Magnum primers for 38spl loads

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cove posted this 28 November 2021

I have been doing a lot of testing to develop an efficient/accurae load in 38spl.  Primers have always been hard to get here so last summer when a box (1000) of Fed magnum small pistol primers was the only one on the shelf, I bought it.  The manuals all list that small pistol magnum primers are only needed to reliably set off cases full of slower powders, an example being the 357 mag using 13 grains of 2400.  Therfore, when I got good results using the magnum primers with a HBWC load of 3.4 grains of W231, it made me wonder if maybe the increased flame/pressure was more efficient by overcoming inconsistancies caused by powder position in a target load. And yes, I always hold the revolver up to position the powder to the rear of the case. Any comments? 

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Larry Gibson posted this 28 November 2021

Most likely your load of 3.4 gr O W231 is generating all the pressure it will in the 38 SPL case regardless of the primer used.  That small charge of a fast burning easily ignited powder contains only so much energy....period.  Modern magnum primers do not have a "hotter" or higher level of pressure.  They are formulated to give a longer burn time.  This may increase pressures with many of the slower burning powders.  Perhaps the following test results of various primers in the 9mm and 357 Magnum will provide some realistic insight.  I would not expect results from substitution of primers to be much different in the 38 SPL cartridge.

 

9mm; SP and SR primers

 The last few months there have been several threads regards the use of SP magnum and/or SR primers in the 9mm cartridge.  I had conducted a test of SP and SR primers in the 357 Magnum and posted the results [[url]https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?417830-Comparison-of-various-SP-and-SR-primers-in-the-357-Magnum][/url].  In that cartridge with Unique powder there was enough evidence demonstrating the SP Magnum and SR primers could raise the psi enough to warrant caution in doing so.

 

However, does that correspond to the 9mm cartridge which was the subject of the question.  Some definitely thought the substitution should not be made.  Others were adamant that using a SP Magnum or SR primer in the 9mm with a given load posed no problem.  A video showing a limited test by a commercial reloader demonstrated no different in pressure or velocity.  Others stated they found little variance in chronograph velocity as proof there was no difference in psi.  I proposed caution be used should it be necessary to substitute SP Magnum or SR primers in the 9mm with a given load. 

I have just completed 3 additional more fairly comprehensive pressure/velocity tests of 3 different powders [Bullseye, VV 3N37 and HS-6] in the 9mm cartridge. 

A commercial loader request I test the 9mm cartridge with CCI’s 500, 550 SP primers using 6.1 gr VV 3N37 under a 115 gr FMJ bullet.  He supplied the powder and the bullets. 

To provide a comparative reference I also loaded test rounds with the same primers using 4.9 gr Alliant Bullseye and the 115 FMJ bullets [listed as a maximum] and also included the CCI 400 SR primer and the CCI 450 SR magnum primers.  Testing was done in a 10” Contender barrel with a strain gauge affixed and connected to the Oehler M43 PBL.  The SAAMI MAP for the 9mm cartridge is 35,000 psi.

The test of the comparative reference load [4.9 gr Bullseye] proved quite interesting.  The test results briefly;

 

Primer, velocity average, psi average:

CCI 500 SP primers; 1331 fps, 35,000

CCI 550 SP Magnum primers; 1341 fps, 35,000 psi

CCI 400 SR primers; 1338 fps, 35,000 psi

CCI 450 SR Magnum primers; 1330 fps, 35,000 psi

Note the test to test variation in velocity is well within the test to test expected variation of the same load.  What was really surprising was the pressure for each and every shot, regardless of the primer, was exactly the same…..right at the SAAMI MAP for the 9mm cartridge.  Looking at the internals [time/pressure curves, area under the curve and rise to pressure] a slight difference could be noted.  The CCI 550 SP Magnum and the CCI 450 SR Magnum primers gave slightly more uniform internals than either the standard SP or SR primers! 

