Primers

[huntingvet]

After you helped me with my 300 Win Mag I've come back for more wisdom.

I'm now reloading my 243 as a backup rifle (deer hunting) for both my dad and I (he can only shoot low recoil calibers due to neck and other spinal problems).

I've chosen the Barnes TTSX 80 grain (had success with that brand and model of bullet for my 300 Win Mag and wanted to meet CA's lead free requirements). The Barnes load data calls for Remington 9 1/2 primers. Locally I only have access to CCI 200 primers.

Do I need to be concerned or can I substitute the CCI 200 primer - I acknowledge I should start at the low end of the recommended powder charges and carefully work my way up.

Thanks again to the Calguns collective wisdom!

Ron

[Divernhunter]

Yes on the primers and do not start low. You will just be wasting bullets. Pick the top couple of powders with the max FPS and load up max test loads. The Barnes data is a bit low anyway. Plus you will usually find the Barnes get more accurate the faster you push them. Be sure to seat them deep. They NEED bullet jump and that also helps keep pressure spikes down.

I use mag primers in all my loads and they work well.

[17+1]

Yes on the primers and do not start low. You will just be wasting bullets.

[kcstott]

Never ever start out at max. back off at least 2-3% on a new rifle or round from max and start there. no need to go back to the start load but no reason to start at max either. the .243 is a hot little round and starting at or near max is at or near max for the pressure the gun was designed to handle.

Just because you don't see signs of pressure don't mean you are not exceeding what the gun can handle. You'll never see signs of over pressure on a lever gun until the gun fails at some point. Most lever guns are low pressure and should never be loaded at max because you will never see the signs of 55,000psi on a 30/30 case but the gun may stretch a frame or shear a bolt lug

Basic safety. If i had followed these guy's advice I'd have had a blow round in a 300 win mag. in this particular rifle it don't like much more than starting loads for a 220gr SMK I can already see ejector marks. So if I had started at the listed max of 81 grains of retumbo something bad to very bad may have happened. No thanks.

[17+1]

Never ever start out at max. back off at least 2-3% on a new rifle or round from max and start there. no need to go back to the start load but no reason to start at max either. the .243 is a hot little round and starting at or near max is at or near max for the pressure the gun was designed to handle.

Just because you don't see signs of pressure don't mean you are not exceeding what the gun can handle. You'll never see signs of over pressure on a lever gun until the gun fails at some point. Most lever guns are low pressure and should never be loaded at max because you will never see the signs of 55,000psi on a 30/30 case but the gun may stretch a frame or shear a bolt lug

Basic safety. If i had followed these guy's advice I'd have had a blow round in a 300 win mag. in this particular rifle it don't like much more than starting loads for a 220gr SMK I can already see ejector marks. So if I had started at the listed max of 81 grains of retumbo something bad to very bad may have happened. No thanks.

[Divernhunter]

He was asking about Barnes bullets. I have lots of experience with them. I have also received info about their data being conservative.
Back off if you like but no need to WITH Barnes bullets and Barnes data.
You had pressure problems with different bullets and was it a factory rifle. He was not asking about a lever action. I use different data for lever, trapdoor and single shot rifles. He was asking about a bolt rifle. You are comparing apples to oranges. I do not load 30-30, 45-70 or any of my mil surplus cartridges hot. I do load hunting ammo hot and Barnes bullets group smaller the faster you push them.
I have loaded Barnes(and Swift as well as Nosler and such) for several 300win mags and a couple of 300Weatherby mags without problems using max Barnes(or other data for the other bullets) data.

[kcstott]

He was asking about Barnes bullets. I have lots of experience with them. I have also received info about their data being conservative.
Back off if you like but no need to WITH Barnes bullets and Barnes data.
You had pressure problems with different bullets and was it a factory rifle. He was not asking about a lever action. I use different data for lever, trapdoor and single shot rifles. He was asking about a bolt rifle. You are comparing apples to oranges. I do not load 30-30, 45-70 or any of my mil surplus cartridges hot. I do load hunting ammo hot and Barnes bullets group smaller the faster you push them.
I have loaded Barnes(and Swift as well as Nosler and such) for several 300win mags and a couple of 300Weatherby mags without problems using max Barnes(or other data for the other bullets) data.

While your experience with these bullets is a good thing it is still your experience and it applies to your rifles and your lots of powder, primers, and bullets. It does not directly (and with total disregard) apply to the OP's rifle.

You say he was not asking about a lever gun. How do you know? He made no mention of the rifle he was using. except that is was a backup rifle for deer hunting. At no time did he mention bolt gun. I was using a lever gun as an extreme example I guess you failed to read the last part where if I had followed your advice I could have blown up a 300 win mag. you say different bullets and a factory rifle. Well you never stated that the advice you were giving only applies to Barnes bullets see it's just as much as what you say as what you don't say.

The bigger issue is you seem to think that he is the only one reading and taking information away with him to the loading bench. You need to understand that what you post here is read by hundreds if not thousands of people and your statement of "why waste the bullets, just start at max" while in your experience and with your rifles my be perfectly safe to do, but are you willing to bet your life or someone else's life on that fact??

This is why I'm labeled the arse hole on reloading forums. I do not trade loading data. you will not see me post a pet load. I will be the one to tell you to buy a manual and to read it. you should not be giving reloading advice to the public and you should not be taking reloading advice from the public. Another one of my pet peeves. but if you guys think it's cool to trade hard data go for it. I can't stand it and it gives people the idea that reloading is plug and play.

[Divernhunter]

^^^If you read my post you will see I did say Barnes bullets. I also have experience with quite a number of different rifles and the Barnes(also Swift) bullets. Both mine and others that own them.
If you read his post you will see he said bolt action and 243.

YOU are the one who brought up all the extra stuff that was not in either of our posts.
You just seem to want to fight/argue and what you labeled yourself seems to be true. This is my last post on this thread since you are just arguing and spinning it away from what it started to be.