I have reloaded 9, 223, 32acp, 357/38 for years and have a Hornady LockNLoad AP press.
I bought my first BIG rifle a few weeks back 30-06 and want to get dies and such for it.
I’m good on which brass, powder and bullets to get as these are in “the book” but want to make sure I get the correct primers as they are nuts expensive! CCI has #200, #210 and a few others, such as magnum. What can you tell me to get for just, I guess normal 3006. Are/is there more than one kind of 3006 round?
Welcome to the world of rifle reloading. Just finished reloading some 30-06, used the CCi Large rifle primer, no problems, shoots very good. Most powder companies and bullet companies have data online for the correct primer/powder/bullet configurations. I like using Hodgon powders and their online data is great. I trust the bullet suppliers to suggest the best combo for their bullet/weight, I use Spreer for all rifle loads.
With reloading every detail can matter, and primers are a big one. The same primer from the same manufacturer made during a different run or “lot” actually CAN perform differently. It is best to use the exact same components as were used in the loading manual you are using. However, proper load development practices allow you to use differing primers or brass safely. The big thing to watch for is switching between brands of primers and of course, magnum versus non-magnum primers. Magnum primers can make some loads go “over pressure”. The biggest variable however are the guns themselves. I have loads for one rifle that will not even fully chamber in another of the exact same caliber, so different can chambers, throats, and other dimensions be, that loads in manuals can sometimes be outside safe limits by a surprising amount.
Use the load work up practices for each load for your guns, then, always re-do the work up if you have to change a component. I know it sometimes feels a drudgery to do it, but I’ve seen it many times where that change of component makes all the difference, and, I never assume a load that works in one gun, will work in another gun.
If I have to switch primers, I re-check my load work-up, Different manufacturers primers are different, even down to how thick the metal cup is that they use, therefore changing the “pressure signs” appearance of fired loads.
After 30+ years of reloading, to include precision long range match loads. I have ended up with a saying
Every detail matters.
For normal 30-06 loads you will want to use NON-magnum, “standard large rifle primers” And if you follow the standard load work up practices, you should be able to use any standard large rifle primers by any of the manufacturers. But buy with care, Federal 210M primers are not magnum primers, the “M” in federals case, stands for “match”. Where as Winchester WLRM Stands for " Winchester Large Rifle Magnum" So just take the time to be sure what your getting.
If you are looking for a accuracy load try different ( non magnum ) primers if you have them. IE: same everything except primer. It’s true that primers can make a difference for accuracy. If you are looking for accuracy that’s only the beginning.
PS: keep detailed diary for reloads, powder, primer, case, bullet, and bullet jump.
A Basic chronograph is a useful tool to have, you’ll understand why later. Some people are happy if their reloads just go bang, others want more.
Oops, that’s too much too fast. It’s a blast, and it’s very easy for a beginner to be put into overload cause it’s deep. GOOD LUCK.
Two different things. In most small to medium ( RIFLE ) cartridge loads,the primer that produces less pressure will produce more Consistent results and, Believe it or not sometimes higher velocities ( because ) less pressure let’s the powder ignition move the bullet rather than primer presser. Magnum primers in some Cases will cause more powder fracture ( BRISANCE ) changing the the surface area or make up of the powder. BRISANCE has also on rare occasion caused Catastrophic results in Extreme cold weather. Magnum
pistol cartridges with magnum powders will require a magnum primer to ignite slower powders like H110/296 .this only the tip of the ice burg. Fun fun.
So the big question now, where do I get the dies, primers, bullets?
Primers are on Gunbroker but good googly moogly a $1 per primer!!! Wow!
I used to get a 1000 ct box of small rifle/pistol for $35 now the are around $800-$1000.
I’ve looked for dies online at Cabelas, Brownells, MidwayUSA, CheaperThanDirt (They are the most expensive always btw). and can’t find any instock. I hate to Gunbroker these as well as I know the prices here will be crazy.
I’m thinking of just enough stock to reload about 500 if needed, vs the mega numbers of reloads I can do with my 9,223’s.
Keep looking on line. It’s a pain because you might find one thing here and, another thing there adds up to more shipping costs. Try Extreme BULLETS they have some bullets. Be carful of scam websites. I found one that had everything for reloading @ good prices. If something is too good it’s NG. The first red flag was not a Secure website. When I googled some of the info it came up bogus.
