at way higher pressure than the 44 Mag though. And as far as cold weather goes only down to 30 degrees or so. It doesn't get that cold around here.
All the manuals I've read use a Small Rifle primer in the 454 Casull, no? You got lucky not to get hurt using a SPP in a cartridge that develops as much as 50,000 CUP. Even a SPM primer is lacking under those conditions.
 
All the manuals I've read use a Small Rifle primer in the 454 Casull, no? You got lucky not to get hurt using a SPP in a cartridge that develops as much as 50,000 CUP. Even a SPM primer is lacking under those conditions.

It was a Winchester small rifle primer that let go. Switched to CCI small rifle magnum primers.
 
It's not just 2400 but 2400 is at the top of the list.
Yes but 2400 seems to be the only powder people 'want' to use magnum primers with when they shouldn't, because it's a "magnum" load. We never have that discussion about any other powder. ;)
 
H110 & 296, being the same powder, both require magnum primers to light that slow burning ball powder. I once tried using standard pirmers for that powder, and although nothing critical appeared to happen, velocities and pressures were all over the place, and I felt hot particles hitting my face and arms.

2400 is much more user friendly in this respect and will function well with either type primers. FYI, any time you change components use smart reloading procedures by working charges up from the minimum published data to avoid sudden pressure changes.

GS
 
I sold my Dan Wesson 44Mag, 6" Vented, and 8" Scopped. I HAVE KICKED MY BUTT MORE TIMES. Anyway, whatever your bullet.... Use 17.3gr Bluedot. Not 17.5 and not 17.1, 17.3... Extremely Accurate, Tack Driver. I was getting 1350 fps at the Muzzle, and 3" tube all the way to 125 Yards with the 8" Scoped barrel.

Good Luck,
Dan
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top