Primers vs. Powder

[Grubby]

Hi all,

I have a savage 111 in 7mm rem mag that I am trying to work out to greater distances. I have been given some great advice already here. Free floated the barrel glass bedded the recoil lug area and started collecting reloading supplies. I have acquired all the components except primers.

There is very limited stock so the question I have to ask is how important is the primer really?? I have both retumbo and h1000 in stock locally and limited primer options.

With these two powders that I am going to work up loads for, are there any primers that are absolutely NO's?

I appreciate the info....next stop is new glass, then new trigger and then new stock.

Thanks for suggestions,

Grub

 

[8andbait]

I am of the opinion that if you have a good load it will not matter much if any. If your load is not in the middle of the node the primer may matter more.

I have not experienced much difference even switching between mag and standard primers.

good luck

 

[flashhole]

I load for 7mm Rem Mag.

The powder column in a 7mm RM is large. A magnum primer is designed to be aggressive and send the ignition flame deep into the powder column for uniform ignition of the powder. A uniform pressure front is good for accuracy.

All of the "Magnum" primers I've used with 7RM have worked well and I really can't say I had any notable difference in performance between brands. That said, my choice is Winchester Large Rifle Magnum Primers when I can find them.

I really like Retumbo with heavy for caliber bullets. H-1000 was a disappointment in the 7RM, accuracy sucked.

 

[g0rd0]

In my rifle. I also load 7mm rm and in my rifle I have found that RL22, IMR7828 & H1000 like the mag primers, while IMR4064 & IMR3031 like the std primer.

 

[Gene]

I load for 7mm Rem Mag.

The powder column in a 7mm RM is large. A magnum primer is designed to be aggressive and send the ignition flame deep into the powder column for uniform ignition of the powder. A uniform pressure front is good for accuracy.

All of the "Magnum" primers I've used with 7RM have worked well and I really can't say I had any notable difference in performance between brands. That said, my choice is Winchester Large Rifle Magnum Primers when I can find them.

That advice is correct. Also, many prefer magnum primers in any big game caliber intended to be used in extreme low temperature hunting.

 

[Grubby]

Well, I bought federal 215m primers today along with retumbo to start working up some loads for some 150 grain Barnes ttsx bullets.

Thanks for all the quality information you were able to offer me, I appreciate it.

Regards,

Grubby

 

[brentc]

Well, I bought federal 215m primers today along with retumbo to start working up some loads for some 150 grain Barnes ttsx bullets.

Thanks for all the quality information you were able to offer me, I appreciate it.

Regards,

Grubby

That's probably not the best combo for 150s. Retumbo is a bit slow burning for 150s. To get your load to really shine, jump up to 160s and heavier. Preferably 168s to 180s. But it never hurts to try. You might just like what you find.

 

[Kennibear]

Grubby

FYI Federal developed the #215 at the personal request of none other than Roy Weatherby himself. Roy was developing his 378/460 parent case because the original 375 Weatherby, an improved H&H case, was not delivering the desired velocity improvements.
The 378 case burns upwards of 120gr of powder and then available primers did not maintain a long (time) enough flame front to light off that amount of slow powder. That was before the Aussi's @ ADI developed the "Extreme" chemical technology that Hodgdon's now uses in all their tubular powders.
Cold weather (-20F) would slow the old surplus H4831 -300fps in the 30/06 so using a mag primer kept the velocities up. The NRA did extensive tests in the 1960's documenting this.
Simply said the #215 has the same "bang" as the other mag primers but it has a longer "flash" time (more fuel in the primer mix). I use it in all my hunting loads and every load I think needs a mag primer, anything >65gr. My 30/06 load is a Sierra 180gr SpBT w/ 56.5gr IMR 4350, #215 primer in a Winchester case. 2900fps out of a long 27" extra heavy tube (1 1/4" stem to stern). This is a high pressure load for an '06 but about the same as the 308 or 270, 55kcup vs. 50kcup.
Hope this helps.

 

[Grubby]

That's probably not the best combo for 150s. Retumbo is a bit slow burning for 150s. To get your load to really shine, jump up to 160s and heavier. Preferably 168s to 180s. But it never hurts to try. You might just like what you find.

Thanks for the advice, I bought some 168's and I am going to get a different powder for the 150's. Locally, h1000 is available, will that be a good choice?

Regards,

Grubby

 

[Grubby]

Grubby

FYI Federal developed the #215 at the personal request of none other than Roy Weatherby himself. Roy was developing his 378/460 parent case because the original 375 Weatherby, an improved H&H case, was not delivering the desired velocity improvements.
The 378 case burns upwards of 120gr of powder and then available primers did not maintain a long (time) enough flame front to light off that amount of slow powder. That was before the Aussi's @ ADI developed the "Extreme" chemical technology that Hodgdon's now uses in all their tubular powders.
Cold weather (-20F) would slow the old surplus H4831 -300fps in the 30/06 so using a mag primer kept the velocities up. The NRA did extensive tests in the 1960's documenting this.
Simply said the #215 has the same "bang" as the other mag primers but it has a longer "flash" time (more fuel in the primer mix). I use it in all my hunting loads and every load I think needs a mag primer, anything >65gr. My 30/06 load is a Sierra 180gr SpBT w/ 56.5gr IMR 4350, #215 primer in a Winchester case. 2900fps out of a long 27" extra heavy tube (1 1/4" stem to stern). This is a high pressure load for an '06 but about the same as the 308 or 270, 55kcup vs. 50kcup.
Hope this helps.

Thanks for the explanation. I will be shooting in cold conditions. Not quite that cold though. I will be pushing some mid 60 grain loads out of the rifle so I suppose the long burn time can't hurt right?

Regards,

Grubby

 

[flashhole]

I was not able to get the same accuracy out of H1000 that I did with Retumbo. I tried both in 300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag and 25-06 with heavy-for-caliber bullets and Retumbo was the star performer across the board.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

Thanks for the advice, I bought some 168's and I am going to get a different powder for the 150's. Locally, h1000 is available, will that be a good choice?

Regards,

Grubby

Retumbo and H1000 will work fine. It's listed in Hodgdon's.

If it were me I'd use IMR7828 with 150s and those 215M's. It's what I use with my 270Wby.

 

[Kennibear]

GRUBBY

like Jfseaman my son Anton uses IMR 7828 in his 300WM with 200gr bullets. Very good, fast, and consistent load. IMR 7828 is on our short list of slow powders. It is an "Extreme Powder" made by ADI in Australia for Hodgdon's and does not slow down w/ lower temps.

The Remington #9 1/2 Magnum Large Rifle Primer has been an excellent performer for me. Try it if you want a little less flash than than the Fed #215.