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AR15.COM
1/2/2011 2:26:20 PM EDT
hey guys i just recently got into reloading and i bought some CCI small and large pistol primers today. I looked on the box and the small primers say 'Magnum' above where it says 'Small Pistol Primers'.  Is this just a marketing term for 'good primers' or are they actually for magnum cartridges? can i use them to reload 9mm lugers? thanks!
1/2/2011 2:36:58 PM EDT
[#1]
They burn a little "hotter and longer"


Look carefully at your reloading manuals they will indicate which loads magnum primers are to be used for.
1/2/2011 2:49:54 PM EDT
[#2]
ok so i can still use them, but the amount of powder and weight of the bullet will dictate the load thereafter. got it. thanks!!
1/2/2011 2:51:47 PM EDT
[#3]
Magnum primers are generally used when you are using a harder to ignite powder, like a spherical grain powder.  I've been loading 9mm for a little over a year and have never used a magnum primer. As someone else said already, they burn a little hotter, and they have a slightly thicker primer cup.  Personally I stick to what the manuals recommend in terms of what primer to use, supposedly you can use a magnum primer in place of a standard, just be sure to carefully work up your loads and watch for pressure signs.

BTW there is a reloading forum here under the Armory tab.  Lots of good info there.
1/10/2011 8:33:59 AM EDT
[#4]
I did the same thing. Just reduce your starting loads 10% to be safe and work up.

For a good plinking load, I'm running 3.6gr of Titegroup under a 124gr plated HP. In my workup, I went up to 4.2 gr without signs of pressure, although accuracy went to hell once I was over 3.6gr (this is anecdotal information only, you should work up your own load in your own pistol to be 100% safe).

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
1/10/2011 1:55:32 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
I did the same thing. Just reduce your starting loads 10% to be safe and work up.

For a good plinking load, I'm running 3.6gr of Titegroup under a 124gr plated HP. In my workup, I went up to 4.2 gr without signs of pressure, although accuracy went to hell once I was over 3.6gr (this is anecdotal information only, you should work up your own load in your own pistol to be 100% safe).

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile


3.6 is a really light load.... Hodgdon's recommended starting load is 4.1, and 4.2 is an extremely popular load.  I'm surprised you had accuracy issues.... but maybe that's due to the magnum primer instead of a standard??
1/10/2011 3:55:33 PM EDT
[#6]
I started at 3.2gr I used Sierra's data (it actually starts at 3.7gr and maxed at 4.4) They were merely dribbling out the ejection port. They would have been fun to plink with, but they shot around 5" at 15yds. The 3.6's were around 3" on a hasty rest. 4.0 and above were actually more than 6" at that distance.



The 4.2 was kinda warm, but with the crappy accuracy, I'm not going to bother with it.



Moral of the story, find what your gun likes. With the magnum primer, start just a little lower than you would with a standard small pistol primer. Pressure shouldn't be an issue if your load isn't already loaded at max pressure.