I then conducted the second test using the provide VV 3N37 powder.  The test results;

CCI 500 SP primers; 1236 fps, 32,300 psi

CCI 550 SP Magnum primers; 1253, 34,500 psi

Note, with the use of VV 3N37 powder, we have a distinct difference in results with this test than with the previous test with Bullseye.  The internal ballistic measurements again indicated the CCI 550 primer gave slightly more uniform ballistics.  The CCI 550 Magnum primer also gave a noted increase in velocity [20 fps increase vs the 10 fps difference with Bullseye] and an increase in pressure of 2,200 psi. 

In a previous thread it was Lloyd Smale (If memory serves me correct as I couldn’t find the thread with “search”] that was adamant with is 9mm load of HS-6 in didn’t matter with his mid-level HS-6 load what primer was used as all were “safe”.   He also rather adamantly suggested I test HS-6 and find out.  So I did.

Lyman lists 6.2 gr HS-6 as their max load under a 120 gr 356402 bullet.  I didn’t have the Lyman bullet but have the Lee 120 gr TC bullet [123 gr cast of COWW + 2% tin], so I chose to use that load.  Even though Lyman lists that load as “max” the CUP measurement of 29,300 indicates it is not a “max” load as the CUP SAAMI MAP is 33,000.  I have on hand 13 different SP and SR primers [7 SP primers and 6 SR primers] so I loaded up a test with each of them. 

Again, the test load was 6.2 gr of Hodgdon HS-6 under the 123 gr Lee TC cast bullets.

The test results by primer used;

Small Pistol primers;

Federal 100 SP primer; 1255 fps, 34,800 psi

CCI 500 SP primer; 1227 fps, 34,700 psi

Magtech 1 ½ SP primer; 1243 fps, 35,000 psi

Winchester WSP SP primer; 1247 fps, 35,000 psi

CCI 550 SP Magnum primer; 1210 fps, 34,400 psi

Federal 200 SP Magnum primer; 1214 fps, 34,700 psi

Winchester WSPM SP Magnum primer; 1253 fps, 35,000 psi

Small Rifle primers;

Remington 7 ½ SR Primer; 1229 fps, 34,700 psi

Winchester WSR SR primer; 1220 fps, 34,800 psi

CCI 400 SR primer; 1237 fps, 34,800

Federal 200 SR primer; 1253 fps, 34,800 psi

 

CCI 450 SR Magnum primer; 1228 fps, 34,700 psi

Federal 205 SR Magnum primer; 1222 fps, 34,500 psi

Appears Lloyd was certainly correct, there really isn’t much difference regardless of the primer used.  Also. interesting to note that 3 of the SP primers pushed the psi right to the SAAMI MAP whereas none of the SR primers did.  That is one of the things I really like about this game and that is I’m always learning.  In this case I’ve not only learned from actual testing but also through research to find the facts about primers.  Turns out, once again, I and most others were misled over the years into thinking SP magnum primers and SR primers would increase the psi with a given load because they were “hotter” or had more explosive power.  Turns out that isn’t true.  The primers only hold so much compound and the energy produced by that amount of compound is finite.  Thus, SP and SR primers essentially hold the same amount pf priming compound which essentially increases the same amount.  SPM and SR/SRM primers apparently do not increase the psi per se by themselves.  The difference is in the priming compounds and how they “burn”.  The SPM and SR/SRM primers compound gives a longer flame burn is all. 

So, if that is the case then why did two of the tests [the 357 Magnum with Unique and the 9mm with VV 3N37 powders] show a marked increase in psi with the SPM and/or the SR/SRM primers?  The answer to that appears, at least so far, to lie in the nature of the powder used.  My guess at this time is any real potential increase in pressure with the use of a SPM or SR/SRM primer will be dependent on what kind of powder is used [single or double based], the kind of deterrent [controls the burn rate] that is used and probably any flash retardant used.  Thus, as it turns out, all who participated in the past thread were essentially correct some of the time and potentially wrong at other times.  This is evidenced as I’ve not found any conclusive evidence one way or the other to definitively say substituting a SPM or SR/SRM primer in a 9mm load is safe because, like many things we’ve found in reloading, it depends.

