Magnum primers in a 30-06

[Scarface26]

Gents,

Read a while back about someone running magnum primers and RL 26 in a 30-06? Anyone done this? Other powders? My chamber is basically a SAAMI chamber and I'd like to shoot 175 smk's or the 195 eld x's. Other powders that might work well with this is also appreciated.

God bless America

 

[RegionRat]

Scarface26, many years ago during my first primer shortage (90’s), I tried some different primers in both bolt guns and handguns, including the substitution of magnum primers where regular ones were used.

I learned that sometimes the velocity average stats could be similar but that the ES/SD required a re-tuning for the magnum primer. In some examples they worked out just as good as regular, in others just okay but nothing special.

I was running 4064 and H4350 in stick powder and H380 in spherical. I also remember testing with 165 SGK and 168 SMK. My “regular” primer was the Fed 210M, but I can’t remember which magnums I ran.

Because I hunt in cold climates, I was interested in the theory that magnum primers might make an improvement in the cold, but I have never followed up. There was also some theory that ball powders developed better with magnums than with regular, but again I have never followed up. Maybe this year I will drag the radar out during elk season and test those theories.

In your .30-06, I can say it is okay to try magnum primers, but you should always approach any component substitution with a load work up. Here was another magazine article I remembered seeing from a few years ago where the author got similar results with a primer swap to magnums.

https://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/magnum-primers-for-non-magnum-loads/83762

As always, play it safe, back off a little and work your way back up.

 

[Bc'z]

I'm running 56gr h4350, cci250's, 185 jugs, .160 freebore.
Shooting .8"-1" groups at 300 yards.
I built the load using WLRP and decided to give them a test along with cci200.
Max load was 57gr and I never saw preasure all the way up to 56.5 gr so I felt safe in just testing primers with current charge to see if there was an improvement.
There was!

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

I love R26. Good with magnum primers too. Why the heavie's?? Long range??? 155 grain Lapua bullet's are great to 600yd easy!!

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

I ran allot of N550 and N560 behind 215gr Hybrids with Fed 215s without problems, changed over to 210s now because I have so many of them and had to add a little bit more VV 550 to the case to get back to where it use to shoot

 

[2506]

Just remember when you change primers to back off and rework you load and you will be fine. You may find that you get better accuracy with the mag primer. I run CCI 250s with IMR 4350 in my 25-06 for it's best accuracy. Primers do make a difference.

 

[Bronster]

hey, since you guys are talking about testing primers, anyone ever used a small rifle or large rifle primer in pistol cartridges? I am experiencing a huge shortage in pistol primers, here in FL, and NO one has them, on line or here in stores... I am desperate! anyone have any info on this? will they even fit? I wonder what the actual size is anyway compared to rifle primers? any one have anything to say, or add to this?

 

[people]

hey, since you guys are talking about testing primers, anyone ever used a small rifle or large rifle primer in pistol cartridges? I am experiencing a huge shortage in pistol primers, here in FL, and NO one has them, on line or here in stores... I am desperate! anyone have any info on this? will they even fit? I wonder what the actual size is anyway compared to rifle primers? any one have anything to say, or add to this?

If memory serves they are not quite the same. I think SRP need a deeper pocket.

 

[Nature Boy]

I used CCI magnum primers with 60.1g of RL22, Sierra ProHunters, 2,745fps. I did it just to see if there was a difference between them and regular primers. There wasn't.

I ran this load in my sporterized 03A3. It worked well....

 

[sbhooper]

I have always gone by the rule of thumb that says if you use less than 60 grains of powder, you do not need them (ball powder may be an exception). I have tried magnum primers in standard loading and noticed very little difference. I would not use them unless I could only get magnums.