Experimenting with primers

[djtjr]

How many of you try different primers for a given load? Other than the obvious re buildup when switching any components what do you do to experiment with different ones? When in your procedure of load development would you do it? Do you generally find the accuracy node for any primer to be the same as another but the individual brand or model makes a difference? Any thoughts on this appreciated. I have tended to pick one and stick with it but I am wondering if I am missing a big or reasonably big variable in the process. Have you ever found you best load and shrunk it by only changing out the primer? Again if I make a switch I will build up but wondering if the powder charge usually stayed consistent ie your best grain weight charge was still ultimately your best charge with a different primer for a range of a load ladder in 3-5 shot groups? But that the primer either made each node in the groups shoot a bit better or worse consistently? Let me know if I am making sense it reads fine to me but if I am not clear I am happy to clarify.

 

[Lapua40X]

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3833802.msg36338538#msg36338538

 

[L.Sherm]

Primers definitely make a difference in loads. If I have a load that is shooting a clover leaf pattern but I can"t get it any tighter say than an 1.5 then I try a different primer and don't change anything but the primer. AS ALWAYS when you change a component start lower especially if you go from a standard primer to a mag. one, I have seen velocity gains when you change especially if your load likes the different primer.

 

[jimcasey01]

I recently spent a few months trying 7 or 8 different primers with a few known loads, in .223. Not only did I experience significant velocity variations and sd/es, from primer to primer, but accuracy variations as well, even after adjusting the charge. What worked for me were not necessarily the "go to" for other people. From my testing, I am also of the opinion that for same powder, using heavy and light bullets (for twist rate), same primer may not be the most accurate. A real eye opener.