I will still, as of this writing, stand by my original suggestion; [COLOR="#FF0000"]if one has to substitute a SPM or SR/SRM primer in the 9mm cartridge for a load proven safe with a SP primer developed load then use caution. [/COLOR]

 

Comparison of various SP and SR primers in the 357 Magnum

Give the panic buying, hoarding and shortage of firearms, ammunition and reloading equipment and components several recent threads have asked if it is “safe” to use, in lieu of standard SP primers, magnum strength SP primers or even SR primers.  This question pops up every now and then but the recent numerous queries on this topic seem to be driven by the dire shortage of primers.  Some reloaders have no standard SP primers with no prospect of obtaining any in the foreseeable future at anything resembling a reasonable price.  They do, on the other hand have SP magnum or SR primers both of which fit the primer pockets of handgun cartridges using a SP primer.

 A recent video by a small ammunition manufacturer indicated switching from a standard SP primer to a SP magnum primer of the same manufacture posed no problem in the 9mm P cartridge with the given load tested.  They tested on the video two 3 shot test of that load to get three shot tests of pressure and of velocity.  While there appeared to a mild increase in psi and velocity when the SP magnum primer was use with that load the difference did not seem to be too much.  I had reservations about that as the test sample was too small and the load (powder and charge) was not given. 

While I had not specifically tested a direct comparison between different types of primers I had, from previous chronographing and pressure measurements, formed an opinion that, while some switching of different makes and types of primers seemingly made little difference, switching primers can sometimes give sufficient differences, particularly in pressure.  I, of course, referring to small handgun cartridges using the faster burning powders.  The results of this test should in no way be construed as a blanket statement or rule of thumb.  There are just too many variables concerning the volume of cartridge cases and, probably most importantly, the ignition and burning characteristics of slower burning powders.  The results of this test apply to the use of the easily ignitable fast burning powders used in small handgun cartridges. 

Thus, to find an answer to the question [Can SP magnum or SR primers be substituted for SP primers in the smaller cartridge cases with a given load?]  I rummaged through my supply of SP and SR primers and came up with five different SP primer make/types to test;

CCI 500

Federal 100

Winchester WSP

CCI 550

Federal 200 Magnum

I also came up with five SR primer make/types to test;

 Remington 7 ½

CCI 400

Winchester WSR

Federal 205 Magnum

 

CCI 500

While there are other such primers I feel a sample of 10 different primers should give us an idea of the potential pressure increases and some aspect of whether or not substituting primers might be “safe”. 

Thus with that selection of primers I prepped 100 Winchester 357 magnum cases [ten shot test with each primer] .  I selected a load to use with all the primers that was a mid-range 357 magnum load [based on previous chronographing] which should give a bit of “fudge” room if the psi’s did get too high with any primer.  The load I selected to use was 6 gr of Alliant Unique under a 358156 cast of COWWs + 2% tin, sized .358, Hornady GCs crimped on and lubed with BAC.  The bullets were seated, and roll crimped in the front crimp groove giving the loaded OAL at 1.597”. 

The SAAMI MAP for both the 357 magnum and the 9mm P are 35,000 psi.

The test firearm was my Contender 7.94” barrel with the strain gauge located over the chamber as per SAAMI specification.  The strain gauge was connected to the Oehler m43 PBL.  Test conditions were a reasonable 60 degrees with 30% humidity and little to no wind.  The velocity listed is muzzle velocity as the M43 corrects the screened velocity to the muzzle.  The Oehler Sky-screen start screen was 10’ from the muzzle. 

All results are based on the 10 shot test string for each primer. All the time/pressure curves (traces) appeared normal for the test firearm. The results are listed by primer.  Since the thrust of answering the question has to do with pressure that is the focus of this test.  I shall make comments after the data for each primer is listed and also in conclusion. 

