Palma brass for 308 hunting loads?

[john 800]

I have a factory savage with a varmint barrel that I have bedded in a hs stock that shoots pretty darn good for a factory rifle, I always wanted to try shooting ftr, but never have gotten around to it and probably will not in the next few years with all the sports and activities my girls are in (some coached by my wife and I), I am doing good just to get out after some deer with it once in a while.
I am using mostly Winchester brass, but I was thinking about switching to lapua brass and not sure weather its worth messing with palma brass with small primer pockets. I do enjoy shooting paper and steel at longer distances than I will need to shoot at a deer, so accuracy is a plus, but on the other hand I have a stock of large primers and only a few thousand small primers, my few thousand should get me to better availability, but who knows when that will be.

Is hunting in below zero weather a concern with small rifle primers? What are some thoughts from someone that knows more about this than me? I am looking to add more brass anyway.

 

[Twdmar]

For colder weather, I would use a large primer. Even with hot small rifle primers you may have problems.
I have had a few blanks even in summer. With a 308 loaded for Palma matches. The primer went pop but that was it.
Large primer brass is plenty accurate, especially for hunting. The palma brass was made because people shooting to 1000 yards needed a case with more brass around the primer to withstand the pressure of pushing the 308 to its limits.
A lot of bench rest techniques for loading have been picked up by people for things where they are not needed. Spend your time and money where it is best spent.

 

[john 800]

The more I think about it, I cant make a case for messing with small primers for what I am doing.
Next question: is Lapua brass worth it over the Winchester stuff I have been using? Most that have used it seem to speak well about its quality.

 

[jr600yd]

Since you’ll be using your ammo for hunting primarily IMO stick with the Winchester brass you have. Lapua SR brass is some of the best out there but for your needs it’s cost ineffective. You won’t be able to tell the difference between them at hunting ranges (-300 yds). Save your SR primers and stick with LR primers for hunting ammo in cold weather. Some recommend magnum primers when using ball powder and temps drop below freezing in magnum calibers. For hunting a deer size animal use what you got. They have a pretty good size heart-lung area for a killing shot.

 

[CharlieNC]

I use Peterson SRP brass with magnum primers. Accurate and no problems in cold so far.

 

[Rook 6]

I have personally had what I can only describe as a delayed ignition with SR primers in extreme cold. They went bang but you could perceive the microsecond delay. The lesson I took away was to use only LR primers for hunting. If I were to stick with SR, I’d use magnum primers. EDIT: Forgot to add these were CCI 400.

 

[wboggs]

You are loading for hunting, not target shooting. Using the LP brass and WW will be fine. Just be sure your loaded round is concentric.
Don't over think your needs.

 

[FNSafari]

The more I think about it, I cant make a case for messing with small primers for what I am doing.
Next question: is Lapua brass worth it over the Winchester stuff I have been using? Most that have used it seem to speak well about its quality.

One reason not to mess with .308 small rifle primer case is the cost and availability of small rifle primers vs. LR primers.

 

[darkangel_r2]

I have a factory savage with a varmint barrel that I have bedded in a hs stock that shoots pretty darn good for a factory rifle, I always wanted to try shooting ftr, but never have gotten around to it and probably will not in the next few years with all the sports and activities my girls are in (some coached by my wife and I), I am doing good just to get out after some deer with it once in a while.
I am using mostly Winchester brass, but I was thinking about switching to lapua brass and not sure weather its worth messing with palma brass with small primer pockets. I do enjoy shooting paper and steel at longer distances than I will need to shoot at a deer, so accuracy is a plus, but on the other hand I have a stock of large primers and only a few thousand small primers, my few thousand should get me to better availability, but who knows when that will be.

Is hunting in below zero weather a concern with small rifle primers? What are some thoughts from someone that knows more about this than me? I am looking to add more brass anyway.

If you are using ball powders I would stick to large rifle primers. Small mag primers should spark extruded well enough in the cold.

But there really isn't a reason to blow money if your current loads work. If you had no brass and wanted some I would suggest some lapua brass. When I had my 308 its LRP brass load outperformed its SRP load by a bit. Thats just my rifle so don't take that as what will happen with you too.