• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Weighing primers !

Number cases with a sharpie
I did a primer sort in this thread and got my share of Naysayers :)

Garmin Xero and Primer Sorting

All these numbers are getting confusing. Time for some more coffee. As far as groups, anything under 1 MOA vertical @ 600yds is GOOD for me :) My last match was 574-15X. Look at these averages from the two primer tests; Post #5 March 7 10 shot average, 31.7gr SB6.5 SM avg 2042 Garmin avg...
forum.accurateshooter.com
 
JFrank said:
Here’s 14 pages to read about the subject, if you want more than just scroll down the page.
I sort primers because I want to but just for thought. Using the gram mode, consider .007 g equals .10 gr ( about 6 kernels of Varget)
In a batch of primers I get a spread of about .007 gram
Q) which has more influence on the target ?
Primer mix or powder ?

Vertical Dispersion - Weighing Primers

Hey Guys, I'm not looking to start a debate on the merits of weighing primers, or if it's worth the time investment. I've already decided to give it whirl, and I've weighed out 1,000 of them into groups separated by .02gr mostly (with some extreme outliers culled entirely). I will say I was...
forum.accurateshooter.com
Click to expand...
here is a couple more threads with some really good information on sorting primers and why

Weight sorting primers-Test

It's winter time, I'm bored and it's a great time to do tedious things before next shooting season. I have never weight sorted primers but have a few friends who do. When I asked them if it helped they said they weren't sure. The reason was they never knew if the variation was the priming mix...
forum.accurateshooter.com

How much "Extreme Spread" is acceptable in competition?

A little background, This is in regards to a thread I read on this forum regarding weight sorting primers. I have attached a short article describing a quick test I performed to see if a real test is warranted. In the attached "quick test"- The average MV from the lightest 5 primers (actually...
forum.accurateshooter.com

CW
 
I have been doing Primers for years. That is how I made Made High Master in Palma and F/Open Long and Mid Range.
I remove the Anvil on CCI 400 and 450's. Install them in reverse. I use my FX120 for the job. Now at the cost of 450's not sure I will continue.
Sorting .22 Ammo by Rim Size is good past time.
I have Cats also .
 
Large cartridges will show less variability down range with primer weight than smaller cartridges.
FX120, or about any milligram scale can be used to sort primers.
Remember, you are sorting, accuracy is not very important.
Repeatability and resolution allow comparative measurements.
Go back and check a few that you sorted and see if you get the same measurement.
Maybe even weight 1, 2, 3--- 10 and see if linearity is acceptable.

It's also Easy Peasy to eliminate High/Low outliers with just about any decent scale.
 
Last edited:
Rocketvapor said:
Large cartridges will show less variability down range with primer weight than smaller cartridges.
FX120, or about any milligram scale can be used to sort primers.
Remember, you are sorting, accuracy is not very important.
Repeatability and resolution allow comparative measurements.
Go back and check a few that you sorted and see if you get the same measurement.
Maybe even weight 1, 2, 3--- 10 and see if linearity is acceptable.

It's also Easy Peasy to eliminate High/Low outliers with just about any decent scale.
Click to expand...
Well good thing it's Sunday. On my way to Church, I need help.I have been wrong for years.
 
Rocketvapor said:
@Dr. Matt
What is the model of that scale?
Is it this one:
www.rifleshootermag.com

Hornady Precision Lab Scale for Handloading Perfectionists - RifleShooter

The new Hornady Precision Lab Scale answers the needs of the perfectionist hand-loader. Tested by Joseph von Benedikt.
www.rifleshootermag.com www.rifleshootermag.com
@SteveOak
What scale do you use to weigh primers?
Click to expand...
I have been successful in evading that rabbit hole. :) I have many factors, far more basic, to master before I could conduct a meaningful test.

I have an FX-120i which I have not used other than to determine the Troemner check weights I have, serial number and everything, are not very good. LOL
 
One day, when you do go down that rabbit hole :) that 120i should be good enough to sort primers.
Maybe get a couple new check weights if yours are not very good.
 