Test results;

CCI 500 SPP primer

Average velocity; 1178 fps, SD 11 fps, ES 38 fps.  PSI average; 25,700

 SD 2,100, ES 5,700, high psi was 29,200 and the low psi was 23,500.

 This is a particularly good load.  The internals are excellent as shown by the low SD/ES of both velocity and psi.

 Federal 100 SP primer

 Average velocity; 1189 fps, SD 10 fps, ES 36 fps.  PSI average; 27,900, SD 1,700, ES 5,500, high psi was 30,300 and the low psi was 24,800.

Another excellent load but we see a slight increase in velocity and psi.  The 11 fps increase in velocity equated to an increase of 2,200 psi.

Winchester WSP primer

 Average velocity was 1175 fps, SD 18 fps, ES 60 fps.  PSI average; 26,300, SD 3,400, ES 9,900,

high psi was 31,700 and the low psi was 21,800. 

This primer is supposed to be of stronger brisance as it is intended to ignite ball powders.  We see a velocity and psi comparable to the previous two primers, but we also see a much larger SD and ES of both velocity and psi.  Two of the tested rounds gave a psi above 30,000.

 CCI 550 SP Magnum primer

Average velocity was 1179 fps, SD 17 fps, ES 60 FPS.  PSI average: 27,500, SD 3,900, ES 13,500, high psi was 35,300 and the low psi was 21,800. 

This SP magnum primer showed no increase in velocity or in psi averages.  However, obviously the internal psi created with what was supposed to be a “mild” 357 magnum load of Unique demonstrates something is amiss here given the somewhat erratic internal ballistics.  Two the tested psi’s were above 30,000 with one exceeding the SAAMI MAP for the 357 magnum.  

Federal 200 Magnum SP primer

Average velocity was: 1176 fps, SD 14 fps, ES 43 fps.  PSI average: 27,100, SD 2,700, ES 8,800, high psi was 32,000 and the low psi was 23,200.

Again, this magnum SP primer gave no increase in average velocity or psi.  Yet the wide SD/ES of the psi measurements indicate somewhat erratic performance.  The 32,000 psi shot gives cause for concern.

 Remington 7 ½ SR primer

 Average velocity was; 1184 fps, SD 20 FPS, ES 78 FPS.  PSI average: 28,100, SD 2,800, ES 9,100, high psi was 32,000 and the low psi was 22,900.

 Except for the much larger SD/ES of the psi this SR primer gave similar performance to the Federal 100 primer.  We must note that two of the tested shots exceeded 30, psi with this primer but not with the Federal SP primer.  A noticeable difference.

CCI 400 SR primer

Average velocity was: 1188 fps, SD 15 fps, ES 52 fps.  PSI average was 29,200, SD 3,700, ES 12,200, high psi was 35,100 and the low psi was 22,900.

Quite erratic yet the chronographed velocity does not indicate that.  No appreciable gain in average velocity yet a 2-3,000 psi gain is apparent in the average psi.  Five of the tested ten shots gave psi above 30,000 with one exceeding the SAAMI MAP. 

Winchester WSR primers

Average velocity was: 1173 fps, SD 17 fps, ES 50 fps.  PSI average was:  27,600, SD 3,800, ES 9,100, high psi was 32,600 and the low psi was 23,500 psi.

Again, erratic internal psi yet not apparent based on the “normal “chronograph measurements.  No appreciable increase in velocity or psi as shown by the “average” of each yet 4 of the tested shots exceeded 30,000 psi. 

While there are other such primers I feel a sample of 10 different primers should give us an idea of the potential pressure increases and some aspect of whether or not substituting primers might be “safe”. 

 Federal 205 SR Magnum primer

 Average velocity was: 1185 fps, SD 16 fps, ES 63 fps.  PSI average was: 29,700, SD 2,400, ES 8,200, high psi was 34,000 and the low psi was 25,800.

