Using small rifle primers or larger rifle magnum primers in 308 win

[SamuelBerryhill308]

I've been looking into trying some small rifle primers in my 308 mainly because seems like that's all I can find or maybe even using large rifle magnum primers in 308 win I would like to get some insight on using both and also how reliable small rifle primers are in cold weather.thanks

 

[.gacton]

If you're going to try small rifle primers in a .308, I assume you're going to switch to Palma (small primer) brass. I use Lapua Palma sr brass in one of my .308's. It handles hotter loads longer, before pockets begin to loosen up.

 

[SamuelBerryhill308]

Yes I would more than likely use lupua or alpha brass

 

[baldhunter]

I use magnum primers in my 308 Win's with great results.I use them not because I wanted more velocity,I use them because I have a lot of magnum rifles I load for.I got tired of switching back and forth between large rifle and magnum primers.Now I use magnum primers in my 308's,30-06's and 338-06 with great results.

 

[RidgeTop]

Nice. What rifles?

 

[Sasman]

I've been looking into trying some small rifle primers in my 308 mainly because seems like that's all I can find or maybe even using large rifle magnum primers in 308 win I would like to get some insight on using both and also how reliable small rifle primers are in cold weather.thanks

Like you , i'm having difficulty finding large rifle primers , so , i ended up buying 200 small rifle primer Lapua brass for my 308 . As for the cold weather part , how cold are you referring too ? I'm heading out tomorrow morning and its only supposed to be plus 5 here or 41 degrees F . I can let you know tomorrow if i encounter any issues . For reference , i will be using CCI BR4's this time around .

 

[birddog 68]

Same issue with me running low on federal large rifle and working up a load for my 7-08 so decided to use federal LRM primers. Still in work up but haven't seen any issues up to this point and groups have been good. If you already have brass I would load up some with mag primers for a try before buying new small rifle primer brass.

 

[baldhunter]

Nice. What rifles?

CZ550 Varmint and Sako A7 Range

 

[Bucklowery]

I never did try magnum primers because the load shot so well with large rifle primers. I don't think you would have a issue finding a load with either primer with the 308. I would go with the magnums first since you have the brass already

Thanks

Buck

 

[wolffo]

hey - question - I only recently noticed my 308 primer pockets are loosening up, what causes this? can I still shoot them?

 

[Citified]

I have been using small rifle primers in Lapua brass for years with no issues down to 10 F

 

[BHP9]

hey - question - I only recently noticed my 308 primer pockets are loosening up, what causes this? can I still shoot them?

Federal brass? I have found that they can loosen up on the first firing.

Almost anything else, too high pressure will do it.

 

[Greyfox]

I like the SMR's for 308 size cases. Just make sure your firing pin isn't too big. I use the CCI BR4's with no issues with cold temps. Were I to shoot too much below freezing(hunting), for ease of mind, I'd just go with the hotter CCI 450's. The Lapua SMR cases are great, and primer pocket issues are minimized. The only trade off is that the Lapua cases may give up a bit(1-3gr) of case capacity compared to some other cases.

 

[CoachChris]

I have been using small rifle primers in Lapua brass for years with no issues down to 10 F

I've used CCI 450's down to 13° +/- in Lapua Palma brass with no issues