Weighing primers is really not that big of a rabbit hole, shooting extreme high against lows at longer distances has shown variations on targets, just sorting in a 002 gram = .04 grain sorts is plenty of detail, keep the extreme outliers for foulers/ sighters at shorter range.
Look at it as free accuracy, if you can get one more X or one more ten instead of a nine for nothing but a few minutes of sorting while having a cup of coffee than why not ?
 
Is there a variation in primer cup/anvil weight or is it just the compound and a hand of skilled worker ?
 
Yes cup/anvil weight does seem to be part of the weight variance.
Here is one of my "tests" of "extreme" high/low weight for CI450 primers shot round robin.
Primer weight, As Fired weight, Weight Loss, Garmin velocity.
Go to post # 64 for table.

Garmin Xero and Primer Sorting

All these numbers are getting confusing. Time for some more coffee. As far as groups, anything under 1 MOA vertical @ 600yds is GOOD for me :) My last match was 574-15X. Look at these averages from the two primer tests; Post #5 March 7 10 shot average, 31.7gr SB6.5 SM avg 2042 Garmin avg...
forum.accurateshooter.com

and will it show down range?
Does for ME with a SMALL cartridge (22 Nosler/ 85.5 Bergers) and I'm just a 1 MOA shooter.
Imagine what it does for someone that shoots 1/4 to 1/2 MOA.
https://forum.accurateshooter.com/attachments/light-vs-heavy-primers-jpg.1538516/
EXTREME Light/Heavy makes close to an MOA @ 600yds.

I will concede that the odds of shooting one of the few outliers in a brick of primers in an important string might be low, it will happen.
 
Last edited:
JFrank said:
Here’s 14 pages to read about the subject, if you want more than just scroll down the page.
I sort primers because I want to but just for thought. Using the gram mode, consider .007 g equals .10 gr ( about 6 kernels of Varget)
In a batch of primers I get a spread of about .007 gram
Q) which has more influence on the target ?
Primer mix or powder ?

Vertical Dispersion - Weighing Primers

Hey Guys, I'm not looking to start a debate on the merits of weighing primers, or if it's worth the time investment. I've already decided to give it whirl, and I've weighed out 1,000 of them into groups separated by .02gr mostly (with some extreme outliers culled entirely). I will say I was...
forum.accurateshooter.com
Click to expand...
I weight to 1 piece of Varget. No reason to do that if you don't weigh primers in my opinion. You have found exactly what I have found. So when I win a match because a hit one more dot or touched one more line I feel it was worth the effort. Been doing this for about 5 years. As far as your question......both.
 
I weigh to one (or two) granules of SB6.5 with a EJ-54D2 (on low range).
Weighing primers to find outliers should be easy, even with a 1 milligram scale.
 
My downrange results don't carry much weight.
What would be convincing is a .1/.2 shooter running a a small test with a couple extreme outliers @ 600 or 1000 yds. Someone that routinely wins matches :).
Show primer weights, and target pictures.
 
JEFFPPC said:
I weight to 1 piece of Varget. No reason to do that if you don't weigh primers in my opinion. You have found exactly what I have found. So when I win a match because a hit one more dot or touched one more line I feel it was worth the effort. Been doing this for about 5 years. As far as your question......both.
Click to expand...
Good points, even though we can weigh powder to one kernel, we know precisely that one kernel while in the node /tune of positive compensation will not change the target yet six kernels will. Therefore weighing primers to a degree of .002 grams ~ .04 grains ( two kernels ) is IME and only speaking to my cartridge , is enough detail to avoid mixing extremes and promote positive results on target at longer ranges.
I’m not going to waste a good barrel testing too much crap at 1000 yards so I’ll go with the
bottom line.. don’t mix matter with anti matter. :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Classified Ads

Forum statistics

Threads
165,783
Messages
2,203,080
Members
79,110
Latest member
miles813

Share This Page

Back
Top