Again, erratic psi performance not belied by the chronographed velocity measurement.  Three of the tested shots exceed 30,000 psi with one approaching the SAAMI MAP.

CCI 450 SR primer

Average velocity was: 1171 fps, SD 15 fps, ES 47 fps.  PSI average was: 28,000, SD 2,400, ES 6,900, high psi was 31,000 and the low psi was 24,100.

No gain in velocity, small gain in psi with three of the tested shots above 30,000 psi.  Appears to be the mildest of the “magnum” strength SR primers tested. 

 

So there’s the data which brings us back to the question:  is substituting a SP magnum primer or a SR primer for a standard SP primer “safe” in a small handgun cartridge?  The answer is somewhat of a conundrum. If the load with the standard SP primer is a low or mid-level load then the substitution may be deemed “safe” depending on the actual case capacity of the load in question.  How do you know? 

Unless you can measure the pressure, you won’t know.  Dropping back and working back up to the same chronographed velocity is often recommended.  I have even recommended that myself in the past.  But is that safe?  Looking at the velocities of all ten tested primers with the same load we find the average velocities ran from 1171 fps to 1188 fps, a spread of only 17 fps.  Interestingly the lowest and highest velocities of any of the rounds shot were with SR primers.  The average velocity variation falls easily within the average to average variation we can get chronographing the same load several times. 

Thus chronographing really isn’t going to give an indication of the difference in psi.  The three standard SP primers averaged 25,700 psi to 27,900 psi with the highest psi of any individual shot being 31,700 psi.  With the SP magnum primers and the SR primers the psi was always higher with several of the tested shots exceeding the SAAMI MAP of 35,000 psi.  If we ponder what the highest tested shot psi’s would be (not the average of the test) if we had used a max load developed with standard primers in the 34-35,000 psi and then had substituted the standard primer with a SP magnum or SR primer?  The highest shot psi’s would probably have exceeded 40,000 psi.  That would not be what I consider to be “safe”.  Might get away with in in some larger framed revolvers but still not something to be recommended.  In a semi auto you might get away with it but it would beat the gun up at best and if a case head burst at the web.......possibly disasterous.

 LMG

Concealment is not cover.........

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Eutectic posted this 30 November 2021

Hi Cove,

Primer flash was investigated in Precision Shooting several years ago. I tried it earlier - when dinosaurs roamed the earth: OK it was the1960s. I wanted to use Herter's shotgun primers which were less expensive. Yes, I am a CB guy and that does not stand for Cast Bullet.

Load data for Herter primers was scarce. The question was how "strong" were the Herter primers. I set up a rig where I fired the primers in the dark in front of a grid. A camera with the lens open recorded the flash. The pictures were great. I calculated the flame volume and compared this with several other brands of primers where loading data and pressures were published. 

 Surprise! There was NO correlation with flame volume and pressures listed in the published data. In fact one of the primers with the smallest flash signature produced some of the highest pressures. Another nice theory shot to hell. (Pun Intended)

Thanks for the nice work Larry. I just sold most of my magnum pistol primers since I seldom load H110 firewall loads any more and the prices were sky high. Maybe I should have kept them! 

Steve Hurst

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Little Debbie posted this 28 November 2021

I don’t know why it is but I’ve had the same results using magnum small pistol primers in light .38 Special loads. I’d have to dig up my records but after a lot of chronographing and shooting I found that Federal and Winchester magnum small pistol primers resulted in lower velocities and extreme spreads. Accuracy was not noticeably different compared to standard primers from the same companies. I didn’t use HBWC in my testing. I used the Lee tumble lube wad cutter and a Saeco 180 gr RNFP bullets. I did it several years ago during the last component shortage to see if what was written about substituting magnum pistol primers for standard caused unsafe pressures. . In .38 Spl. , 9x19, and .45 ACP I saw no significant change in velocity, accuracy, felt recoil. I don’t have pressure equipment but by every indicator I normally use to determine safe loads the substitution seems safe. I’d say your hypothesis about more uniform flame coverage regardless of powder type or position in the case is not a bad one. I can’t think of another. I do know this: low extreme spreads do not necessarily translate to the best accuracy.

