Unique powder and CCI Magnum primers?

[Mus408]

Was getting down to my last couple hundred WLP primers and of course due to the primer shortage in pistol primers
all I could find was some CCI LP 350 primers.
So should you back your load down 1/2 grain because of potential for a higher pressure when loading .45 Colt?
I don't believe Alliant 2400 would be a problem if using in .44 Magnum mid level loads or hotter .45 Colt Ruger loads.

Also same deal for the small primer pistol loads... could only find Winchester SP for Magnum loads which I use for .357 Magnum and
maybe not a problem with those and 2400 powder.

 

[contender]

Anytime you change something,, careful working up should be done.
However,, as noted,, a magnum primer is normally hotter than a "standard" primer. The Winchester primers are often allowed for use in standard AND magnum loadings. I'd say a small decrease in powder of 1/2 grain would be quite safe to continue with.
And again, a WSP is also used for both standard & magnum loads in many loadings.

 

[mikld]

I agree with Contender; any time a component is changed, do another load work up. Or at least try some with the manuals' starting loads. Trying to figure out the pressure rise with magnum primers over standard primers, with a specific load of a specific powder will be pretty difficult, and way beyond most home reloaders.....

 

[Paul B]

As 2400 was mentioned, neither Hercules or Alliant ever recomended a magnum primer for 2400. I've tried bot primers and frankly alway had better result with the standard primers and 2400.

With Unique I would drop back at least one full grain and maybe a grain and a half depending on hot I originally loaded with the standard primer when changing to a magnum primer.
Paul B.

 

[Rclark]

Following tested with 5 1/2" Ruger large frame BH. .45 Colt

With Unique I didn't find much difference using 300 vs 350 primers. From the results I will use standard when I can, but substituting a magnum primer won't break anything (with this powder).

8.5g Unique, 255g SWC, CCI-300, 977fps, 17 SD, 56 ES, 15 shots
8.5g Unique, 255g SWC, CCI-350, 985fps, 21 SD, 82 ES, 15 shots

However with 2400 I most definitely didn't like what I saw (RUGER ONLY LOAD. Information only!!!!):

18.0g 2400, 255g SWC, CCI-300, 1022fps, 21 SD, 82 ES, 15 shots
18.0g 2400, 255g SWC, CCI-350, 1181fps, 22 SD, 94 ES, 24 shots

Always meant to rerun this test, but never did.

As said above work up loads if you aren't sure. You don't want a surprise! I've tested several of my favorite loads back/to back just to assure myself that I won't see any problems changing out primers... that is when I can't use the 'goto' primer.

 

[Mus408]

Thanks for that info Rclark ! I don't plan on using them unless I have a need to.

 

[Rclark]

As soon as the range clears (contests, training courses) in a few weeks, I'll be doing some back to back (CCI-300 vs CCI-350) tests with Herco powder in .45 Colt over the chrono. Have 100 cases loaded. 250g RNFP is the bullet. I never used this powder and want to get a feel for it. Seemed to meter ok, so it passed the first test . Now for the shooting part.