MagTech with large pistol primers

[Wildcat Will]

I speck someone has already talked about this but I could not find it.  I have been using MagTech shells modified to take a shotgun primer.  However, Hammer Double has gone away and now the only source for restock is shells made to take large pistol primers.  Here is the question, I load 75 gns of Goex FF and I am wondering how well a large pistol primer will do in setting of a 12g shell.  Just seems like a lot of powder for a large pistol primer.

What say ya'll?

[Adirondack Jack]

They go bang every time, at least for me.  I would NOT try and drill out Magtechs to take 209s.  Look inside of one.  Unlike modern rifle or pistol brassm they have a stamped "cup" where the primer pocket is and it ain't all that thick.  Even IF ya got a 209 to fit, ya wouldn't have a lot of meat left (if any) on that cup.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I load from 60 to 80 grains of Goex 2F, and large pistol primers work jest fine.

You will have to change your re-priming routine.
1.  Punch out the old primer with a de-priming punch (I use an old de-priming punch from a Lee Loader), or even a nail set in the end of a dowell.
2.  Re-prime by setting the primer on a hard surface, place the primer pocket over it, give the bottom of the shell a firm tap with a deep hole socket or a dowel countersunk at the bottom end, or what I use is a 4 inch piece of copper pipe.  The cadillac solution is to acquire an RCBS shellholder and use a regular reloading press to re-prime.

[panhead pete]

I was given about 50 MagTechs that were drilled out for 209 primers, so I use both.  Neither have ever failed.  If you are real concerned, use magnum primers for hotter ignition. I have used as much as 90 grains of FFg with large pistol primers and they went bang every time.  I now load around 82 grains to keep it a bit more economical.  Hope this helps.

Happy Trails,

Panhead Pete

[Dr. Bob]

For easier priming, check in the local antique malls for a priming tool.  Looks like a nutcracker with a hole on one side and a little round anvil on the other.  Usually run less than $20.  Think that I paid $12 for mine 'bout a year ago. 

[Adirondack Jack]

decap with a spare LEE decapping pin inserted through a hole down the middle of a chunk of dowel (used to easily center the pin) and a small hammer.

Cap with an RCBS 12GA shell holder (ya gotta call and ask em, it's about $20) and yer regular single stage type press

[Wills Point Pete]

 I, too, have never had any trouble making a shell go "BOOM!" with Large Pistol primers. I use Winchesters, mostly.

[Charlie Bowdre]

I shoot 75 gr 2ff Goes in my Magtecs . Used the priming tool as described by Dr. Bob ....Never had any problems in fireing off several hundred rounds.

[hellgate]

It doesn't take much for good old BP. Keep in mind how many rifles and shotguns fire reliably using percussion caps that are a lot more wimpy and have a longer distance to send the flash than a lg pistol primer centered in the back of a brass case. They'll do fine.

[Sespe Badger]

Mine go Bang every single time.  I use the RCBS Cowboy die to deprime, press to prime.  Everything else is by hand. 

My problem is I have a full box of 209 primers now that I have no use for.  At the next swap meet I might try to turn them into pistol primers!

[Fingers McGee]

I, too, have never had any trouble making a shell go "BOOM!" with Large Pistol primers. I use Winchesters, mostly.

Same here.

[Angel_Eyes]

Don't forget that Large Rifle primers are the same size with more flash if you want to make sure.
When loading shotgun shells without the correct dies etc.
I leave the threaded die hole of my single stage press empty and use the empty hole to hold the shell (entered from below) then put a flat nosed bullet on the ram and press the primer up into the shell, works a treat!!

Adapt and survive Gent's,,,,UKshooter

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

UKShooter;  That is a good trick, with the press. 

However, I believe that large rifle primers are higher than pistol primers. Either they protrude, or they are crushed slightly. Can someone confirm the dimensions?

[Angel_Eyes]

Sir Charles, you may be right, I have just checked 3 different batches and the large rifle ones are between 3-5 thou taller than large pistol.
Having said that, I have not had any trouble loading with them when I was short of large pistol primers for .44mag rifle ammo.
It does make a slight difference in point of impact though, seems to give a few more FPS and "feels" faster or heavier.
Possibly getting a better flame spread or fuller burning.

UKshooter

[Dusty Morningwood]

Here is what my Magtech cases with CCI Lg Pistol primers do.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Rudybolla;  Won't your Magtech cases shuck out with cowboy inertial ejectors?

[Wildcat Will]

As always great feedback.  Thanks a bunch.  Dusty nice video and great smoke outta that shotgun.  I think I will go ahead and shift over.  I have a rig made for me that mounts in a Lee single stage pistol reloader to reprime.  I guess I will see if I still have a old lee die set with a pistol de-primer and use that.  Thanks again for all the great feedback.

[Dick Dastardly]

Mayville Engineering Corp. (MEC) makes a decapping/resizing/priming kit for their MEC 600 Jr. Mk-V loaders.  It works great and allows you to hand load Mag Tech all brass shot shells on their loaders.  You will still have to do the final crimp/glue by hand, but it makes loading all brass shells nearly as easy as heathen plastic.

They made me one in 20ga and I love it.  I'm going to get one made in 16ga also.

DD-DLoS

[Dalton Masterson]

UKShooter, that works great using part of my Lee Loader sitting on the ram part of my press, and putting the 12 ga shell thru like you said. Thanks for that tip! Wish it worked on my 16s tho.  DM

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

For the 16, is there anything that could make a bushing for the hole in the top of a press?