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Larry Gibson posted this 29 November 2021

Gary

"I am but a babe in the woods even though I have 50 years of reloading I am constantly learning and re-evaluating that which I thought I knew."

I've been reloading for 60+ years and that certainly applies to me also.  I am constantly learning and through testing discover many things I've come to believe because of others writing just aren't so or aren't consistently so.  

I got my first Oehler chronograph in '73 and right away discovered that what velocity I got one day with the same load in the same firearm wasn't going to be the same as what i would get a couple weeks or months later.  Sometimes the variation would be seemingly a lot, especially if it was the same load but not loaded at the same time.  After a couple conversations with Dr. Oehler I calmed down and began to understand there were many other "conditions" that affect the "average" velocity of a given load.  Even back to back tests (with a sufficient sample size) of the same load loaded at the same time tested in the same firearm can give surprisingly different "average velocities".  

As to the relationship between pressure and velocity.  It takes pressure to get velocity.  The difference you've noted is the difference in the time/pressure curves created by the slightly different ignition or the different primers.  As an example, we can have a 357 Magnum load using a 158 gr bullet with Bullseye reaching 35K psi and it will have a lower velocity than the same bullet under a 35K psi load of 2400.  The charge of Bullseye will be less than the charge of 2400 and has much less energy potential (the ability to work, i.e. push the bullet).  The psi is the same but the velocities are different. The reason being is, while it attains the same peak 35K psi, the time/pressure curve is slower because the powder burns slower and gives off more energy over the time/pressure curve and is pushing on the bullet "longer" as it traverses the barrel.  

Thus, with the test, we have the same charge of the same powder, which has only so much energy potential, with the primers affecting the burning rate as related to the time/pressure curve, making the powder burn a bit faster which raises the pressure.  Since the powder (remember it is the same powder in this instance with the same work potential) is burning faster with some primers the pressure is slightly higher but the volume of gas produced is the same so the velocity is essentially the same.

Confused yet? took me a while to get my head wrapped around that but once we understand it does make sense.

Then there is test to test variation. Ever wonder why we don't hardly ever see any published pressure figures for factory ammunition and loads in manuals other than something like "all meet or are under SAAMI specifications".  Or why, if they do list any pressures they are in larger, rounded off numbers such as "35K"?  Or why SAAMI lists 3 acceptable pressure levels for each cartridge?  It's because the testing, even with more sophisticated equipment than I have, shows there can and will be a lot of variation between test to test results of the same ammunition/loads.  

I could repeat the test a couple more times and some of the primers would give higher or lower average pressures and move a notch or to if we were to arrange them lowest to highest pressure.  However, I am confident that the trend we see in the results here would remain the same.  That trend is with some powders in handgun cartridges using SP or SR primers can give higher pressures if SP magnum or SR primers are used.  How much higher pressure we wouldn't know unless we can measure the pressure.  

LMG

Concealment is not cover.........

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RicinYakima posted this 30 November 2021

Cove,

Your case is a different animal than most. I had a group of Jet Propulsion Laboratory rocket scientists work on this for me. Their conclusion was that when the difference between the rate of fall between the highest and lowest velocity shots was equal to half the radius of the group size at the target, it made a difference. Having read your article, a drop of "at least 6 inches" is bigger than the radius of your groups. 

This is also an issue with black powder 45/70 shooters with a 500 grain bullets over about 800 yards. Having shot Military Rifle for 25 years with bullets with SD over .300, this is not normally an issue for most cast bullet shooters. 

The problem with "The Benchrest Primer", while a great book, is it many years out of date. Primer chemistry has changed in the last years since 1982.

