.357 Magnum Primer Question

[Direwolf]

I have several manuals and some say to use small pistol magnum primers and others say just small pistol for loading .357 magnum rounds. I've also seen where only some powders require the magnum primer. Other friends of mine say they've never used magnums to load .357. Anybody know the real skinny or can you just tell me what you're using?

 

[henry]

I have used only "small pistol primers". I think "magnum" primers are needed for slow burning powders, which usually require a large powder charge to make the velocities.
I hope someone else responds to this, I use regular primers for my .357 and my .44mag., and it would be interesting to find the definetive answer.

 

[Dave328]

Most of my reloading books specify regular or magnum primers for my different .38/.357 loads. To make it easy, I use only magnum primers for all my .38/.357 loads. If a specific load is given for a regular primer, I just cut the charge by .5gr. Basically you can use either. Just remember to cut the non magnum charge.

 

[Danny Abear]

The correct answer is to use the primer recomended by the powder manufacturer

 

[br549]

CCI 550 behind 12.5 grs HS7, 125 gr Hornady JHP. Many years of loading, best .357 load for me so far.

 

[Direwolf]

Thanks for the input guys.

The correct answer is to use the primer recomended by the powder manufacturer

Yeah, you're right about that. That would be the wise thing to do.

 

[jimdana1942]

Follow the loading manuals. Magnum primers can raise the pressure quite a bit with some loadings. If it doesn't specify magnum primers then don't use them. It depends also on whether or not your firearm is strong enough to handle higher pressures as to how safe you will be with increased pressures.

 

[dzelenka]

I used to use Federal 205Ms. Won't be doing that any more at today's prices.