Calvin45
Well-Known Member
That's not a bad practice but it's certainly not necessary. The first designated "magnum" primer was the federal 215, which was created to
Ensure reliable ignition of the pile of slow burning powder in the .378 weatherby when it first arrived. That's about twice the 60 grain capacity cited here. Worth noting then that the .375hh and offspring, the 404 Jeffery (on which the RUMs are based) the 416 rigby (on which the ops .338 lapua is based) and even the mighty 505 gibbs (on which the cheytac cartridges are based) never had magnum primers nor had anyone heard of such a thing and ignition wasn't a problem with these.
Now I do use magnum primers in my 300
Win, but would have no second thoughts about standard if the groups were better.
ive heard people say magnum primers ensure reliable ignition in cold weather. I live in northern Saskatchewan, never seen cold, even nasty cold, in any way cause problems with standard primers.
I honestly don't see any NEED for magnum primers as far as reliability goes. But in some cartridges they improve numbers and consistency so I'm happy to have the option.
only exception standing very clearly in my mind is heavily compressed charges of ball powder, in any rifle cartridge I use magnum primers if I have to do that but to be honest I just don't like ball powder now so it's rarely required. But that's the only hangfire and the only fail to fire I've had...compressed ball powder with standard primers.