Ric

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Larry Gibson posted this 30 November 2021

A comment on Cove's last post.  One may infer, because I am named in the post and no one else, that I stated; "As far as "low ES does not necessarily translate to the best accuracy",  Let me clarify, I did not state that.  It was in a previous post by someone else.

As to my own opinion regarding the ES and accuracy let me paraphrase Dr. Oehler; the lower ES/SD may not equate to the best accuracy but you cannot have the best accuracy without a low ES/SD.

LMG

Concealment is not cover.........

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Eutectic posted this 02 December 2021

I agree Ric the products have probably changed over the years. However there ARE energy differences in primers. A little shooting over a chronograph with Speer Plastic 38's will show this. I do not believe in over-ignition since primer energy is such a small part of the overall energy. Under-ignition is real, but as soon as sufficient pressure/temperature is reached anything more should be unimportant. I am still puzzling over Larry's data, there are other factors at work in some loads. Yes more questions, until we have answers be careful substituting primers especially in maximum loads.

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 02 December 2021

... a slight glide sideways from serious musings on the primer subject ... but the Herter primer mention has sucked me in ...

about 1968 a couple friends visited the Herters emporium and came home with one nice Herters U9 in 22 Varminter each. shot and grouped well in moderate weather but would occasionally hang-fire when really cold. The fun ground to a stop when both guys walked up on a sleeping coyote, counted down from three and both pulled the trigger on ZERO .. both hang-fired and on minus-1 the coyote gave them a dirty look and as the guns fired ( into parts unknown ) about minus 4 ... the coyote was a very small dot on a far hill ...

disgusted guy #1 sold his gun shortly after and disgusted guy #2 hid his Herters club in the farthest corner of his gun cabinet ....

until 2020 ... 50 years ! .. when i shamed him into letting me look at it.. i found nothing wrong with it at all, and froze it overnight repeatedly at 10 below F and it functioned perfectly. i relubed with synthetics and the owner also froze and shot it with complete reliability. That Herter/BSA rig is looking pretty good. and we traced down the new owner of the other U9 ... been working perfectly for 50 years.

yep, the hang-fires were from a bad batch of Herters primers. heh, some lessons here that you cba guys already know ..

but i still have trouble with the mechanics of hang fires ... of one to 3 seconds ... how the heck does that work ?? ... is it the primer compound delaying or is it a few grains lit and the rest is ignited from a glowing kernal 2 seconds later ?? ....


and lastly the current primer shortage/government schemes makes me think that the electric spark ignition might be worth revisiting.

ken ... just some trivia ...

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RicinYakima posted this 28 November 2021

Federal 200 primers have exactly the same amount of compound as their 100 primers. But they have the thicker small rifle primer (205) cup to stop piercing of the cup with maximum 357 magnum loads. I use the 100 primers for pressure testing in revolvers, as they start to pierce at about 20,000 CUP pressure. 

When I was designing loads for my BSA Cadet converted to 357 magnum, I used the 100's to know when I was getting to the range to stop going up. The rifle would take it, but the firing pin opening had not been bushed and would lock up the block if over pressure. 

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RicinYakima posted this 28 November 2021

Chronograph data has little to do with accuracy in less than 300 yards, IMHO. 

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Little Debbie posted this 28 November 2021

Wow great post. Thanks for taking the time to do the research and posting it. Glad I was fearful of direct substitution of primers without working my load back up for maximum type loads.

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 29 November 2021

thanks ... 

Prime stuff.

lots to think about.   and re-read a couple times.

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gary0529 posted this 29 November 2021

Larry, thank you for the extensive research. I am but a babe in the woods even though I have 50 years of reloading I am constantly learning and re-evaluating that which i thought I knew.

My    question is this--as a retired veterinarian I occasionally got lab data that was incongruous with either physical signs or other related system data. That required another sample be drawn and resubmitted and a request of another technician AND machine to check the accuracy.

I am struggling understanding how there was a significant increase in pressure but NO increase in velocity.

