"Ask the Rabbi" by R. Mermelstein
QUESTION: Dear Rabbi Mermelstein:
My gun shop is sometimes out of CCI 300 large pistol primers. In
your opinion, would it be safe (I have a H&K USP 45) to use
CCI 350 magnum primers when reloading 45 ACP? If yes, what powder would
you recommend?
Thank you,
Zbig Krowicki
14 July 2004
ANSWER: Dear Mr. Krowicki,
The general rule of thumb is to reduce the propellant charge by 5%
whenever substituting a standard primer with a magnum primer. There are
two distinctly different types of primer compounds used by
manufacturers: Basic and Normal. Unless you’re a chemical engineer (I
am not) these terms are meaningless. All that you must understand is
that a magnum primer, depending on the manufacturer, burns longer,
hotter, or both. It is best to consult with the specific powder
manufacturer for guidelines. Better yet would be to use
Winchester primers, as that firm markets only one type of large pistol
primer for both standard and magnum loads. Even though handloading
manuals list .45 ACP loading data for powder as slow burning as Alliant
(formerly Hercules) Blue Dot, my preference for loading the .45 ACP has
always been the faster burning Alliant Bullseye or W-W 231. Bullseye
holds the distinction of being used by our government to load military
.45 ACP ammunition for 37 consecutive years in the early decades of the
last century. W-W 231, a flattened spherical powder, meters ever so
smoothly through all types of powder measures. Take your pick. One is
as good as the other.
Sincerely,
R. Mermelstein
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