Hello fellow reloaders, As I am fairly new to reloading, I was wondering if any of you have used LRM primers in place of LR in non-mag cartridges and if so what was your results? Good or Bad?
In particular 270Win and 30-06
*Nut*

I use match primers all the time in .22/250, .243, .308 and .303 Brit. I can't say how much bigger bang they give or how much more consistent they are over "ordinary" grade, but for the minimal extra expense... much like you might put good quality engine oil in your car rather than bargain basement stuff from the cheapo supermarket.

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tikka 3 barrels

Hi,

It seems to me that a little confusion is occurring here.

The original post refers to using LRM in non-mag cartridges. So I think Nutoy is assuming that the designation LRM refers to Large Rifle Magnum. Pete has read this as Large Rifle Match, which is I think a correct interpretation, but may not be answering the question originally asked.

Nutoy, it's probably better to spell things out and just confirm what you're asking about. If they are magnum primers, you can substitute them if you back off on the powder load. From what I understand, this kind of substitution rarely improves things.

Patrick

Sorry for the lack of info. Yes, I am refering to LR(large rifle) and LRM(large rifle magnum)

Nutoy -

In 270/30-06 cases, magnum primers are usually used:
1. When certain ball type powders (H450 leaps to mind) are used; Speer/CCI recommends use of magnum primers when using ANY ball powder, but, others do not.
2. When hunting or shooting in extremely cold temperatures (20 degrees F +/- or less) with ANY powder; many disagree with this
3. In certain special applications when recommended by a component manufacturer like GS Custom bullets.

Your best bet is to follow the suggestions of whatever component manufacturer you're using.

R-WEST

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"Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son"
Dean Vernon Wormer - 'Animal House'

[This message has been edited by R-WEST (edited 02-13-2002).]

I always use magnum primers with ball powder in the 06 size case.

I can't say that "magnum" primers have given me any problems, but "standard" force primers usually give a bit better consistency and accuracy. I have never had a "standard" force primer fail to properly ignite even huge quantities of very slow ball powders in cartridges like 7mm STW. My experience in cold weather is limited to about 20 degrees F., but I have found no advantage to magnum primers down to that temperature.

My handloading experience is limited to a couple of dozen calibers and only 50 or so rifles, and I've only had a chronograph since 1971, so with more calibers and guns and a few more years of chronographing loads, you may find some differences that I haven't run across.

My cold weather experience goes a little past Stonecreek's. I have hunted in minus 40 deg weather. It doesn't matter if that is on the F or C scale because @ -40 the scales cross. A std lg rifle primer will ignite slow buring powder in cold weather but not as consistently as a mag primer will. In my experience a load that performs just great in temperatures around 20 to 40 deg F do not group as consistently when you get down to around o deg F or colder. Change to a mag primer and the groups tighten up again. A word of caution a Max load with a mag primer may be a grain or 2 less than the max load with a std primer.Work up carefully from a couple grains below. I can't say I've had any problems igniting ball powders as opposed to stick powder.The Hogdon Extreme powders may be less sensitive to cold and the reloader series of powders ignite very well in the cold as well. I use mag primers in all hunting loads in the 270,280 30-06 class cartridges and all magnums except a 7mmSTW I have. I find I get far better accuracy with std primers & RL 25 in that particular rifle.

In my 270, I've found that I get better accuracy from the CCI 250 than the CCI 200 when I use IMR 4831 and H4831 behind 130 and 140 Gr bullets. Had to drop the powder back a grain to compensate.

When using ball powders in the H380 burn rate or slower I ALWAYS use mag primers. They consistantly give more uniform ballistics.

I have had magnum primers "blow" groups when substituted for regular primers in 300WinMag loads. I find that make is more important than whether it is magnum or not. Both the FC and WW primers are hot, and the FC210Match and WW LR primers are very uniform.

I try switching primers as a last move, and I will use WW or FC regular primers first, then switch off to magnum. Ku-dude

I would like to thank all of you for your replys. It seems that primers somewhat fall into the "Mix and Match untill you get it right" catagory. What I am trying to find is that "majic" load for my 270 and 30-06. My 7mm Mag load is perfect as far as my limited shooting capabilities go. 1/2"-3/4" @ 200yds.
So far this is the only load I have used LRM primers in.
Once again, Thanks and good shooting *Nut*

In your 30-06, try a 180gr Ballistic Tip or Partition (BT is slightly more accurate, but Partition will take anything you'd shoot with a 180) primed with a FC210 Match and IMR43450. I'd start at about 54-55gr and work up. I believe you'll find this to be an excellent, well balanced load.

If that does not work, try RL22 with the same components.

In your 270, try a 150 partition with 57.5 grs of Winchester Magnum Rifle Powder and a FC210M primer. This is an excellent heavy round.

In both cases, pay attention to your over all length. Cut a slot in the neck of a dummy round; pinch the neck and insert a bullet with lot's sticking out. Carefully chamber the round and extract it. Measure it's over all length. Once you have a feel for it, measure it about five times and take an average. This will be your seated in the bore length. Shorten your round by about 2/1000, and load up several rounds at this length. Then shorten by one-thousanth. Let me know how it works out for you. Ku-dude

[This message has been edited by Ku-dude (edited 02-14-2002).]

I use Winchester standard primers in all of my cartridges to include .300 Win Mag and I have never had a primer fail to ingnite the powder. I regularly hunt in weather down to +5 degrees F and all of my loads have worked. I only use ball powders.

Nutoy, All the replies have years of experience behind them in this thread. I buy primers in bricks(1000) and find that if you get a brick you like of either standard or magnum, get some more of the same lot number.

I've noticed that the same primer might change a bit in different lot numbers.

Just when you think you've got a load down pat, you run out of components and new ones may be from a different lot number, and then you might have to tweek the load again.

I use mostly all ball powder and use mainly magnum primers. I keep some of each brand around just to see what changing the primer may do to a good load. Sometimes even a blind pig finds a cob of corn. -------Chainsaw

Have a look at the sections within the forum on reloading on the Home page.
Saeed and friends did quite a lot of testing using the different primers. it may answer a few of your questions and possibly raise a few more.

Ku dude,Thanks, I'll certainly try the loads you mentioned. I'll let you know the results.
Chainsaw, You are so right about the experience level in here. It overwhelms me the amount of knowledge that one can obtain from the fine people here.
Pete, I'm going to give those Match primers a try in my paper puncher and also load a few in my hunting loads to see how they do.
Thanks again all,, Off to the goody store I go. *Nut*