Can that exist in a balanced state? My first thoughts would be the strain gauge but never having used one I am reluctant to cast aspersions there.  Am I completely off base or is there some validity to my thoughts? 

Given that I am a consumer of all information and have little to add in the way of real world reloading data please do not take this as a criticism for it is not at all the case- I am here to learn even at my advancing age.

Sincerely,

Gary

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Clod Hopper posted this 29 November 2021

The .38 special is easy to make shot shells for.  You can use a 9mm case to cut the cardboard or do like I did and get a 9mm hole punch.  Measure a standard load of fast powder, push a card wad down hard on the powder with a pencil.  Fill with number 8 or finer shot and place another card wad on top with enough room to allow a heavy crimp.  I use finger nail polish after the crimp, but you can just use the glue and forget the crimp.  This load will kill a rat or sparrow at 10-15 feet.  When crimped and glued thusly, these loads will ride in your revolver with reasonable care.

Dale M. Lock

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cove posted this 30 November 2021

After going through all the information above, it appears that the difference between the performance of standard and magnum primers is small, at least when it comes to 38sp target loads.  I like Larry Gibson's comment "The CCI 550SP and the CCI450 magnum primers gave slightly more uniform internals than either the standard SP or SR primers!".  "Slightly more uniform"  works for me, especially since SP magnum primers is all I have. 

I think a perusal of photos of primer flash in Dave Brennan's "Benchrest Primer" shows how varible the flash/brisance of different brands can be. 

As far as "low ES does not necessarily translate to the best accuracy", I beg to differ.  It has been my experience with extensive testing to develope an accurate 100 yd HBWC load, that a HBWC at a vel. of 800fps impacts the target at least 6 inches higher than one traveling 740fps. See "Velocity Matters" in TFS#271.  Therfore, the smaller the ES, the smaller the group.

  

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 30 November 2021

i have always wondered about the bullet friction with the barrel .

perhaps there is a " stick and slip " condition ... the more sticky the more the mass of the rifle is added to the mass of the bullet.   complicated.

me being a " glass half full " guy, when i get a few in the same hole, i credit my magnificent loading and shooting talent .. i suppose in reality it is actually a simple miracle ...  maybe a result of overlapping averages ...

still fun ...

ken

 

 

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gary0529 posted this 30 November 2021

It all makes perfect sense now-thank you!

Appreciate your commitment to our sport.

Gary

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Eutectic posted this 01 December 2021

In the third edition of Handloaders Digest, 1966 Ed Yard did an interesting evaluation of primers. The firing mechanism was a dropped weight. The primer fired a metal slug through chronograph screens. Slug weight and velocity gave the energy. The energy averages show what you would expect, but individual primer makes were variable. 

Ed found CCI 350 MLPP equal to Winchester LPP. Winchesters are now recommended by Winchester for both standard and magnum loads. 

Ed found higher firing pin energy gave higher primer energy even after the energy of the firing pin impact was subtracted. If anyone can explain this I would like to hear it.

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RicinYakima posted this 01 December 2021

Steve, l looked up the article and tried to find out who Yard was, a Remington employee. Read the article and don't know how much is still relevant from his 60 year old test. As he writes that much of the nomenclature about primers is just advertising. I find it hard to compare different company's products since there are three basic chemical compounds and several sub-varieties in use today. NO answer for you, just more questions. Ric

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Eutectic posted this 02 December 2021

Ken, Years ago I had hang fire problems with Win 296 ball powder and light bullets in 357 Mag. The revolver was a Ruger with plenty of whack. The problem was the weather, bitter cold freezing morning. Some fired normally but several I could tell there was a distinct snap/bang. Then there was one with a snap and a curl of smoke from the cylinder gap and then bang. Probably a 1/2 second hang fire. A few rounds later it happened again and I gave up. My Herco loads all fired normally. I may be wrong but I think primers are either go or no-go. If there is a primer hang fire it is likely in the minimum impulse range. Maybe someone has data on this. Powder hang fires are real.

Steve

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