308 WIn PRIMERS??

[1holeaddict]

I have decided to put together two 308 Win rifles to shoot this season. I have read a lot of posts about pet loads. I noticed a lot of guys using MATCH primers and then there are a lot of guys that said they see no difference from a standard to a match primer.

I am going to be doing load development with 168's and 175's to start.
I plan on using the old reliable 4064 and Varget.
I will be shooting from 100-600 yard.

What are your experiences with Match / standard primers in the 308?

TY

Ryan

 

[jr600yd]

Unless your shooting benchrest and in the .01’s you’ll probably never know the difference.

 

[Papa Charlie]

I use the CCI BR-2 Primers for FTR. I have had good results and consistency.
While it may be hard to separate one components affect on accuracy, my idea is to eliminate as many variables as i can, so I go with the BR-2's.
When you think of the cost of reloading, a box of 1000 primers costs $61.49 (Cabela's) that works out to $0.06 per primer. Not a huge factor when you look at everything else we spend for accuracy.

 

[2506]

As has been said just to separate only one components effect on accuracy is a whole science in it's self. Primers do make a difference with some loads as to accuracy but I have found that CCI BR have given me best results most of the time. Rem 9 1/2s have also been pretty good. Like has also been said once I find a powder and bullet seating depth, that works well I will experiment with primers. But I always back off the powder charge and work back up watching for pressure. NEVER just sub a different primer for an established load without working up to it. I have a 25-06 that I thought was going to have to find a new home. Tried about every standard accuracy load and trick in the book and just under 1" was the best it would do. Then one day I decided to give CCI 250 primers a try with the best load so far. Went from just under 1" down to bug holes. That rifle now has a home for life with me.

 

[texasbilly]

Federal 210M for best results.

 

[Billy 30-06]

I have a lot of 210 primers that produce the same low SDs as the 210m primers.
Billy

 

[dminn1]

In two 308 barrels worth of experience using CCI BR-2 and 200's, about 8000 rounds total,I get the same velocity, es, sd, and accuracy with both primers. I save $20 and use CCI 200. I wish I could find some more Tula KVB-7 primers. Those I really like.

 

[Ned Ludd]

From the company, the only difference between Federal regular and "match" primers is that the match primers are made at specific times by their senior assemblers. The individual components that go into them are identical. Is it possible that the "match" primers are slightly more reliable due to being assembled by the most experienced workers? Yes, it is. Is it possible that you will never be able to shoot any difference between the two? Yes, it is. I have always used standard Fed205s and 210s, largely because the 205Ms and 210Ms never seem to be available when I need to buy more. Availability is a consideration that may be almost as important as reliability. Regardless of their reliability, even "match" primers won't go "BANG" if you run out of them and can't find any to buy for weeks (or months) on end.

 

[D-4297]

I'm just starting another dive down the primer rabbit hole , again . Used the S&B , both LR and SR for the last three years , both for cost , and fantastic consistency . Now they went "All gone , BYE-BYE" ! Bruno's had some Rem 7-1/2 BR's on sale so I bought a couple boxes . WTF ?
Shot the first test loads today , and noticed a couple of things . First off ; the detonation felt quicker . Not harder , or more recoil . Just a feeling of a quicker response . Second was the powder burn around the outside of the neck was black rather than smoky gray . Same powder , and same low node load . Same bullet , 185 Berger Hybrid . Third ; the group opened up slightly , like maybe a 1/4" at a 100 , but enough to get my attention . (Reduce the charge , Dude ! You ain't payin attention )
If you're in the mid to high 190's , the BR's may be worth the extra cost . If you aren't there yet , lot of good recommends already here from guys who know more than I do .

 

[Ned Ludd]

D - The Rem 7-1/2 may have much higher brisance than primers you were using previously. I'd be surprised if your velocity from the same charge weight wasn't noticeably increased. The following test may not be a direct measurement of brisance, but it is a good illustration of differences between various small rifle primers:

https://web.archive.org/web/2015030...2009/06/primers-small-rifle-primer-study.html

(The page may be a little slow to load, but it will)

 

[Lannister]

I long ago standardized my rifle primer sets. I buy in bulk when they are available, and I don't change primers Willy Nilly on some ephemeral quest for that last 0.05" of accuracy (I don't do benchrest). So I buy and stock only these types below:
CCI 450 Small Rifle Magnum
Fed 210M Large Rifle Match
Fed 215 Large Rifle Magnum
But there is nothing wrong with picking CCI BR2's over Fed 210M's. Just choose one good match LR primer, buy them in bulk and rock on...

