A freind gave me whats left of a box(600+) of Winchester WLRM primers. Can I use them in my .280Rem if I work them up? Should I use a smaller than minimum load to start?
Posts: 281 | Location: MN | Registered: 27 May 2001
"Modern guns in good working order" -- the standard reloading and ammo warning from mfgs -- there is no problem using magnum primers rather than a standard primer. The flash is hotter and will result in slight increases in pressure and velocity. But it shouldn't result in dangerous pressures unless you're skating on the edge to begin with.
Standard published load data (Mfg published, not some wildcat online website) provides ample margin for error in loading -- about a factor of 5x. If, however, you're running your case neck into the lands, seating too deeply, loading oversized dia. bullets, or otherwise making spec. errors, you can run into problems.
Generally speaking, magnum primers are fine with standard loads. I lean toward using bulky powders and always use a magnum primer.
I agree with Saeed and the others that you can definitely use those magnum primers with your .280.
However, although I do not have nearly the amount of experience as many other people here -- especially Saeed -- my own experience leads me to the view that magnum primers produce poorer accuracy than regular primers, unless you absolutely need the magnum primer for reliable ignition. For example, I use regular Winchester WLR (non magnum) primers in .375 H&H loads.
[This message has been edited by LE270 (edited 01-14-2002).]
Posts: 5883 | Location: People's Republic of Maryland | Registered: 11 March 2001
The Magnum issue was explained like this to me: Some gun powder has a coating on the outside that helps regulate the burning rate of the powder, and requires a hotter "spark" to ignite the powder. That is what "Magnum" primers were developed for. If you will look through your reloading manuals, you will sometimes see where a Magnum primer is called for. If the manual calls for a magnum primer, and you are out of them, and load with a standard primer, ignition sometimes is very unreliable. However, if you use a magnum primer with a powder such as IMR 4895, the magnum primer will burn a hole in the middle if the powder before it ignites the rest and you will have inefficient burning of an otherwise good cartridge. Magnum primers should only be used on certain types of powder, other types are best when ignited with a standard primer.
quote:Originally posted by GSF1200: Speer always says use the magnum primer with ball powder.
It's true that Speer says this. But I tried both CCI regular and CCI magnum primers with Winchester 748 powder -- a ball powder -- in a .223, and the loads with regular primers were significantly more accurate. Moreover, I had no ignition problems with those regular primers and that ball powder.
When I first started loading for the .375 H&H I just assumed that, because it's a large magnum case, it should have a magnum primer. But then someone from Hodgdon recommended that I use regular instead of magnum primers in the .375 with stick-type powders (the IMR powders, Varget, H4350, etc.). When I switched from Federal 215 (magnum) to WLR (Winchester non-magnum) primers for use in the .375 H&H, the accuracy of my loads improved.
Posts: 5883 | Location: People's Republic of Maryland | Registered: 11 March 2001
I find that the main difference in "magnum" and standard primers is their price. There is probably as much difference in "brand A" standards and "brand B" standards as there is in the magnum and standard primers in "brand A". Over all, I have never found magnum primers to be necessary to good ignition, and standard primers more often give better groups. Try your "magnums" in your .280, and if they give satisfactory groups, then by all means use them. I wouldn't anticipate any big change in powder charge will be necessary, but starting little lower is always judicious when changing any component.
Posts: 13263 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
