using reg primers instead of magnum question

[russt]

i got some 158gr hornady xtp's i want to load behind some h110 for my 357 but the manuals say to use mag primers which i dont have on hand. can i use reg primers?

[Quinc]

I have read on a few forums that you can use small primers for .357 but I haven't tried it yet.

[M27]

frome the Hodgdon site

" H110 and Winchester 296 loads should not be reduced more than 3%"

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Most other powders I would say you are fine but because the smaller primer might cause a less compleate burn, along with the quote my opinion is no.

[Bill Steele]

i got some 158gr hornady xtp's i want to load behind some h110 for my 357 but the manuals say to use mag primers which i dont have on hand. can i use reg primers?

H110/W296 is a slow buring powder that is finicky to primer used and pressures required for complete combustion. If you are running it in a load where the case is very full (or compressed), a regular primer might work fine.

On the other hand, maybe the guy that developed the load reference you are using already tried regular primers and didn't like the result, hence the Magnum Primer spec. Magnum primers are usually pretty easy to come by, if you have a pound of H110/W296, why not buy a thousand of them and do it right?

Good luck, have fun.

[24Sailor]

i got some 158gr hornady xtp's i want to load behind some h110 for my 357 but the manuals say to use mag primers which i dont have on hand. can i use reg primers?

If you had said Alliant 2400 I would have said yes. But H110 is a slow burner, and I have no idea what may happen under insignificant ignition, seeing as how loading below minimums with H110 or other slow powders may cause detonation..... Nor am I willing to experiment to find out. Some very bold reloader may have a GTG answer. I see it as kind of like asking "why do they make 2 different kinds of primers?".......There might be a darned good reason, so I stock both.

[meaty-btz]

On the plus side, magnum primers usually go for less because people buy them less often.

[Divernhunter]

There is a real good reason EVERY manual says use mag primers. I use alot of H-110 and always use mag primers. I usually try to buy only mag primers and use them for all loads even ones not saying mag primers. There was a taest with a 357 mag which showed better accuracy using only mag primers over reg ones for a bunch of powders.

Get mag primers or wait to load H-110. When you load H-110 be sure to use a heavy crimp also.

[Agustav]

H110 you will need to use Magnum primer... that's what I've used.

On the other hand, when I am using Clays, regular primer will suffice!

[meaty-btz]

There is a real good reason EVERY manual says use mag primers. I use alot of H-110 and always use mag primers. I usually try to buy only mag primers and use them for all loads even ones not saying mag primers. There was a taest with a 357 mag which showed better accuracy using only mag primers over reg ones for a bunch of powders.

Get mag primers or wait to load H-110. When you load H-110 be sure to use a heavy crimp also.

I also used Mag Primers (all that was available) in 8x57. Turned out I got better ignition and greater accuracy. Also, an increase in pressures, but all tested safe for 100 rounds. Recoil was soft as well.

The difference between magnum and regular primers is the temp generated. Magnum produces a greater and hotter flame which will better ignite slow or heavy powder loads. Running it on a regular load will increase pressure because of the increased burn rate and completeness of combustion you will experience.

[russt]

sounds like the people have spoken and i will wait to get mag primers for h110.

[wtkaiser]

I have always used MAG primers with H110. However, I read just the other day where the author suggested trying regular primers with it. It was in Handloader Magazine, April 2012 issue. He was using 296 (same powder as H-110) and was comparing velocities between CCI standard and magnum primers in a .41 magnum. He got significantly higher velocities (125 fps) with the magnums, but there was no danger in using the standard ones if that's all you have.

What have you got to lose by trying it? That's part of the fun of handloading, trying new things - but just the ones that make sense. If it goes click, and not bang, you have empirical data, not some lame-brain's suggestion on the net. Wait, I'm the lame-brain in question....

[Fishslayer]

sounds like the people have spoken and i will wait to get mag primers for h110.

Or get a pound of 2400 & use the regular ones...

[Cowboy T]

The issue with H110/W296 is that it's harder to ignite than other powders. That's why it requires the greater brisance of the magnum primers. But if you do use magnum primers, H110/W296 work very well. +1 to the recommendations not to reduce below 3%. Hodgdon themselves say of H110 that it's "the powder that screams, 'no wimps, please!'"

I also use 2400 with regular primers very regularly with excellent results. Matter of fact, Alliant recommends that you do not use magnum primers with 2400 due to pressure spikes.

[Whiterabbit]

I'f I'm using a book load, and I'm somewhere between 25% and 100% between their suggested starting load and max load, I haven't had an issue TRYING standard primers. In other words:

With a fully developed load for my gun
Without a single issue ever seen over 100's of rounds
With a load that isn't pushing lower limits, and is endorsed by manuals.
Then I've loaded 20-50 rounds with std primers and had no issues.

I still choose to use mag primers as my go to primer, and wouldn't develop a load with ball powders with std primers. That's just asking for hang fires at the bottom end of the load development. Which I HAVE experienced. Not fun. Never again.

[HKMadness]

Definitely use magnum primers with that powder, or get 2400 and use standard spp as others have said.