.44 Mag - Do I use magnum primers?

11 November 2001, 17:08

Gentlemen,

I have been loading my .44 Mag with 240 gr. laser-cast bullets over either 23.0 gr. H110 or 10.0 gr. Unique. I have used standard large pistol primers for both loads. When shooting the H110 loads, there is a lot of unburned powder residue in the barrel after shooting. Would magnum primers do a better job of igniting the entire charge, or would they raise pressures to unacceptable levels?

Thanks for the help

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
The Safari Specialists
www.slatesafaris.com

11 November 2001, 17:26

fredj338

Joel, back of your charge to 22.5gr & go w/ the mag primer. You can work up to the 23gr if everything seems fine. This should help your unburned powder problem. Std. primers w/ the Unique load should be fine.

11 November 2001, 17:33

R Flowers

Joel: You did not mention what brand of standard primers you are using in your 44 Mag loads. Generally speaking, they would seem hot enough. They are all you need with the Unique loads for sure.

I have been using Winchester Large Pistol primers for my big bore pistol loading the last few years. They say right on the box that they are for standard or magnum loads.
I have no problem getting complete ingnition of H110, 2400, H 4227, or LIL GUN in my 41 and 44 magnums.

I have found that WW 296 and H 110 just tend to leave lots of powder residue in some loadings. I used to own a S & W Model 57 chambered in .41 Magnum that left all sorts of unburned powder with those two powders, not matter what I tried.

If you want to try a magnum primer with the H 110 loads you should back off a little if you are close to maximum and work up again.

I have seen more than one recommendation as of late that says you should not use magnum primers with 2400 powder, as it WILL cause higher pressures. (Maybe Elmer Keith knew what he was talking about.)

R Flowers

11 November 2001, 17:36

<Paladin>

Joel, I load for a lot of calibers, and finally decided if I had a magnum case, it was going to hold a Magnum load, always lit by Magnum primers. Always. That way, I know what I have and can expect, even if the cartridge becomes separated from the labeled box.

In a way, this is a cop-out, because a great many people love Unique in .44 Magnum such as you're loading or even lighter, and for economy do use standard primers. However, for me my policy is worth the few extra cents a box....

Beyond that, your other load uses a hard-to-ignite powder which really ought to have the advantage of Magnum primers. I'm sure you will see greater consistency from shot to shot as well.....

11 November 2001, 18:11

Magnum Mike

quote:
Originally posted by R Flowers:
I used to own a S & W Model 57 chambered in .41 Magnum that left all sorts of unburned powder with those two powders, not matter what I tried.
R Flowers

I do not know the podwer charge you were using but can tell you from first hand experience that using CCI-350 primers would have cured that problem. I have used both the WLP & CCI-350. I keep the WLP for light cast bullet loads and the CCI's for ALL magnum loads of H110 or W296. No problems with excessive unburnt powder.

mike

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11 November 2001, 19:32

<heavy varmint>

jrslate,
23 grains of 110 with cast bullets, doesn't that lead your barrel pretty bad?

12 November 2001, 04:51

ricciardelli

A good rule of thumb is to always use magnum primers when using ball powder...as for your Unique load, that is kind of a light load for a .44 Mag. Try using .44 Special cases, and with both loads, use a good roll-crimp.

12 November 2001, 05:11

jrslate

Gentlemen,

Thank you so much for all of the help. The lead bullets with the H110 load does lead the barrel some, and I am not sure if gas checks would help that out or not.

I will try the magnum primers, and I will definitly back off the load a half a grain or so with the H110. The Unique loads are just a lot of fun to shoot.

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
The Safari Specialists
www.slatesafaris.com

13 November 2001, 02:24

R Flowers

quote:
Originally posted by mssmagnum:
I do not know the podwer charge you were using but can tell you from first hand experience that using CCI-350 primers would have cured that problem. I have used both the WLP & CCI-350. I keep the WLP for light cast bullet loads and the CCI's for ALL magnum loads of H110 or W296. No problems with excessive unburnt powder.
mike

Mike: Not wanting to be argumentative here, BUT, I tried CCI 350 primers in that darned .41 magnum and Nothing, but Nothing would solve the unburned powder problem. I was trying to get a max load out of that gun and could not get good performance with 296 or H110. I wound up using Blue Dot and got clean burning, better groups, and even a little better speeds. 2400 also did well in that gun, but 296 and H110 were a bust. In the Ruger 41 mag I own currently, I have no such problems with unburned powder, go figure! My best load in this Ruger 41 mag is with 2400 powder. Thanks, R Flowers

13 November 2001, 06:21

Paul H

H110 will leave unburned powder with lighter bullets. If you really want to use H110 to its potential in a 44 mag, then use 300 gr or heavier bullets. For the 240 and lighter 2400 is a good powder, doesn't need mag primers, and achieves nearly the same velocity, with noteably lighter charges of powder.

To the original question, I've always used CCI 350's with H110, but with 2400, unique, univ. clays and red dot, CCI 300's.

13 November 2001, 12:05

Magnum Mike

quote:
Originally posted by R Flowers:
Mike: Not wanting to be argumentative here, BUT, I tried CCI 350 primers in that darned .41 magnum and Nothing, but Nothing would solve the unburned powder problem. I was trying to get a max load out of that gun and could not get good performance with 296 or H110. I wound up using Blue Dot and got clean burning, better groups, and even a little better speeds. 2400 also did well in that gun, but 296 and H110 were a bust. In the Ruger 41 mag I own currently, I have no such problems with unburned powder, go figure! My best load in this Ruger 41 mag is with 2400 powder. Thanks, R Flowers

WOW, that is really wierd! I had the unburned powder problem with Blue Dot! Even with both primers.....go figure.

mike

14 November 2001, 03:30

<bigcountry>

I had the exact opposite problem. With Unique, I have that problem, and with 23g of H110, I don't. The Unique seems quite dirty no matter how you slice it. I always use magnum primers no matter what. Why? I don't know any reason not to. Also keeps it consistent.