357 shooters, mag or just regular primers?

[manatee1947]

I have some loads worked up in 357 with 2400 and a regular primer, I have never tried a mag pistol primer. What do you guys use, is there a noticeable difference ? Better?

[watkibe]

Good data will usually specify a complete "recipe". Alliant, the maker of 2400,  is especially good about this. Once you look it up on their website, you may then have to look up what a "CCI 300" is, haha, but it will be the primer that the manufacturer specifies.
Personally, I use magnum pistol primers, small and large, when I am using H110. Otherwise I use standard primers.

[Darreld Walton]

In my reloading room, certain powders, no matter the bullet weight or charge, get a magnum primer.  2400 is one of them.  In addition, I use a heavy roll crimp with jacketed bullets, and all the crimp I can get away with with cast or swaged and that powder. 
I get good, consistent, shot to shot performance with all bullet weights, from 110-160 gr., especially in revolvers, with that combination.  It's true that you don't "need" a crimp in a single shot rifle, but I think you'd see the difference when you put the loads over a chronograph.

[cwlongshot]

The proper primer to use in a 357 mag is determined directly by your powder. The "Magnum" name does NOT immediately mean a mag primer should be used.

I don't use 2400 much anymore. I find it dirty. But I agree with Darreld Walton, when I do use it I use a Mag primer and a firm roll crimp. It makes a large difference.

CW

[mechanic]

I've had some perforated primers when shooting 357 in my Handi rifle.  I went to mag rifle in my H110 loads, works great.  Also shoots fine in my revolver.  I even use the mag primers with Bullseye loads in 38 spc.
I could only get mag primers for a while, so I backed off and worked up new loads with many powders.

Ben

[bikerbeans]

I have some loads worked up in 357 with 2400 and a regular primer, I have never tried a mag pistol primer. What do you guys use, is there a noticeable difference ? Better?

Manatee,

IF the loads you have worked up are accurate enough for you and you have no problems with flat or perforated primers  then why change your primer?  IF your loads are not what you want then you should try different primers, powder, bullets, brass, OAL, crimps etc. to get your gun to make you happy.   FWIW, I use Fed Mag SP primers with H110 in my 357 Maxi and am quite happy with them; but in the spirit of discovery I have a flat of CCI SR Mag primers to try when the federals are gone.

BB

[LaOtto222]

Unless you are loading down, I would be using small rifle primers. That is what is called out in most reloading manuals. The 357 Max operates at high pressure and requires the rifle primer. IMHO the magnum primers are a personal thing. I think they have their place in high volume, hard to ignite powders when the ambient temperatures are 20 degrees or colder. Some primer companies do not even make a magnum primer. You would think that if they were that necessary, all primer companies would make magnum primers...

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[Darreld Walton]

A question for those who're using rifle primers in pistol cases....are you adjusting the primer pocket depth to accomodate the "taller" rifle primers?  If not, are you getting high primers?  Just asking, because in my revolvers, (all S&W K and N frames and a single Colt) I end up with function problems with high primers, as in, the cylinder don't wanna turn!
I don't use .357 Max, so can't say about those cases, but I know the .500 S&W cases now use pockets deep enough for rifle primers, but haven't seen anywhere in print, or on the net, about "standard" .357 Mag or .38 Special cases using anything but small pistol primers...

[SHOOTALL]

Winchester makes primers that state on the package for standard and mag loads , kinda takes the guess work out of it . I use them with good results.

[dks7895]

I agree with the others... it all depends on the powder used in a given cartridge.  My favorite load is.....

Hornady XTP 158gr
15gr H110
CCI 550 (mag pistol)
1.58" OAL

And yes... this is within published specs.  I shoot these in my Marlin 1894C and Ruger Blackhawk.  In the Marlin they will group under an inch @ 50 yards.  This was with a 4x scope and a rest.  I decided to go back to irons, and they hit the mark with a 6 o'clock hold.  Same with the Blackhawk. 

[ratdog]

never used mag primers never saw a need for them just the standard pistol primer always worked for me i don't hot load my firearms.

[geezerbiker]

During the dark (Clinton) years I used small rifle primers to load .357 rounds for my revolver. 

Later on I read somewhere that small rifle and small piston magnum primers were the same.  I don't remember where I got that info but in my experience they really seem to be the same...

Tony

[cwlongshot]

During the dark (Clinton) years I used small rifle primers to load .357 rounds for my revolver. 

Later on I read somewhere that small rifle and small piston magnum primers were the same.  I don't remember where I got that info but in my experience they really seem to be the same...

Tony

No, they are not the same... 

CW

[LaOtto222]

A question for those who're using rifle primers in pistol cases....are you adjusting the primer pocket depth to accomodate the "taller" rifle primers?

Small Pistol primers and Small Rifle primers are the same size, both in diameter and depth. They are not the same as far as cup thickness and bristance is concerned. Large pistol primers and large rifle primers do not have the same depth. The large pistol primers are slightly shorter than the large rifle primers.

I made a mistake earlier in my posting above. I use small pistol primers in the 357 Mag. Some times magnum, some times regular, depending on powder used and application. I not only use the 357 in rifles, I use it in revolvers too and want to make sure I am going to make a good hammer strike. Nothing could be worse than to have a life or death situation and have a primer not ignite due to a too light of a hammer strike. Small rifle primers have a tougher cup (thicker) than small pistol primers. I do use small rifle primers in my 357 MAX. I use small pistol primers in my 22 Hornets and my 22K Hornet. Size wise, they are interchangeable, but as CW pointed out, they are not the same as far as bristance (hotness) is concerned.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[gcrank1]

And LP primers in my reduced velo ,cast bullet loads have worked fine in my H&Rs (and other rifles) to replace LR primers. For full loads I would use LR primers.

[geezerbiker]

I shot a couple thousand small rifle primers in a S&W revolver with a lightened main spring and never had a failure to ignite.  I also had very consistent results.  I wouldn't hesitate to use them in the .35 mag.  I'll look though my old notes to see if I can find where that info came from but I'm willing to bet it's not far off...

Tony

[gcrank1]

IIRC, C. Dell and W. Schwartz did a comprehensive test on primers, maybe its in their book, 'The Modern Schuetzen Rifle'; or maybe it is in the ASSRA magazine...........gee, now I dont know where it is.........
Anyway, the author(s) did a very well developed test of various OTC primers. The conclusion, as I remember it, was that if the primer makes your load go off with reliability, and you use the same primer instead of switching around, that the load will be consistent and go in the group. I remember that part because it was simple. I use std primers but I dont make magnum loads.
If I can find that reference I will post it.

[GH1]

  As been stated, the powder brand and type will generally determine your primer.  Along with caliber, of course. I know some folks recommend reducing the charge when using magnum primers, but I have no first hand experience.
  I use AA#9 with standar primers in my .357 revolver  and levergun. The combination works well for me. In fact, that was one ofthe reason I opted to use #9, because I can use the same primers in my .380, .38, and .357.   I have a very limited amount of reloading space so the less components I have, the better. I try to always use the same brand but sometimes that's not an option.
GH1