Primers

I have used CCI primers in every handload I have put together, riifle, or handgun ... no complaints. But wondering if there are better options. What would you recommend for the 44 mag?

If we are going to talk only of the 44 magnum then it comes to magnum primer or Non magnum primer.
Loads with 2400 I use a regular primer.
Loads with H110 I use a magnum primer.
Powder choices have a lot to do with this.

Is your question directed towards Brands? Other than CCI ? I do use load references from the Bullet makers Books, and the reason is, if I go with near max or max loads then the primers that are in the recipe are usually the best choice. Key word being usually ....

Yes, primers other than CCI. I usually load below max, say .5 grain or so. I have heard that if you use Winchester primers there is no need to use magnum primers. Is this true?

Last summer I ran out of mag primers. I was loading for 44 and 41. Burning h110 my loads were accurate. I substituted wlp. In both guns my groups opened up.Not saying wlp are not as good just saying the combination wasn't the same,a noticable difference.. I haven't loaded with a lot of different primers by brand but with my limited experience I would expect some variance.

I don?t load for 44mag. But in my loads I have more confidence in the CCIs. I believe it?s founded based on when I was working up my loads and experimenting. With that said I have owned Chevy, Ford, Toyota, and Ram trucks. All the trucks served me well and never left me wanting better, but my last 4 have been Rams.

I've used CCI primers for 44 years. Never had a problem. Never saw a need to switch or try others.

They are the only large pistol primer I use. No problems.

I CURRENTLY USE FED 155M PRIMERS FOR MOST OF MY LPP NEEDS AND THEY WORK REALLY WELL. I HAVE USED CCI PRIMERS TOO AND HAD NO COMPLAINTS. I DO NOT "BUY IN TO" THE WLP BEING A NON-MAG/MAG PRIMER ALL IN ONE.

same here...??...

You need to find the sweet spot between availability and performance.
Availability: This might not be an issue for you depending on your local supply situation. However I would concentrate on those brands/models that have a proven availability and supply certainty. No good developing the perfect load only to find components aren't available when you need them. Many competitive shooters in my country were left high and dry for over two years due to a shortage of their chosen primers.
Performance: My experience is that you need to see what works best in YOUR gun with YOUR choice of bullet and load. The individual differences between guns of even the same make and model make theory dubious. Empirical testing is the only real way to find out. Make a whole series of small test batches using different brands and see what gives the best result. Tedious, but at the end of the process you'll have a load that you can rely on. Strangely enough, knowing that your ammo is going to give a particular accuracy, gives you the confidence to raise your own performance.

Like Doc Rogers says - I have used CCI large magnum primers (CCI 350) since 1977 (almost as long as Doc) to load silhouette match grade and hunting rounds with H-110 powder and I have seen no reason to change.

Do you have a chrono? It helps you get stats on a load you don't see on target. Let me clarify that statement. When I work up an accurate load with any powder in one of my 44 mags I get a velocity read with extreme spread and standard deviation. What I have been able to do is usually lower the numbers by switching primers or at least see if I am already using the best one. I have never had a problem with CCI mags as far as reliability or ignition. Although sometimes another brand of primers tweaks the load. I have found velocity variations such as CCI standard primers give me a certain velocity[1200 fps], switching to WLP the velocity seems to increase approx. +30 fps, and going with CCI Mag normally adds approx. +70 fps. According to my chrono there is also a velocity difference between the different types of mag primers. If I am going for top speeds CCI Mags almost always produced the top velocity.

I use primarily Federal Large Pistol/Rifle primers. Pistol primers in the 41, rifle primers in the 460, and Winchester WLRM primers for my 300 Encore.

During the ''GREAT PRIMER FAMINE'' l used most any primer l could

find. Given a choice l preferred Fed LPP MATCH for my sillywett loads...

That changed about a year ago FOREVER... l got a sleeve of 5000

FED LPP MATCH (or so l thought) from a friend... Anyway l opened

the sleeve and found they were large RIFLE.. Not large pistol..

l called Federal over a period of 3 weeks at least EIGHT TIMES.

Always the CS guy was busy Call back or leave your number... Got

tired of their dog and pony show... Gave them away... Bottom line.

Never Never Ever will l use ANY Federal product