"I'm just trying to figure out what a magnum primer does that a regular primer doesn't do."

I can give you a hint; magnum primers are meant for magnum cartridges. Any change of any component in any cartridge will affect performance in some way and no one can honestly say what that change will be. What we can say is mag primers are expected to ignite large quanites of slow or hard to ignite powers more consistantly than a standard primer.

Many noobs assume the hotter their primer is the better it is but that's NOT true; if it were true mags are what everyone would use. Hot primers used where they aren't needed are likely to raise pressure by changing the time/pressure curve but they won't neccessarily increase velocity and they often decrease accuracy. Most of the time we will get a more consistant powder burn and best accuracy with the coolest primer that gives a complete burn.

chambered221 wrote:

inthedark wrote: it is a good read. Great !!! Now I need one of them there $$$ scales !!! Does it ever end ???

Why no. No it never ends. I am just trying to give back to all my considerate forum friends who keep me awake at night trying to figure out how the he!! I'm going to aford these toys.

Its great to see wnchester is giving some good advice again.plurry simple to grasp the concept when its put that way.

inthedark wrote:

chambered221 wrote: inthedark wrote: it is a good read. Great !!! Now I need one of them there $$$ scales !!! Does it ever end ??? Why no. No it never ends. I am just trying to give back to all my considerate forum friends who keep me awake at night trying to figure out how the he!! I'm going to aford these toys.

Be like me mate...just dream...then get on and do the job with what you have and know works well.

Cheers, Vince

CALLING ALL RELOADEING GURU`S ,LOL
ive got a question for yall
on 264 win mag . 2 manuals say use mag primers for the load and another two manuals say use standard large rifle primers for the same weight bullet im kinda DUUHHH HERE

If you plan to hunt in cold weather, by all means use the magnum primers. When shooting this summer, you might not notice the difference but you could try both. I would only recommend using standard primers in the magnum recipes. If you use magnum primers in the standard recipes, I would stay away from max loads until you had some experience with them. In other words, pick the same weight powder in the middle of the recipe band and try both.

you mention bullet weight but not the kind of powder used... my rule: when you use a rather big amount of slow burning powder, use magnum primers. For rifle loads this means that in the burning rate chart starting around N160 and slower, this asks for magnum primers, always. For faster burning powders use normal powders OR magnum primers when you like to.
But whatever you do, don't change primers without starting at lower powder loads and working up till the sweet spot again. Changing anything (except the target) when you're around max. load is always dangerous.

Aloysius wrote:

you mention bullet weight but not the kind of powder used... my rule: when you use a rather big amount of slow burning powder, use magnum primers. For rifle loads this means that in the burning rate chart starting around N160 and slower, this asks for magnum primers, always. For faster burning powders use normal powders OR magnum primers when you like to. But whatever you do, don't change primers without starting at lower powder loads and working up till the sweet spot again. Changing anything (except the target) when you're around max. load is always dangerous.

+1 !!!

Good advice Aloy.

Rule of thumb: go with the START recipe and tune from there.

And Aloy's doggie has a flower pot on his head!

Stovey, don't laugh with my dog or one day...
yesterday she helped me catch my roebuck. It seems that the 55 grs Sierra spitser is not enough in my 222 Rem. for a buck when he's excited. Didn't hit any bones but the bullet didn't go trough the body, it sticked just beneath the skin on the other side, lost weight too, only 39 grs recovered but very nice mushroomed, that's about 71 % of the original weight. Buck wasn't death, my dog helped to find him twice and then catched him and hold him till I could finish the job with my knife. It was quite a story.
Today my dog did get "roe with rice", her favourit dinner

for your info: now the heat is on for the roedeer in our part of the world. You now can "feep" them closer. It's the best time of the year to hunt roebucks.

See? Shoulda used a magnum primer! Buck woulda dropped with the shot!

That pups a keeper. Man that musta been exciting! Good story man. Love a pup with personality and a sense of humor, judging from that pic she does!

thanks guys this is a bit baffleing , i have 6 different manuals and 3 of them sat use mag primers , 2 say use large rifle primers , one says use win 120 not sure which this one is ,lol . keep in mind they all have basicaly the same powders and bullet weights that you woud chose for the 264 win mag.
looks like imr 4350 and h4831 is good choices

Aloysius wrote:

the 55 grs Sierra spitser is not enough in my 222 Rem. for a buck ... Didn't hit any bones but the bullet didn't go trough the body, it sticked just beneath the skin on the other side, lost weight too, only 39 grs recovered but very nice mushroomed, that's about 71 % of the original weight.

Aloys, you got to use the Barnes TSX or TTSX depending on your twist rate. They will penetrate and keep 100% of their weight.

redneckhunter wrote:

this is a bit baffleing , i have 6 different manuals and 3 of them sat use mag primers , 2 say use large rifle primers , one says use win 120

RNH, I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. Large rifle primers will do fine with those powders. Mag primers will also do fine. If you plan to hunt in cold weather, use the mag primers.