I have a question regarding primers. I see in different books and on other ssites where they say you need a magnum small rifle primer for this caliber, while others use small rifle primers like Fed. 205, 7.5 Remington primers that do not appear to be magnum. I will probably be using H 110 in most of my loads so what do you suggest. I also wonder what weight cast bullet will give the best overall use. I have access to 315, 325,335 and a few others but what do you suggest for an all around bullet. Thanks Dr. Bob

I use:

Rem 7.5 primers,

Cast Performance 335 grain WLNGC and
26.0 grains of H110 powder @ 1268 FPS

in my FA 83 4 3/4" Premier Grade.
Not a load I want to shoot a lot of, but I like it better than:

Cast Performance 265 WFNGC with
35.0 H110 at 1651 FPS

Reason?
SNAPPY recoil to the lighter bullet.

I also use a PAST Recoil Glove with the FA when shooting for recreation.

Which revolver do you have? Also, different primers may result in different points of impact. That's part of the fun of handloading; finding what your firearm likes.

I use both small rifle magnum and standard primers depending on the load.

I am using a Ruger Super Redhawk with a 9.5 barrel. I had loaded up some 300 grain XTP just to shoot to get famlir with the pistol. It is very accurate with that bullet but everything I read says that the cast bullet is the way to go. Thanks Dr. Bob

I have a Raging Bull and most of my shooting has been with cast bullets in the 320-350gn range. While testing different bullets, I found that my best accuracy was around 1350fps so that's where I stayed. I have many targets with 3 shots in a tight cloverleaf and the other two open up the group to around 1.5", from 50 yds.


I've been useing WC820 and started with regualr small rifle primers, but when winter hit I had a couple of squibs and had to go to a magnum primer.

when using H110 i tend to use magnum primers if it's hunting season bc of cold temps possible. when i use tite group or hs6 i use regular. that said, every loading book i've got varies but i know FA uses and recommended to me in the past a small rifle magnum primer. i know it's kinda bad answer with no clear cut decision either way but i'm not sure there is a good answer and i agree with the above recs to go with what your gun shoots best. i have 9 454's now and i just use what i use b/c one gun may slightly favor one over the other but another may be the exact opposite so i run my loads based on whats most accurate in all my guns across the board.

It depends on the powder. For H110, use a mag and keep the powder charge high, do not reduce.
I got away from all problems and was able to work all loads by cutting down .460 brass or opening primer pockets for a LP mag primer with H110 and 296.
Yeah, crazy as a fox but here is what a friends gun did with SR primers and jacketed compared with my loads and cast.