Primers, is there a best, or even a better?

[Leo_B]

I've lately read various posts somewhere talking about how nicely Winchester primers seat, smoother and easier than others. So I'm wondering is there a best when it comes to primers? Or even a better? And if so which one?

 

[SeabeeKen]

I test several brands and let my rifle tell me what it likes. Federal often does very well. My rifle makes more shooting decisions than I do.

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

seating means nothing to me, winchester are probably the worst primers you can buy.

load up everything else (not winchester) and see what shoots best

 

[M-61]

winchester are probably the worst primers you can buy.

Why? For seating? FTF? Accuracy?

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

Why? For seating? FTF? Accuracy?

FTF, qc problems, leaking primers.

So many threads on this. I dont see a reason to take a risk with them. if you can't get a good load with a CCI, federal, or european (ruag, ginex, wolf) then I doubt winchester would be the magic fix.

 

[Leo_B]

My goal is to figure out which one to start with. I've got MagTech which after buying read more and they apparently aren't as well liked. I want to get one more to compare and contrast. Hoping to make a wise(r) decision. No hazmat fee today at Natchez and no minimum apparently.

 

[K22]

If we are addressing seating issues, I found Federal and Remington to seat easily whereas CCI the most difficult.

If we are addressing accuracy, then the only way to know is to test them. However, in my experience, it is the bullet and powder selected that mostly affects accuracy at least at the level that I am shooting at which varmint grade accuracy.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Large or small rifle primers?

 

[drop_point]

A friend of mine had Winchester LR primers damage his bolt face because they were "leaky". He had to have a costly repair.

 

[madmixerman]

I had Winchester small rifle primers leak and etch the bold face. I use cci 450 now.

 

[wkdickinson]

I have found Federal 210M for LR (308/6.5CM) and CCI 450 for SR (6bra/6Dasher) to be consistently good choices.

 

[kelbro]

My goal is to figure out which one to start with. I've got MagTech which after buying read more and they apparently aren't as well liked. I want to get one more to compare and contrast. Hoping to make a wise(r) decision. No hazmat fee today at Natchez and no minimum apparently.

$100 minimum

 

[Ranger188]

You really don't want a primer to seat too easily, you want a snug fit.
A loose fit could cause problems.
Just because a primer seats firmly, isn't a bad thing.
Hard to go wrong with CCI or Federal.
Don't buy just cause they are the cheapest. Primer prices have come down a lot.
A few extra bucks for a 1000 CCI or Federal is well worth it.

 

[rockhound78]

I haven't had any issues with WW primers, but then again, mine are at least a decade old. QC was probably better then.

 

[mountain madness]

Can't go wrong with cci primers.

 

[Liven The Dream]

CCI and don't look back.

Winchester back in the day of White Box ! VG

 

[farmerjohn]

I've lately read various posts somewhere talking about how nicely Winchester primers seat, smoother and easier than others. So I'm wondering is there a best when it comes to primers? Or even a better? And if so which one?

Hey Feller, sitting here in the Drs office and reading this, IMHO after 60yrs of reloading, it all depends on what kind of accuracy you are looking for. Taking handguns and shotguns out of the picture, if you are satisfied with 1 moa out to 300yds primers probably don't much matter. If you are trying to get into the teens or single didgets it will make a great big difference. For all around use as the above foke have said, you can't go wrong with CCI or Federal, again in my experience.... John

 

[Murray Brook]

Hope all goes good for you at the Dr's office.

 

[Bemoni]

When i started to work up a accuracy load for my 6,5-284, i ran into some difficulties.
I'm from the other side of the pond, so a lot of the stuff you guys are using, are simply not available here, especially primers and powders!
So, i started to do some comparing and tried with Vitha 550 and reload Swiss RS 62 ( the latter is very close to 4350 in burn characteristic ), but i could not get the velocity i wanted.
Slower is sometimes better, so i moved to RS 70 ( close to RL 26 ) and 54 grn are sending a 135 grn A-Tip from home with 930 m/s ( 3051 FPS ), with a remarkable accuracy ( 0,3 MOA ), but the ES was way to high, for any use on the long range.
My first loads was with CCI 250, ES was 55 Fps, not good enough, Federal Magnum fared a bit better, 30 Fps and Rem Magnum 35 Fps.
I was starting to get desperate, but then i found some VERY old Ruag 5333 i a drawer and the ES dropped to a mere 9 Fps ( 10 shot string ) the group shrink to 0,2 Moa.

I sourced all the 5333's i could and ended up with some 5 K and made another load with 140 SMK over 52 grn RS 70 is used for practice, but are still holding 0,4 Moa ( see the picture ).

So yes, primers matters, but what's good for one powder, may not be usable for another.
Just my 5 cents

 

[JFrank]

My goal is to figure out which one to start with. I've got MagTech which after buying read more and they apparently aren't as well liked. I want to get one more to compare and contrast. Hoping to make a wise(r) decision. No hazmat fee today at Natchez and no minimum apparently.

Why don’t you just walk into a sporting goods store and buy a few different sleeves of primers and test for yourself before you order stuff the rifle may not like ?