Please note that this article looks at research and testing done by a variety of sources. Extreme caution should be taken when creating loads that go against accepted load data. This article looks at theory and our experience, and should not be considered recommendations about primers for the 30-06. When developing a new load for your 30-06, or any caliber, you should start with smaller amounts of powder and pressure and work up gradually.
About the 30-06
The .30-06 Springfield cartridge is a rifle cartridge that was developed by the United States Army in 1906. It is also known as the “Thirty-aught-six” or “7.62x63mm” (mm referring to millimeter). It is one of the most popular and versatile cartridges in the world and is commonly used for hunting and target shooting. The cartridge is named after its caliber (0.30 inches) and the year it was adopted (1906). It is a powerful cartridge that is suitable for taking large game, such as deer and elk, at long ranges. It is also a popular cartridge for long-range target shooting. The .30-06 Springfield cartridge is used in many actions of rifles, including semi-automatic, bolt-action, lever-actions, and my grandpa even used to shoot a pump action 30-06.
What Size Primer for 30-06
The 30-06 cartridge uses a large rifle primer. This is standard primer size used for centerfire rifle cartridges .30 caliber and larger. Most all reloading manuals list the large rifle primer. I always like to check 2 or 3 manuals when doing load development for a new load. Some people do experiment though with other primers.
Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading
Using Large Rifle Magnum Primers for 30-06
Especially when there’s a primer shortage, people often wonder if they can use other primers in their reloading. More than any other question about 30-06 reloading, I get asked if you can use large rifle magnum primers for 30-06.
I’m going to reemphasize, standard large rifle primers are recommended for the 30-06 cartridge, as they are designed to ignite the powder charge in cartridges with case capacities and pressure similar to the 30-06. It’s important to always use the correct primer size and type for the cartridge you are loading to ensure safe and reliable performance. It is recommended that you always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and industry standards when reloading any cartridge. That said, many people have experimented with magnum primers, and some have even found some success.
Berger Bullets Reloading Manual
Magnum primers are designed to ignite the powder charge in cartridges with larger case capacities and higher pressure than standard cartridges. They have a hotter and longer lasting flame which helps to ignite the slower burning powders used in magnum cartridges. However, the 30-06 cartridge is not considered a magnum cartridge and it uses standard powders, and using magnum primers can result in higher pressure and potentially dangerous situations. If you want to experiment with magnum primers, start with a smaller load, and work up safely and carefully, watching for signs of danger and pressure. You are literally playing with fire, so be EXTRA careful.
Can I Use Large Pistol Primers in the 30-06?
No. You cannot and should not even try to use large pistol primers in the 30-06. Large rifle and large pistol primers are not the same dimensions. A large pistol primer is a little smaller. A small pistol and small rifle primer are the same dimensions, and there is a little bit more capacity for experimentation (and some people do with 9mm primers and 223 primers). Not so with large rifle and large pistol. Your firing pin won’t be spaced to strike consistently, to say nothing of the pressure problems. The 30-06 uses a lot of pressure and powder. Don’t try it. The same goes for large pistol magnum primers. It’s not remotely safe or compatible. Don’t do it.
Possible Primers to Use in 30-06
- CCI 200 Large Rifle
- CCI BR2 Match
- Federal 210 Large Rifle
- Federal 210M Match Large Rifle
- Winchester WLR
- Fiocchi Large Rifle Primer
- Norma Superflash LR
- Remington 9 1/2 LR
- Sellier and Bellot Large Rifle
Possible Magnum Primers to Experiment With for 30-06
- Federal 215M Magnum Match
- Federal 215
- Remington 9 1/2 Magnum
- CCI 250 Magnum
About Primers
The primer is the small, cylindrical component that sits in the base of the cartridge and contains a small amount of an impact-sensitive explosive mixture. When the rifle’s firing pin strikes the primer, it ignites the mixture, which in turn ignites the powder in the cartridge and propels the bullet out of the barrel. The primer is an essential component of the cartridge and is responsible for initiating the firing sequence.
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