Is there any consensus about the best small rifle BR primers? Or put another way, which primers are most often associated with winning?
Primers: Which Are the Best?
- Thread starter South Pender
- Start date
South Pender said:
I am of the opinion and use this philosophy: Certain powders seem to favor certain primers. Take a 6mmBR or Dasher. My guess would be that if you are using RL-15 or Varget, MOST shooters will find CCI-450's do the job. On the other hand, many who shoot VV "N" powders (be they the 1 or 5 series) appear to have an affinity for CCI BR-4's. However, a lot of shooters also use Fed 205GM's.. It is what YOUR rifle favors for the powder you are using.
In my 6BRX I have found Wolf SRM to be identical in performance to BR4, so guess what I use.
I also found Wolf LR to be better than everything I have tried in my 284 WIN.
By the way, I shoot long range and sometimes F Class.
I also found Wolf LR to be better than everything I have tried in my 284 WIN.
By the way, I shoot long range and sometimes F Class.
OP, no offense, but your question bespeaks a bit of naiveté. There is no 'best'. What is best for me might not be for you.
You don't mention what kind of shooting you're doing but, but my advice would be to use the primers can get in quantity, and tune your loads to your rifle, using those primers, and those primers only. Buy as many as you'll expect to shoot in a year or two (or as many as you can get your hands on).
Worry about bigger factors like brass prep, powder charge, runout, etc. etc. Only once you have these things mastered, should you worry about which primer may or may not be 'best'.
-nosualc
You don't mention what kind of shooting you're doing but, but my advice would be to use the primers can get in quantity, and tune your loads to your rifle, using those primers, and those primers only. Buy as many as you'll expect to shoot in a year or two (or as many as you can get your hands on).
Worry about bigger factors like brass prep, powder charge, runout, etc. etc. Only once you have these things mastered, should you worry about which primer may or may not be 'best'.
-nosualc
I shoot several cartridges in LR, Palma and MR and with one exception the Wolf primer always worked the best. I'm basically saying the same thing as "normmatzen". The exception being is that I struggled with a 6.5x47 for far longer than I should have and on a suggestion from this forum got some CCI 450's. Suddenly, problem solved. The bottom line for me is I have a "go to" primer, but if I don't get it worked out with popular powders, then seating length changes, I start to look at the primers. As an aside the CCI#41 Mil. Spec. primers are a very well kept secret if you are shooting a SR primer.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd
I hope this helps,
Lloyd
Shynloco
You can lead a horse to water, but ........
nosualc said:
THAT"S REAL NICE! Think about it....just maybe the OP is asking a legitimate question that he doesn't know the answer to and you come along and talk down the guy. That's not what this website is about, know it all. Try and maintain some civility DUDE!
Alex
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
ShootDots said:
+1
South Pender,
As you gain more experience, you will learn that there are no magical components and recipes that are universal for all rifles. YOUR rifle has its own taste for what powder/primer combo it will prefer, just like people have certain tastes in food
I'm no competition champion, but for what its worth, most of my rifles seem to prefer Fed 205 or Fed GM205M primers with the powders I use.
+1, +1
I have been using the lowly Wolf LR primers in my straight 284, shoots just great, but when switching to a 7rsaum last year opted to go with the higher end Federal 215m. It shot just fine. ?maybe over heard someone tried the Wolf LR in the 7 rsaum, so I tried them. Well in 2 separate tests at 1000 yards the Wolf outperformed the Federal Match primers measurably.
Like most everyone has already commented, it's part of the testing program with bullets, seating depth and powder. Enjoy the testing. To me the reloading bench is a fun and very important part for most all high power rifle competitions.
Steve
I have been using the lowly Wolf LR primers in my straight 284, shoots just great, but when switching to a 7rsaum last year opted to go with the higher end Federal 215m. It shot just fine. ?maybe over heard someone tried the Wolf LR in the 7 rsaum, so I tried them. Well in 2 separate tests at 1000 yards the Wolf outperformed the Federal Match primers measurably.
Like most everyone has already commented, it's part of the testing program with bullets, seating depth and powder. Enjoy the testing. To me the reloading bench is a fun and very important part for most all high power rifle competitions.
Steve
tjtjwdad
Gold $$ Contributor
To the OP...try goggling "small arms primer test" and at the top of the page is several articles about primers. But as others have said it really comes down to the type of shooting and ultimately, what works best for your combination.
Some primers are more suitable for certain situations than others. For example, the CUP thickness for brand 'A' vs brand "x" will vary in thickness and may not be ideal [if at all] in semi-auto rifles with floating firing pins [M1/M14/M16].
From brand to brand the intensity will vary although both may be in the same family; such as CCI small rifle magnum vs Federal small rifle magnum.
Hope this helps...
Some primers are more suitable for certain situations than others. For example, the CUP thickness for brand 'A' vs brand "x" will vary in thickness and may not be ideal [if at all] in semi-auto rifles with floating firing pins [M1/M14/M16].
From brand to brand the intensity will vary although both may be in the same family; such as CCI small rifle magnum vs Federal small rifle magnum.
Hope this helps...
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