Due to the lack of availability of primers - is there anything wrong/unsafe with using a magnum primer in a regular .308 load. Does the primer significantly change the dynamics of the charge or pressure?
Magnum primers OK in .308?
- Thread starter ReaperDriver
- Start date
Re: Magnum primers OK in .308?
Back off on the powder charge and re-chrono from 2 to 3gr down.
Magnum primers particularly in military brass could present you with an unwanted surprise.
zfk55
Back off on the powder charge and re-chrono from 2 to 3gr down.
Magnum primers particularly in military brass could present you with an unwanted surprise.
zfk55
Re: Magnum primers OK in .308?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: zfk55</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Back off on the powder charge and re-chrono from 2 to 3gr down.
Magnum primers particularly in military brass could present you with an unwanted surprise.
zfk55 </div></div>
Thats what I thought. Thanks. I'll just wait for regular LR primers to show up.
On a related note.... what makes match or BR primers "better" than regular primers? Is there a measurable difference in accuracy between the two or will it not show up until your skill level is at the national class level?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: zfk55</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Back off on the powder charge and re-chrono from 2 to 3gr down.
Magnum primers particularly in military brass could present you with an unwanted surprise.
zfk55 </div></div>
Thats what I thought. Thanks. I'll just wait for regular LR primers to show up.
On a related note.... what makes match or BR primers "better" than regular primers? Is there a measurable difference in accuracy between the two or will it not show up until your skill level is at the national class level?
Re: Magnum primers OK in .308?
Lots of guys use them, just be safe, it'll be fine.
If using a ball powder I almost always start load dev. with magnum primers.
Lots of guys use them, just be safe, it'll be fine.
If using a ball powder I almost always start load dev. with magnum primers.
Re: Magnum primers OK in .308?
I use magnum primers almost exclusively in my .308 reloads. I get excellent results. I started out on the low end of the powder weight scale and worked up from there. I am using Lapua brass, 43.5 Grains of Varget, CCI Magnum Rifle Primers and 175 GR Sierra HPBT projectiles. I easily get .25 to .50 MOA with no signs of overpressure.
I use magnum primers almost exclusively in my .308 reloads. I get excellent results. I started out on the low end of the powder weight scale and worked up from there. I am using Lapua brass, 43.5 Grains of Varget, CCI Magnum Rifle Primers and 175 GR Sierra HPBT projectiles. I easily get .25 to .50 MOA with no signs of overpressure.
Re: Magnum primers OK in .308?
No problems here either, just start at minimum load and work up.
Match primers are held to a higher level of manufacturing for consistency and quality. I've read of specialized workers who are singularly tasked with their manufacture because of their extreme expertise and skill. The difference in price may not be worth it given the realized increase in accuracy an individual may find.
I haven't found loads made with match primers to be less accurate than those with non-match primers.
No problems here either, just start at minimum load and work up.
Match primers are held to a higher level of manufacturing for consistency and quality. I've read of specialized workers who are singularly tasked with their manufacture because of their extreme expertise and skill. The difference in price may not be worth it given the realized increase in accuracy an individual may find.
I haven't found loads made with match primers to be less accurate than those with non-match primers.
Re: Magnum primers OK in .308?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: queequeg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I haven't found loads made with match primers to be less accurate than those with non-match primers. </div></div>
Do you find the reverse to be true?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: queequeg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I haven't found loads made with match primers to be less accurate than those with non-match primers. </div></div>
Do you find the reverse to be true?
Re: Magnum primers OK in .308?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ReaperDriver</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: queequeg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I haven't found loads made with match primers to be less accurate than those with non-match primers. </div></div>
Do you find the reverse to be true? </div></div>
Yes, usually!
I have found the Winchester WLR primers to be very good and can't always attribute a decrease in accuracy to them as operator error is no small ingredient when I'm on the trigger!
Plus, I also have about 7500 of them (WLRs) so I have a bias in wanting them to perform as well!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ReaperDriver</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: queequeg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I haven't found loads made with match primers to be less accurate than those with non-match primers. </div></div>
Do you find the reverse to be true? </div></div>
Yes, usually!
I have found the Winchester WLR primers to be very good and can't always attribute a decrease in accuracy to them as operator error is no small ingredient when I'm on the trigger!
Plus, I also have about 7500 of them (WLRs) so I have a bias in wanting them to perform as well!
Re: Magnum primers OK in .308?
I wonder if anyone has ever done a side by side comparo of the exact same load but one with a match primer and one with a regular primer - say Fed 210 vs 210M - and seen if there was a measurable accuracy difference?
I wonder if anyone has ever done a side by side comparo of the exact same load but one with a match primer and one with a regular primer - say Fed 210 vs 210M - and seen if there was a measurable accuracy difference?
Re: Magnum primers OK in .308?
I have seen articles and threads on the subject before. The root being the question you asked opening the thread.
I was given 3 thousand CCI 250s a few years ago, that are at least 37 years old. I loaded up 100 of them under some Sierra 110 grain varmint bullets, to see how they ran. The load was surprisingly accurate, giving no sign of inconsistent burn or excessive pressure. One apocryphal sample to be sure, but with a minimum charge, I had little worry of a Kaboom!
I have seen articles and threads on the subject before. The root being the question you asked opening the thread.
I was given 3 thousand CCI 250s a few years ago, that are at least 37 years old. I loaded up 100 of them under some Sierra 110 grain varmint bullets, to see how they ran. The load was surprisingly accurate, giving no sign of inconsistent burn or excessive pressure. One apocryphal sample to be sure, but with a minimum charge, I had little worry of a Kaboom!
