.357 magnum primers, regular vs magnum?

[savasyn]

I'll soon be loading .357 Magnum rounds for plinking. As I'll be using Berry's bullets(158gr flat point) I'll never run them really hot. I'll being using either Hodgdon Universal or HP-38(any recommendation there?) Can I use standard small pistol primers for these plinking-level rounds or should I always use small pistol magnums? I do have 1k of WSPM so I can go either way. The Lymann manual suggests using magnums and I certainly understand that for hot loads, but I figured I'd check in with the collective experience here before using up my magnum primers if I didn't have to.

Thanks!

[gunboat]

Before "mag" primers were available small pistol was the only primer used except for the really old cases which used large pistol primers. --- So yes, small pistol primers can be used ---
my ha-penny

[r08ert209cali]

Go with what the data suggests or you will be changing the pressures.

[10fcp]

I'd go with the manual sugestions. The only time I used mag primers in 357 was with H110. Most my manuels suggest mag primers with 2400 also but everyone I talked to said stick with a regular sp. The powders you listed would call for a sp. Any time you change a component you need to back off the charge a little and work your way back up.

[Bug Splat]

I'd go with the manual sugestions. The only time I used mag primers in 357 was with H110. Most my manuels suggest mag primers with 2400 also but everyone I talked to said stick with a regular sp. The powders you listed would call for a sp. Any time you change a component you need to back off the charge a little and work your way back up.

This^^^

I've used both but like 10fcp said always start at the base charge (or at least back a full gr) and work your way up.

[JF99]

I've used both as well for .357 mag. I like the mag primers better, but that's subjective. When I researched it, a number of sources (Interwebs, so take with a grain of salt) said using an SPP was equivalent to removing a grain or so of powder.

[savasyn]

Cool, thanks guys.
I'll go with the mag primers for the first few batches to get a feel for them.

[Budd]

I use a full load of 'lil gun - I tried regular primers - didn't set off the entire charge very well. I stick with magnums now.

[Agustav]

I've noticed more soot on my gun when I am not using Magnum primer with Clay, 158 gr LSWC and near max load...

[LongRangeShootin]

ive been reloading more years than i can count. we did some test over a cronograph one time on this very subject, loading several different bullet weights,powders,ect. we load identical rounds up, half using "magnum" pistol primers in 357, and half using regular pistol primers. in 99% of the stuff we fired ( over 1000 rounds total) the difference between the velocities was NEGLIGIBLE.i think youll find that in most pistol cartridges. the difference youll see generally is in rifle cartridges, at least thats been my experience.

bud, i find that suprising myself. i load 357 with lilgun almost exclusively, and ive never seen that using regular primers, everything always burns perfectly.

[ar15barrels]

The difference between magnum primers and standard primers in any given size is usually the primer cup strength.
Magnum primers have stronger cups to handle higher pressures.