| Posted: Wed Aug 19th, 2009 10:46 PM |
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Spokes
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I want to buy small pistol primers. A few websites have small magnum pistol primers available. Are they usable with a smaller powder charge? If so, what percentage reduction should be used? I'm loading .380 acp with a 95 grain jacketed bullet and using Bullseye powder. The Lee Modern Reloading 2nd Edition book recommends 3.2 grains as a starting weight.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 04:19 AM |
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fryboy
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i cant give u a safe percentage ..mag primers differ in a few ways ,one being a thicker cup ( as one of the other guys noted on a similar thread this may pose a problem for soft falling firing pins especially in auto's )another being ( supposedly and i agree ) a longer and hotter flame, i rarely see mag primers called for in small rounds but they can work ( if the firing pin hits hard enough ) as for data look at both the powder and the bullet manufacturers data ,keep in mind that in small shells very lil changes in powder can be disastrous,my last lyman list 2 to 2.8 grains of bullseye with a standard primer tho ( same bullet weight )my newest sierra list 2.6 to 3.4,my lee (#1)only list 3.2 period ! when only one weight is listed it is a max load not a starting load ! the alliant site
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=90&shellid=22&bulletid=24
only list a 90 grain bullet ( and heavier bullets as a general rule take less powder) and a max charge of 3.4 (minus 10% = about .34 grains-for a 90 grain bullet tho ) i'd start low and work my way up prolly about 2.5 ...charges that little can get out of spec in a hurry so i'd also weigh every one and load perhaps 5-10 just to check that it's safe ,keep in mind that 99.8% of 380's are blow back actions and not very strong ,it has been quite awhile since i loaded 380's ,in my gun 2.9 grains with a 95 jhp was as hot as i wanted to take it (fps was a lil over 900 accuracy was fair all things considered)ur gun mite like lighter or hotter loads but with mag primers start low and work up my gun preferred the 115 grainers and a small shot of 700x powder,g'luck
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 05:16 AM |
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runfiverun
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in a .380 i wouldn't think about it.
the magnum primer could drive the bullet forward and lead to some issues.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 03:15 PM |
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swampshooter
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I would think that with a starting load of Bullseye that you would be o.k. if you backed off of starting loads by .2 of a grain to start with. Pay attention to how far your pistol throws the empties from factory loads. If your reloads throw empties farther than that I'd suggest backing off on the powder charge. Access to a chronograph would also be helpful. 380 pistols are not designed to withstand a lot of shooting, buy a similar pistol in .22 caliber if you want to do a lot of target shooting.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 1st, 2009 06:18 PM |
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fprefect
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Spokes wrote: I want to buy small pistol primers. A few websites have small magnum pistol primers available. Are they usable with a smaller powder charge? If so, what percentage reduction should be used? I'm loading .380 acp with a 95 grain jacketed bullet and using Bullseye powder. The Lee Modern Reloading 2nd Edition book recommends 3.2 grains as a starting weight.
In most cases, the powder is more important than the primer when loading reduced loads. Bullseye should work fine for most reduced loads if it is a recommended powder shown in your reloading manual. I prefer Unique, and although it is a slightly slower burning powder it works well for reduced loads in a wide range of cartridges and is more versatile when it comes to charge weights.
As far as using magnum primers for reduced loads, you should have no problems, but since they can produce a slightly higher pressure than std. primers, if your reduced load is closer to the max. than min., reduce the powder charge slightly and work up to the desired load if no indication of excessive pressure show up.
There are some powder such as H110 and w296 that should NOT be used for reduced loads with any primer under any circumstances as they are much slower burning powders that work best with a magnum primer and a full or near full case of powder.
F. Prefect
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| Posted: Tue Sep 1st, 2009 07:05 PM |
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miestro_jerry
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I would reduce the load by 5 to 10% with a magnum primer, then test the round to see if it has any real effect.
Jerry
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| Posted: Tue Sep 1st, 2009 11:12 PM |
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Don Fischer
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With such a small case and such relatively fast propellants I'd wait till I found some regular small pistol primers. Pressure just jumps to fast with that speed of powders. Add a hot primer and it could mean trouble; maybe not but I wouldn't take the chance.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 1st, 2009 11:15 PM |
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fprefect
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miestro_jerry wrote: I would reduce the load by 5 to 10% with a magnum primer, then test the round to see if it has any real effect.
Jerry
Thanks Jerry. I tend to be a lot more careful with max. or near max. loads in handguns. I might push things a bit in a bolt action rifle, but the worst experience in 20+ years of reloading is a couple of stuck 22-250 cases. Both bullets left only a slightly enlarged egg shape hole. Backed it down a little and they wouldn't group worth a hoot. Probably just blind luck the first time, or at least that's what a tried to make myself believe. Wish I would have fired the 3rd one now,
Gary
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| Posted: Wed Sep 2nd, 2009 02:56 AM |
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choppersdad
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Heck....with that 380, the mag primer alone should be just about right...
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DocAitch
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Spokes,
I've run into the same situation with the 9mm. I use W231/HP38 with a 115 gr copper plated bullet and was only able to score the magnum small pistol primers. I backed off to the minimum charge and fired about 100 rounds. These didn't have quite enough oomph to cycle my pistol reliably (which is my main requirement for my practice ammo). I wound up going back to the same charge that I had been using with the regular small pistol primers, so in my case, it didn't make any difference in this caliber.
I think that you will be safe doing the same with the .380.
The only caliber for which I would have any trepidation is the .40 S&W
Regards, DocAitchLast edited on Wed Sep 2nd, 2009 04:16 AM by DocAitch
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