How important is it to use mag primers in 30.06 with H414 powder? I've traditionally used mag primers but now wondering if I shouldn't try standard large rifle primers.. . What say you?

Only way you will find out is if you try them both. FWIW, I use mag primers with H414.

Mag primers have thicker metal cap than regular ones. I used to load CCI 200, but bought Wolf magnum primers because those were the only ones I could find. I load for 243win, 6.5x55 and 8 mm Mausers. With other variables the same, I could not find differences in the pressure or accuracy. Some people reduce the powder load with mag primers, but as I said I did not change anything and loads did not appear hotter.

I have used LR primers with 414 in my 30-06, mostly CCIs. The accuracy and consistency with Sierra 165s has been better than I could have hoped for. Are there reported adavantages to using magnum primers? I have a small stash and access to more but haven't been using them. I'd like to know the ins and outs of this.
Thanks, Dave.

There's an excellent article on the topic by Allan Jones, formerly of CCI that addresses exactly why Speer recommends magnum primers with W760/H414 and other powders. It also addresses a bunch of other issues on the topic. You can read the article at ShootingTimes' website:
http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammunition/ST_mamotaip_200909/index.html

I have used both with Win 760 (same powder as H414). I got some hangfires on not so cold days with standard CCI LR primers. Switching to magnum primers solved the problem. Same or better accuracy in this case (with 165 gr Sierra MKs). I'd use the magnum primers.

Good shooting!

I have used H414 for nyears and have only used large rifle primers.I have not had any problems with hang-fires or any other problems some folks say they have with them.
That said try them in your rifle and see what it likes.

I have burned this powder by the wheelbarrow load and never had an issue with it using LR primers. It is a great match with the .30/06 and along with 760, is my favorite powder for the cartridge overall.

JW

Years ago, in an old Speer #8 manual, they recommended Mag primrs for use with H414 in an '06, so I used it. Recently, in a Barnes manual, H414 was recommended with regular LR primers so I used that too. 168 gr TSX shoot like laser guided missiles with that. A bunch of old Remmy 180 core lokts shot bg holes with the mag primer, so . . . . . .

Either/Or -- IMHO.

MZ5 - Thanks for the link.

Aussie & Shootist - Yeh, it's an excellent powder for the 30-06. I think it's the best for the cartridge that I've used and I've used quite a few. I'm going to read up on the magnum primer recommendation but for the time being find myself perfectly content to continue to use the CCI LR primers. I've had no issues and took a nice 8 pt. in November with 414 behind a Sierra 165 fired off with a CCI LR.

MZ5 - If you happen back to this thread, I read the article. If I understood it correctly there is an advantage to using the magnum primers for hunting in temps under 20 deg. F to ensure the desired rate of ignition. Correct? Any idea if it makes a lick of difference in pressurs and/or ignition when using the magnum primed loads, in this case H414/W760, in warmer temperatures?

FYI, I got hangfires (approximately 1 per 10 rds fired) at temperatures well above 20 F-- like low 40s.

after speaking to a Benchrest shooter a few years ago, who was shooting a 338 Lapua, I asked him about his experience with primers..

He told me that he used Large Rifle primers in everything he shot.. to include the Lapua and a 300 Ultra Mag..

it has no problems lighting that much powder..

I use Large Rifle primers exclusively when I buy some.. or we can find them for sale anymore.. at a decent reasonable price, instead of some inflated price..

as far a H 414.. I have found it to be a wonderful and not overly picky powder

Hey, OldRooster. Glad you found the link interesting. I understand the gentleman to be saying that magnum primers offer more ignition 'power' than standard, and that examples of when that may be helpful include low ambient temperatures (among other things). I also read him to say that magnum primers can smooth out pressure variations and improve overall ignition at less-than-max charges, and that this situation is frequently why they recommend(ed) magnum primers in their manuals.

Speer #14 has an article in it specifically about standard vs. magnum primers and the resulting chamber pressures, but that article was specifically about black powder cartridges, and I do not know to what extent or even whether the principles exemplified there would translate to smokeless.

I have used both in my 7x57 and 30-06 and nothing changed at all..not even the POI...velocity was the same for all practical purposes with about 20 to 30 FPS to the mag primer...

I duplicated the mag primer load by using a one grain increase with the std. primer and got the same velocity and POI..again nothing changed..

I don't suppose thats very clinical but it worked out that way in the case of my 06 and 7x57..

However in the 9.3x62 when I used a 215 Fed mag primer to the loads that I had been using the Fed 210 in as I ran out of 215s then I got in trouble, the load worked but it was definately much too hot, got a stick case, an extractor mark and very flat primers, the 3rd round was a stuck bolt, but I got the case out with the palm of my hand, but it hurt my hand, that is how tight it was...I went home and pulled a hell of a lot of bullets, ticked off about the whole situation and my ignorance in that I should have known better...

So one needs to approach these things very carefully..

.

I am new at reloading but I've shot around 100 rounds of ammunition loaded with H414 and regular large rifle primers with no problems whatsoever.

Whoaaa! Seafire, hangfires? Were these with H414? I have never had one. Only one really funky experience with a round that started to come apart in the chamber. That was recently with a 257 Roberts. Cannot figure out what I did wrong on that one.

Ray,
Thanks. I have had no problems with LR primers in anything from 257 Roberts to .30-06. You answered one of my questions about POI changing. Probably will stick with my current recipes on non-magnum loads. Dave

H414 and magnum primers generally give me better groups. 150gr ballistic tip, CCI250, 60gr of H414 is the most accurite 30-06 load i found. But the 165gr ballistic tip with 58gr H414 was very close.