Do match primers effect accuracy in 'normal' rifles?

[Danattherock]

I am working up some accuracy loads for long distance shooting. For the 223, I have some 77 SMK and Varget and looking to make a good 300-600 yard load. For my 300 Wby, I am developing a 500-1000 yard load with 168 amax and 4350. My LGS primarily has Winchester primers so that's what I am stocked up on. However, I am going to a gun show Saturday morning and will have access to items I normally don't. I had considered picking up a 1000 primers for the above loads if it is likely to make a difference in accuracy. If applicable, any particular small rifle or magnum large rifle primers I should look for? I just got into reloading so my opinions are not firm. Thanks for any insights.


Dan

 

[MrMajestic]

Unfortunately you'll never know until you try. Rifles are kinda like us, each one is different. Out of habit I stock Federal 205M 210M and 215M, CCI 200 BR-2 BR-4 and 450's, Remington 7 !/2's and Winchester Pistol primers. Lot's of money wrapped up in Primers! ;D Good Luck in your endeavors!

 

[savagedasher]

I am working up some accuracy loads for long distance shooting. For the 223, I have some 77 SMK and Varget and looking to make a good 300-600 yard load. For my 300 Wby, I am developing a 500-1000 yard load with 168 amax and 4350. My LGS primarily has Winchester primers so that's what I am stocked up on. However, I am going to a gun show Saturday morning and will have access to items I normally don't. I had considered picking up a 1000 primers for the above loads if it is likely to make a difference in accuracy. If applicable, any particular small rifle or magnum large rifle primers I should look for? I just got into reloading so my opinions are not firm. Thanks for any insights.


Dan

Dan I find mag primers should be used when your loading above 50gr of powder in cold weather. I had a 300 Wby I took to Michigan hunting. They worked fine when I took them out of the car. When it got in the low teens they wouldn't fire. Yes primer make a difference on how they shoot.
Larry

 

[searcher]

There have been more than a few hotly debated threads on this subject over the years. If your .223 is a bolt gun, any small rifle primer (with few exceptions) may prove to be your best. If it is an A/R, you might want to consider the primers most appropriate for semi-autos - such as Remington 7 1/2, the CCI Military primers - or Federal A/R Match primers to reduce the risk of slamfires - especially if single loading those 77's. If your Weatherby is primarily a hunting rifle and will be used in very cold weather, I'd check out using the Federal Magnum Match primers - killing two birds with one stone on that gun. The Federal Match primers, when you can find them for what they should be selling for - don't cost much more than their standard primers and are condsidered standard fare in benchrest - not to say that your gun will favor them over anything else. The problem with buying 1,000 of anything is you are taking a gamble your loads will like them and may end up with 900 to sit on the shelf until another project comes down the pike. If $ is no object, I'm with MrMajestic - buy a bunch of several.

 

[artbosco]

I am working up some accuracy loads for long distance shooting. For the 223, I have some 77 SMK and Varget and looking to make a good 300-600 yard load. For my 300 Wby, I am developing a 500-1000 yard load with 168 amax and 4350. My LGS primarily has Winchester primers so that's what I am stocked up on. However, I am going to a gun show Saturday morning and will have access to items I normally don't. I had considered picking up a 1000 primers for the above loads if it is likely to make a difference in accuracy. If applicable, any particular small rifle or magnum large rifle primers I should look for? I just got into reloading so my opinions are not firm. Thanks for any insights. Dan

Go here first: http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/

A lot of the science for the .223 including loads and primers of choice has already been worked out and much of it is included in this article. Start with the loads listed and then experiment on your own if you don't like the results you're getting.

Take advantage of all the hard work that's already been performed and passed on by some of the best shooters around. .

 

[SS427]

In Tony Boyer's book he talks about using Federal 205 and 205M primers. Said he used the non match primers due to economic reasons and I think availabilty. So if he can get away with it in his benchrest rifles, I'm pretty sure you won't notice it in a "normal" rifle.

