Primer Question

[JEBar]

when loading 44 magnum brass for use in both a pistol and rifle, does it matter for light practice loads if you use Large Rifle or Large Pistol primers ?

does it matter with full power hunting loads does it matter if you use Large Rifle Magnum or Large Pistol Magnum primers ?

[DWD445]

I use large pistol Magnum. Some cases you have to cut deeper to get a rifle primer in all the way.
.445 I use large rifle. I think large pistol is ok, but some powders do not ignite well in cold weather, hence magnum.

[JEBar]

Per Lyman's 49th Edition, they reommend that for reloading 44 Mag brass to be used in a Rifle or Pistol, either CCI 300 (Large Pistol) or 350 (Large Pistol Magnum) can be used .... Nosler's 8th edition recommends WLP (Winchester Large Pistol) for both .... neither source mentions use of Large Rifle or Large Rifle Magnum primers .... for 44 Special Lyman recommends CCI 300 (Large Pistol), no mention of Large Pistol Magnum .... my best guess and it is a pure guess is that 44 Mag brass (no matter if it is used in a rifle or pistol) is designed for Large Pistol primers so that is what they recommend .... as noted, that is a pure guess, I hope someone has actual experience in this area

[bandit1250]

I believe the primer cup on large rifle is maybe thicker because of rifles operating at higher pressures than most hand gun cartridges. Some hand guns may not have enough firing pin energy for the heavier primer cup. Some reloaders claim rifle primers are hotter. A friend had a lot of misfires with a handgun with large rifle primers so that may be why they make primers just for pistols. I don't remember the type of handgun he had.

[Steve51]

Since my Lyman 49th Edition uses pistol primers for handgun and rifle loads in the .44 magnum, that is what I always use. For some powders, I use the CCI300 primer and for other powders, I use the Winchester Large Pistol primers. If the Lyman manual recommends a magnum primer, I use the WLP.
Primers in my area of the country are not always available but I always try to buy CCI, Winchester, or Federal (in that order). Just my preference.

[clovishound]

I use whatever primer is recommended by the loading data.

I load .357 magnum exclusively for my .357 chambered Henry. The book calls for small pistol magnum primers. That is what I use. I know that the powders I normally use will undoubtedly give the same results using standard small pistol primers, but why not just use what is recommended. I try not to second guess the experts when it comes to reloading.

If the balloon where to go up and all I had was SP primers, or SR primers, I would use what I had to. Since, for now, the recommended primers are readily available, and there is little to no price difference, why not just go ahead and use what's in the book?

As was mentioned above, small rifle primers are supposed to be harder to light off. I don't want to have a bunch of rounds not go off, although my Henry would likely punch them hard enough.

[DWD445]

I'm with clovishound on this.
And don't forget, rifle or pistol, 44 Mag ammo is a PISTOL caliber round

[JEBar]

I'm with clovishound on this.
And don't forget, rifle or pistol, 44 Mag ammo is a PISTOL caliber round

agree .... in other threads I've read cautions against using magnum primers with lead bullets .... haven't really gotten a handle on what that is based on

[Slugnut]

Go by "THE BOOK" and be on the safe side.