I hope this isn't a stupid question, but,I was wondering if I could or should use Magnum primers (Fed. 215) in my 30-06. I have read that magnums should be used if the temp is below 32 deg., ball powders, and over 60 gr of powder. I am using Ramshot Hunter a ball powder, it is well below 32 deg. during hunting season and I am using 58 to 61 grs of powder. Ramshots data lists Fed. 210 primers for all of the 30-06 loads.

I would use the same primers as given in the Data. If you were hunting in extreme cold i.e. below 0 F, you might work up special low temp loads using mag primers with some powders, but I beleive that the Ramshot powders have a good reputation for not being temperature sensitive........DJ

I've never used ramshot, but I have used Fed 210 in cases that are loaded with upwards of 70 grs of powder, and they ignite fine down to 0, I haven't had a chance to test them colder.

I did have some problems with CCI 200's causing hangfires in a mild cast bullet load, and that load ignited just fine with Fed 210's.

I do use mag primers in my 458 Lott and 500 Jeffrey.

The only way you will know is run some loads through your rifle. I have tested identical loads over my chrono. & changed primers only. I found, at least w/ the .260ai, that the Fed. 210M was hotter than the Rem. 9 1/2mag. THis is based on vel. readings.
When I find a load that shoots well, I try the same load w/ several diff. primers to see if there is any measurable diff. in accuracy.

You can use mag primers in a standard cartridge but,its recommended to cut down your pjjowder charge by 5%.vangunsmith

I've read that Federal developed super hot primers for their 470 nitro loads and I've never used their 215 primer.....but as far as I'm concerned as to standard large rifle primers and magnum primers, I've never been able to tell the difference.

I've worked up loads in ball powders in cases like .257 Rob and .30-06 with both and arrive at the same loads with either primers.

Mind you that I'm not saying there's no difference.....what I'm saying is that my limited experience with using both is that the difference seems so little that I don't see it.

I've talked to Ramshot about this, and they specifically recommended using the same primer you would use with a stick powder. All ball powders are not created equal.

In an '06, I would use a medium strength primer, maybe a 210. HTH, Dutch.

My limited experiments have so far detected no difference in peak pressure by switching from CCI standard to magnum primers.

A fellow I know at Federal tells me that they often hear from benchresters that Federal primers improve accuracy. I have no data to support that. It's just something that one guy at Federal believes.

It is true that Federal and CCI primer chemistry is quite different.