Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Standard or magnum primers for 9.3x62 with Big Game powder?

Finally picked up some Big Game powder to use with 286 grain bullets in my 9.3x62. I used varget this Deer season with 286 hornady spire point, and had great results. I’ve saved a lot of loads for this caliber from this forum. Only thing is which primers to use, standard or magnum. Seems it’s kinda split both ways for who prefers which. I used standard with varget and no issues. Was thinking maybe magnum primers would be better with a ball powder and above 60 grain charge weight. Thanks for any help!

A friend of mine once told me the folks at Federal suggested 80gr was the dividing line between magnum and standard primers All I can tell you is with the 338 and 375 (73 and 74gr respectively) and my groups shrank considerably. On the other hand, the opposite with Weatherby calibers.

I'd have no qualms about starting with a CCI250.

Magnum

Whatever works.

I use CCI 200's.

Thanks for the replies guys! I have 1,000 CCI 250’s, and 1,000 BR2’s. I guess I’ll just play with both of them and see what happens. Is it 65 or 66 grains most of you have worked up too with this powder? I’m at work and don’t have my notes.

CCI 200 under 60 grains 250's 60 and above. Has always seemed to work for me

Thanks for the help guys!

I use Winchester standard primers with Big Game and 286's. I got slightly higher velocity and smaller groups compared to Rem. Doesn't prove anything but shows my CZ may prefer hotter primers.

What I've found over the past couple of decades is that which primer works best with a certain cartridge/powder/bullet doesn't always follow "rules." I understand that many handloaders have limited time to spend at the range, but have found many instances where a magnum primer worked far better than standard even with many smaller cartridges, using powder charges FAR less than 60 or 80 grains.

One of the examples I can remember easily is a .220 Swift with Big Game and 55-grain Ballistic Tips, back when Ramshot powders were first introduced. The rifle averaged around 1.5" for 5-shot groups with standard primers, and half that (and often less) with magnums.

Have also found some big charges of slow-burning powder to work very well with standard primers. You never know until you try.

Thanks MD I’ll load some up with both and do some chronoghraphing.

Did I read right 286 gr. 9.3 bullet for deer. I love that combo for the deer around here. Our local deer are 1500 lbs. plus. If you are using that for whitetail. They can never be dead enough.
Erich

I forgot, I use RL15 and mag primers for most of my loads in 9.3x62.
Erich

I used BR2 in my two previous 9.3x62s, same witht he 35 Whelen AI "except" one load in the 35...it was a Fed 215M with R15 and the 250NP, tightened it up to a bug hole grouper. I even used BR2 behind R15 and the 310 Woodleigh. As said...only the rifle can tell you, via chronograph and/or target.

This is my experience as well with a granular Powder. I use magnums in everything that I put ball Powder in.

I've been using Winchester Large Rifle primers in all my 9.3 loads. Most have been with Big Game. They have shot well enough that I haven't tried any other primers. Winchester markets them as suitable for standard and magnum rounds. I've always wondered about that. Are they hotter than standard primers and less hot than magnums? I've got some CCI 250's. Think I'll give them a try.

Was at the range testing a new 9.3x62 this morning. 250gr NAB, TSX, and TTSX bullets/Nosler brass/ CCI 200 primers. Velocities were very consistent with RL15(58gr) and Varget(56gr). Big Game(58gr) was a bit erratic. I'll try WLR's or Magnum primers with Big Game next time, to see if that changes. That it was -9F may have been a factor as well. Another thing I've seen is that starting loads may not be very consistent, but as you work up, and get the pressures in the powders sweet spot, they tend to level out. These loads were all on the starting end of the scale, with velocities in the 2250 to 2400fps range. Lots of factors to sort out. Change them one at a time, or you'll never know for sure what the culprit was!

Jeff

Mag primers are just another component, you have to shoot them to see the results with each load/bullet combination. I had a 25-06 that loved them, but a .270 that did not.

jonesmd4,

ImVho, Varget is the most consistent powder in my 9.3x62mm (converted by JES) Remington 760.
(My homebrew 280 grain GCCB seem to work best with 45-50 grains of Varget for hunting all but "dangerous game".)

yours, tex

Jeff,

My 9.3x62 basically gets the same velocity at zero as at 70, and shoots at least as well, using my maximum load of Big Game with CCI 200's. Aside from being a full-pressure load, the powder's pretty compressed, which also makes a difference in primer effectiveness.