Large rifle vs magnum primers

[salate]

A mate of mine and I did some reloading recently for his new 300 win mag.

Normally we're reloading for .308 with large rifle primers, but obviously for his 300 win mag he got magnum problems.

Buggered if I can tell the difference though?

To my eye they look just about identical.

So, the difference is?

[Baldrick314]

A mate of mine and I did some reloading recently for his new 300 win mag.

Normally we're reloading for .308 with large rifle primers, but obviously for his 300 win mag he got magnum problems.

Buggered if I can tell the difference though?

To my eye they look just about identical.

So, the difference is?

The difference is in the heat/ power of the flame generated by the primer. Magnum primers = hotter flame

[yoshie]

Pistols primers produce a short and hotter flame, rifle primers are longer duration but less intense to ignite the slower burning powder. Pistol Magnum and Rifle Magnum are hotter and longer duration because they are used to use ignite even slower burning powders, respectively.

[Aster]

Different burn characteristics as explained above.

That's not to say magnum primers are exclusively for magnums etc.

More than a few guys using magnum primers in 'large rifle' cartridges as they prefer the result.