 

[dc.fireman]

I've used 210M's, 215M's, and BR-2's with great outcomes.

I've also used WLP's in my 6.5x55 loads, with success. What can you obtain a large amount of, consistently?

Develop your load off of whatever you can buy in bulk locally. Hazmat fees suck.

 

[243Lapua]

Federal Match 210. Never had an issue.

 

[Down South]

I prefer to start with CCI BR primers as they seem to burn clean,once my base load is established I test primers side by side at the longest distance possible to note improvements or decline .
Just me of course
J

Do you adjust powder charge for each primer tested to get the same velocity? The reason I'm asking this is because several years ago I loaded 4 different small rifle primers in palma brass (Wolf SRM, CCI BR4, Fed 205M, CCI 450 Mag) with the same powder charge (43.8 gr Varget with 185 juggernauts) and shot over the chrono. One primer in particular was 20 ftps hotter (CCI 450 Mag) than the 2nd hottest primer (Fed 205M) and the 3rd and 4th primer (CCI BR4 & Wolf SRM) were 5-10 ftps slower than the 2nd hottest. Keep in mind each lot of primers can be different, these were my results speed wise with my particular lots of primers. I shot groups with each primer, the 2nd hottest with that particular charge shot best. I then proceeded to drop the charge with the hottest primer to match the speed of the 2nd hottest and it tightened the group up. I also upped the powder charge of the slower primers to match the 2nd hottest primer speed and those groups tighten up as well. My point is that the load needs to be worked up with each primer individually. Just my .02

 

[D-4297]

Quick thanks to Ned Ludd . Yup ! Just a wee bit faster .... about 250fps faster . And it opened up , too . Duh .

Dropped the load down 4 tenths / gr. and she came right back in . Good info , Ned . Thank you ...."D"

 

[Mr.Knowit all]

Unless your shooting benchrest and in the .01’s you’ll probably never know the difference.

I agree and even then I don't think a person could tell. I have tried 215Ms vs. 215s and even the CCI250s and have found very little difference between the 3 primers. My SD was in the single digits. I do agree that there IS a difference in FPS with the different brands and that some burn hotter than other primers. However, with MY 308 and 300WM loads I have found the Federal and CCI primers to be very close. For example: Looking though my notes the last groups I shot had 74gr. MRP (208gr. ELDM) with a CCI250 and I had 2952 fps. with an SD of 9 fps. compared to the Federal 215s with the exact same load and bullet at 2949 fps. and an SD oof 5.8fps. both group extremely well and have zero noticeable POI change. That is just for this rifle and these 2 loads and JMO.
Has anyone else found certain primers to be interchangeable or comparable to others?

 

[skiutah02]

Do you adjust powder charge for each primer tested to get the same velocity? The reason I'm asking this is because several years ago I loaded 4 different small rifle primers in palma brass (Wolf SRM, CCI BR4, Fed 205M, CCI 450 Mag) with the same powder charge (43.8 gr Varget with 185 juggernauts) and shot over the chrono. One primer in particular was 20 ftps hotter (CCI 450 Mag) than the 2nd hottest primer (Fed 205M) and the 3rd and 4th primer (CCI BR4 & Wolf SRM) were 5-10 ftps slower than the 2nd hottest. Keep in mind each lot of primers can be different, these were my results speed wise with my particular lots of primers. I shot groups with each primer, the 2nd hottest with that particular charge shot best. I then proceeded to drop the charge with the hottest primer to match the speed of the 2nd hottest and it tightened the group up. I also upped the powder charge of the slower primers to match the 2nd hottest primer speed and those groups tighten up as well. My point is that the load needs to be worked up with each primer individually. Just my .02

^Bingo!

 

[spclark]

(The page may be a little slow to load, but it will)

Just tried that link, got page says “URL does not exist....”

All the shooter’s journal stuff got pulled a few years back when the author decided he no longer wanted a web ‘presence’ following him around in his daily life. Maybe his desire finally caught up with these archived copies that show up once in awhile now? I dunno... our loss.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Just tried that link, got page says “URL does not exist....”

All the shooter’s journal stuff got pulled a few years back when the author decided he no longer wanted a web ‘presence’ following him around in his daily life. Maybe his desire finally caught up with these archived copies that show up once in awhile now? I dunno... our loss.

I'm afraid the link does exist. I just checked and was looking through some of the archived articles. As I stated, the link is slow, perhaps your computer is timing out too fast.

 

[spclark]

Just tried again (on my iPhone), got this:



Will try later from laptop thru another server. Stay tuned....