Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles primer question for use w/ Hunter powder

Hi,
Hunter powder is what I will be using for load development in both my Howa 1500 (6.5x55 Swede) and my Ruger 77 Mark II (30-06)

Hunter is the first spherical (ball) powder I've ever used in those two calibers, and I have a primer question:

I only have two large rifle primers I can use:
- Remington Large Rifle 9 1/2 (non-magnum)
or
- Federal Large Rifle 215 (magnum)

Which is the most appropriate of my two primer choices in your estimation/experiences? (magnum or non-magnum)

Thanks much!!

Use the 215's old crab. With that being said, I've used standard non magnum rifle primers in my 6.5x55 swedish mauser m96 with no issues at all. Even loading fairly light for the old rifle, she still shoots great. The consensus is you'll get better accuracy with the magnum primers when using ball/spherical powders. JB writes about this all the time. What is not said is by what margin. Maybe in his books he does, but from what I've seen, it's not a huge margin of improvement and with the primer and component shortage we deal with these days, I'd just use what I had on hand and not think twice. Let me show you something I found consistent when messing around with magnum vs. non magnum primers last year before elk season. I wanted to develop a good load for my 7mm08. Something "sub moa" if you will. That may not matter to some here, and I get that. But I like the added confidence it gives. Here was the difference:

Non magnum CCI200 primer:


Magnum (CCI250) primer:


Those were loaded to the same OAL. The only difference was the primer used. A 1/4 moa is not going to make or break a hunt. Especially when last years bull was only 60 yards away.. Other experiments I've done were in the same ball park range. YMMV...

Thanks much, BSA!!