AR primers

[nakneker]

I’ve always used CCI41s, never tried the federal 41s or the winchesters, does it matter much? Getting low on CCIs and see Fecerals in stock all the time. Most of the AR I shooting I do is under 300 with 223s, the 300 blackouts are usually under 100. I have one heavy barrel 223 Wylde I use out to 600. I can’t imagine different primers matter much at closer ranges so long as they work, asking mostly for the longer stuff. Interested in opinions from guys who have experimented with AR primers.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Whether it matters is how you view results on targets, hunting, reliability, etc. I hunt with my AR, when shooting at 100/200 yards I see very little difference in group size between CCI450, Rem 7.5, and Fed MAR. I have been running the Fed AR mainly to save the Rem for my bolt guns and I was able to buy the Fed primers during the latest component supply interruption. Testing only way to KNOW.

 

[platapus]

Does anyone know the hardness difference between the three?

Was going to try the CCI 41s in a 22CM AR.

Thanks

 

[RegionRat]

The only thing about a Mil-Spec primer in theory, is that it passes the Min-Max concept of activation energy.

So, the OEM's can make the same primer and call it something different when they don't fully run it against the tests and specifications.

Between different brands of Mil-Spec primers, once we are past ignition sensitivity concepts, they are pretty much like their commercial counterparts.

My advice is that it is unlikely to show any significant difference at the short lines, but only a test will show what your rig and recipe likes at 600 and beyond.

 

[searcher]

In my experience, if you have a bullet/powder combo that has a wide sweet spot, you cans swap out virtually any thick-cupped small rifle primer (whether labeled magnum - as in Russian- or standard). The safety aspect comes into play with the thickness of the cup. If I'm trying a new primer substitute for the first time in a .223-sized cartridge, I drop my powder two grains and work up, recording velocities as I do so. That way, I know what to alter my powder each time I do a primer substitution. I use all three of these primers with one particular varmint load - though I do alter the powder 2/10th of a grain on one or two substitutions. They all go in the same, small hole.

Between the Winchester 41 primers, Remington 7 1/2 or the Federal Match AR primers, you will likely encounter a velocity difference of no more than around 30-40fps between the brands. Sometimes, the thick-cupped Russian primers like Wolf or Tula run less FPS than the standard primer. I do not know the hardness difference between the three - but since all there are suited to A/Rs - it would seem to matter little - if at all - at lease in terms of safety or load performance once the powder is tweaked for the primer.

 

[Rocketvapor]

I normally use the CCI450, 0.025" thick cup primers.
WSR, 0.020" thick cups do great but are limited to less than HOT loads.
Have tried CCI 41 and CCI BR4 but get better groups @ 600 with the CCI 450.

I did a small sample of Ginex, 0.02" in a fairly hot 22 Nolser load.
About 2500fps @ 300 with a Berger 85.5.
Will do more. Without the one flyer (no idea what happened) both groups did OK.

 

[Alaska Bush Man]

I beleve WW won the contract at LC for 5.56
That the reason you see WW 41 primers instead of CCI 41 normally used.