As someone else pointed out, a rifle might favor one brand of primer over another, but not sure the match primer of the same brand will make a difference. I've heard CCI slows down the process to half speed to make their match primers...I've also heard they put their senior techs on the line when they make match primers. Does it make a difference? I've yet to find measurable differences on my targets.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

match primers are visually inspected

 

[dkhunt14]

Vertical doesn't show much at 100 yards in a PPC. If you shooting farther with another cartridge it could make a difference. Matt

 

[Travelor]

My 223 Rem's show a DEFINITE accuracy/ES liking for TULA Small Rifle Magnum primers over everything else including Fed and CCI match primers.

TULA small rifle standard primers are SOFT and can pierce very easily. The TULA magnum primers are said to have the same priming compound as the standards with a harder cup to resist increased pressures.

 

[TonyR]

I am working up some accuracy loads for long distance shooting. For the 223, I have some 77 SMK and Varget and looking to make a good 300-600 yard load. For my 300 Wby, I am developing a 500-1000 yard load with 168 amax and 4350. My LGS primarily has Winchester primers so that's what I am stocked up on. However, I am going to a gun show Saturday morning and will have access to items I normally don't. I had considered picking up a 1000 primers for the above loads if it is likely to make a difference in accuracy. If applicable, any particular small rifle or magnum large rifle primers I should look for? I just got into reloading so my opinions are not firm. Thanks for any insights.


Dan

I guess it depends on what you call a normal rifle. I haven't had much experience with the 223 but I have seen the results of different primers in things like the WSM and WinMag cases. With my 7/300WSM, the BR-2 and 215M didn't show much difference in ES with H4350 but the 215M cut the ES in half with H4831SC. A friend had a similar experience with a 300 WinMag. These were all experiences with F-Open rifles and the difference in ES was from something in the 20s with the BR-2 to something in the low teens with the 215M. Similarly, I shoot my 7RSAUM with H4350 and the BR-2s. The BR-2s also work well with the 7/300WSM and N165. It seems like the Magnum primers make the largest improvement with bigger loads of slower powders.

 

[CJ6]

Primers are just another tool used in tuning your loads. Try to keep several brands and types on hand to see what works and what doesn't just like powder and bullets. As stated above take a close look at Tula/Wolf primers. I've switched quite a few loads over to using them vs. Fed. GMM/CCI BRs.

 

[JDMock]

I don't know about other brands, but Federal 205's and 205M's are the SAME primer. The 205M's are visually inspected. James

 

[Danattherock]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the insights. I will use my Winchester srp for my AR loads and try to find some federal 215 or 215m primers for the 300 Wby.


Dan

 

[jonbearman]

Go to powdervalley.com and get some tula small rifle magnum primers and they are 24.50 per brick of 1000.

 

[bigedp51]

Remington ran Lake City Army Ammunition Plant from 1941 till 1985 when Winchester was awarded the contract to produce ammunition at Lake City.

Remington was the primary developer of the 5.56 cartridge during the testing and production phase at Lake city and the Remington 7 1/2 primer was used on 5.56 ammunition.
(And Remington didn't need or use CCI #41 or #34 primers either)

I use Remington 7 1/2 primers when loading any double base ball powders, just as Remington did when they loaded Winchester ball powders at Lake City. (hint, hint)
There is a reason why they call Remington primers "baby flame throwers".

Now excuse me I have to go now, I'm going to listen to "The Doors" song "Light My Fire" on my 1971 Dual Turn Table at 7 1/2 rpm.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Remington ran Lake City Army Ammunition Plant from 1941 till 1985 when Winchester was awarded the contract to produce ammunition at Lake City.

Remington was the primary developer of the 5.56 cartridge during the testing and production phase at Lake city and the Remington 7 1/2 primer was used on 5.56 ammunition.
(And Remington didn't need or use CCI #41 or #34 primers either)

I use Remington 7 1/2 primers when loading any double base ball powders, just as Remington did when they loaded Winchester ball powders at Lake City. (hint, hint)
There is a reason why they call Remington primers "baby flame throwers".

Now excuse me I have to go now, I'm going to listen to "The Doors" song "Light My Fire" on my 1971 Dual Turn Table at 7 1/2 rpm.

I love remington primers. they actually create their own pressure (as you can imagine seeing those pics)