PS. YOU CAN substitute small rifle primers in place of small pistol primers. The biggest difference is cup thickness. If you had aftermarket work done the pin strike may not be strong enough to fire the primer. I tried three different loads for
38 special & 9mm and they were right on spec. with a chronograph. The only reason I tried it was because on line pressure tests came out the same for 9mm.
PS MAYBE OK FOR TARGET LOADS BUT NOT SELF DEFENSE. Hope to hear from you soon, got to get to the range. Ps you can send me a direct email thru this website if you like. Click on my picture, then click on the envelope.
Another way to look online is google ( buy reloading supply’s ) a bunch of retail info will come up, keep notes and have at it. If your near a Bass Pro Shop you might find things there. No info on stock on their web. & no on line purchases.
I found out that inside info is given to friends as to when they will be getting anything related to shooting. The truth of it is: every thing is a mess. When Obama got elected it was not this bad. At that time I bought 11K of large pistol primers. I also remember going to the gun shop to pick up a couple of pounds of powder and picking thru a bunch of powder to find the same lot number on one pounders. Not that will help you but I keep large amounts of reloading supplies because I reload a lot. I have powders that can be used for more than one cartridge. People say you can load almost anything with Unique & 4895 H/IMR.
I wish I could help but the only constructive help would be to try and answer some easy reloading questions. Stay in touch.
You are finally to the place where you can make the gun more accurate with reloading (and still save money).
Fizbin, I just use whatever primer they tell me to use in the book.
Pretty straightforward–you don’t need magnum primers unless you’re shooting a magmun caliber.
You’ll be fine with large rifle primers. IF you have any extra large MAGNUM primers–send them up for my 300WM.
I have no Large Rifle primers at all.
I may bight the bullet (funny pun) and by some primers. $35 /100 yipes to at least have a hundred or two, until I can buy a brick at closer to normal pricing.
Powder, I’ll have to look in the Hornady book or hogdon book for what powder will work. I have a pretty good supply for sm/pistol/rifle. Bullet heads, I got zip for 3006, I gotta find those. And … I did find dies on gunbroker for no so crazy prices. I wish there was someone local or even not local who’d want to trade for what I have.
I think my friend is referring to the bullet part of the cartridge.
Fizbin–$35 was a lot for 1000 primers a couple of years ago.
We need to start buying things that we anticipate will be in short supply and then sell when the price is high (like primers).
NO CAPITAL GAINS!!!
@larry84 Sorry I didn’t reply, I saw this a a squirrel ran by and distracted me. Yes, the actual bullet that sits on top of the casing. Some folks refer the the “round” as a “bullet” and just wanted to distinguish it as just the lead bullet.
@Aaron25 Yep, I have PLENTY of everything I have caliber-ed but NEVER thought I’d buy a big gun.
So for years I’ve been poo poo-ing the large primers, brass, bullets, powder, now drats, I’m way behind the curve.
So do I wait for prices to come back down, or risk things getting super bad and basically a ZERO is added to everything, Eeeeek! Plus the ET’s are coming in June.
In better times when things were more available there was the great primer shortage of 1994 AKA the AWB OF 1994. Magazines, boolits, primers, powder et. al. went snakey for about 8 mos. but never got back to pre ban levels. That said a few friends and I decide to have a misfits reloading party (actually were were drinking beer and watching NASCAR and somebody started off with “I wonder…”)
The drill was we all had to start off with a brick of primers, in our case large, there were 4 of us so Lg Pistol, Lg Pistol Magnum, Lg Rifle and Lg Rifle Magnum. A single cartridge, in our case 308. A pound of powder (we chose to go with all rifle powders as opposed to trying pistol in a bottle neck cartridge, glad we were drinking beer and not bourbon) 100 boolits, if memory serves 165gr Hornady BTSP. Mind you this was 1989 and there was no such thing as the internet or social media or a web site. I ended up with Lg pistol primers and IMR 4350.
The end result is with careful experimentation we all ended up with a viable rifle load given our components. We started low and went from there. Would I put a Large Rifle Magnum primer in my normal pistol load, NO.
Truth be told I have a fair number of friends that I may re visit this experiment with just to see what they get on various platforms given the circumstances as they are and for general info. In culmination it may turn in to a copy of how to make due with what you can get if that’s all you can get. Pet loads are nice but necessity is the mother of invention.
Then there is that whole rebuilding the motor for my hot rod and cleaning the engine bay and installing hydroboost brakes, and , and, and… Mebby when I retire again LOL.
