This may be a very silly question but I'm trying to get an understanding of using magnum primers. I've read a couple things lately where people shooting a 223 at mid and long ranges will use a magnum primer because of the thicker cup. I've only used Tula or Wolf SRP with good luck so far and have seen people say these Russian magnum primers aren't much hotter, but mainly just thicker. I've used cci 450's when loading some ball powder with a friend of mine for his ar but that's about it. I'm going to be shooting some midrange this summer and doubt I'll be pushing pressures yet like most of the people I'm reading about but will need to buy primers soon and am trying to get a better understanding of whether this is a good or bad idea. I'm mainly using RL15 powder right now if that matters. Thanks in advance.
223 Magnum Primers?
- Thread starter Hosted
- Start date
DR1586
Gold $$ Contributor
Hosted,
A lot of service rifle shooters run the magnum primers for the harder cup. I've had a slam fire with both Winchester and Remington primers. But the Wolf SRM and CCI 41s have been fine. The thicker cup will help prevent popping a primer with hot loads. If your shooting 600yds you don't need a fireball of a load. A good charge of varget or R15 behind an 80 grainier will fit the bill.
A lot of service rifle shooters run the magnum primers for the harder cup. I've had a slam fire with both Winchester and Remington primers. But the Wolf SRM and CCI 41s have been fine. The thicker cup will help prevent popping a primer with hot loads. If your shooting 600yds you don't need a fireball of a load. A good charge of varget or R15 behind an 80 grainier will fit the bill.
Turbulent Turtle
F-TR competitor
A harder cup will not prevent a primer from popping. What it will do is prevent it from getting pierced. A good example is the use of Remington 6 1/2 vs. 7 1/2 in .223. I have pierced 6 1/2 primers in the past and switched to 7 1/2 and never pierced another one.
bigedp51
Food for thought, Remington ran Lake City Army Ammunition Plant from 1941 till 1985 and instrumental in the 5.56 primer development. Remington used its 7 1/2 primer in all the .223/5.56 ammunition loaded at Lake City to light off the Winchester ball powder loaded in these 5.56 NATO cartridges.
Now look at the flash photos of the small rifle primers below and see why they were called "mini flame throwers". Also note many reloading manuals recommend magnum primers with ball powders. The deterrent coatings used on many ball powders to control the burn rate of its double base powder composition is harder to ignite than single base powders. The deterrent coatings help lower the peak flame temp of double base ball powders and comparable to single base powders.
Primers - Small Rifle Primer Study
A Match Primer Study in the 6BR Cartridge
By Germán A. Salazar
http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2009/06/primers-small-rifle-primer-study.html
It is recommended when loading for the AR15 rifle to only use primers that are .025 in cup thickness to help prevent slam fires. Please note that the Remington 7 1/2 primers developed for the AR15 rifle are .025 in cup thickness.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRIMER - A PRIMER ON PRIMERS
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=56422.0
Hosted, you will find that the "mid-range" loads that use the heavier bullets you are talking about are loaded with the single base powders like Varget which negates the use of magnum type primers.
Now look at the flash photos of the small rifle primers below and see why they were called "mini flame throwers". Also note many reloading manuals recommend magnum primers with ball powders. The deterrent coatings used on many ball powders to control the burn rate of its double base powder composition is harder to ignite than single base powders. The deterrent coatings help lower the peak flame temp of double base ball powders and comparable to single base powders.
Primers - Small Rifle Primer Study
A Match Primer Study in the 6BR Cartridge
By Germán A. Salazar
http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2009/06/primers-small-rifle-primer-study.html
It is recommended when loading for the AR15 rifle to only use primers that are .025 in cup thickness to help prevent slam fires. Please note that the Remington 7 1/2 primers developed for the AR15 rifle are .025 in cup thickness.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRIMER - A PRIMER ON PRIMERS
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=56422.0
Hosted, you will find that the "mid-range" loads that use the heavier bullets you are talking about are loaded with the single base powders like Varget which negates the use of magnum type primers.
bigedp51
gotcha said:
The military uses magnum type primers for two reasons with their ammunition loaded with double base ball powders. (much of it is reclaimed and re-manufactured)
1. Double base ball powders are harder to ignite.
2. Extreme cold weather ignition.
3. All the information in the world (acorns) is written in books, and all you have to do is read.
What powder does the military use?
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
for a bolt gun on targets - both the Russian (assuming either Tula or Wolff - both of which come out of the Murom plant) and the 41's will work fine. The difference between the noted Russian primers (magnum VS standard) is the cup thickness. I've actually recorded lower velocities with the magnum version on the same load - though they are very close. The Russian magnum primers will handle pressure as well as the 41's - if not better in my experience. The hard cups on them are often blamed being inferior primers due to "duds", whereas the problem is usually (almost always) due to headspace issues or weak firing pin springs. It all depends on whether you are running into pressure issues affecting your primers. If not loading hot enough to need the thicker cups - no need to use them. The Russian primers are hot enough in both versions (magnum vs std) to run ball powder. Your SD's will give you an idea if you are not getting proper burn - if your accuracy does not.
inquiring minds want to know... A NINE YEAR OLD THREAD now needs a reply about bolt guns
Reminds me of our current president shaking hands with invisible people.
DogBuster
Silver $$ Contributor
Rem 7.5's have always been my go to primer for SR primers
In fact....this SP primer shortage currently
Have started running Rem 7.5's in my striker fired 9mm ammo
Yes they are identical in size....just harder cup
No issues running them in the Ruger PC9 carbine either
In fact....this SP primer shortage currently
Have started running Rem 7.5's in my striker fired 9mm ammo
Yes they are identical in size....just harder cup
No issues running them in the Ruger PC9 carbine either
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