Primers

[stewie333]

I am new to re-loading so this is a newbie question. How much difference really is there with primers. I use CCI large rifle primers, will switching to the CCI BR primers make any difference? I went to the CCI web site and stuff like "our most skilled personnel" really doesn't cut it as far a reason to use our more expensive primers.


Thanks

Stewie

 

[tightneck]

Stewie, this is what reloading is really all about. Testing different components to see what shoots best. Of course you need a chronograph to know exactly what the different primers are telling you,ES and SD). I don't shoot CCI br primers but mainly because they are so damn expensive. I use CCI 200's for lots of hunting loads and federal 210's for others. I use WSR's for most of my small rifle needs, I use Federal's 205's for others. Just depends on how my load works up. I can tell you that lots of speculation exists on the difference between Federal 205's and 205m's. Lots of people say it's just the price tag.

 

[Will]

I found this on another site, not sure how it was derived. Have seen other arguments but I use BR2 and the CCI military primers. Both work well for my 1K shooting,308 Win). I may have to reduce the charge,0.3gr) when using the mil primer because it is a bit hotter.Primers listed from hottest,top) to coldest,bottom)


http://www.reloadingroom.com/img87.gif

 

[USAPatriot]

Somewhere around here there's a thread with a link to a site that has photos of flashes of different primers. It's quite interesting and revealing. Maybe someone remembers where it is?

 

[tightneck]

Rod, I think it was from this site, although I can't find it. German Salazar did the test.

 

[GermanS1]

Yes, I did that primer flash test and it was very illuminating! ,sorry, couldn't resist the bad pun). Just click here to see the pictures, you can click them to enlarge. All of the primer flash visible in the photos is that which shows beyond the 50mm chamber in the test fixture. In other words, about the length of a .308, 6XC or 6.5x47 case. There are definitely some that are WAY TOO MUCH for a 6BR, but I don't want to get into that debate, let's just say that I have found that "less is more" when it comes to accuracy. You can judge for yourself whether that table is accurate - Will, I know you didn't draw it up, no offense intended.
German Salazar

 

[Bugs]

Somewhere I recall,perhaps an article in PS magazine) Tony Boyer being quoted as stating that he tried to do a comparison between 205's and 205M's and couldn't detect any difference so, accordingly, he decided to use the less expensive 205's. Go figure. . . .

 

[Buckshot]

In my experience with different primers and this forum I would have to say primers make a significant difference. On this forum they have some 6.5x.284 pet loads. I had all the same components except the federal 210m primers. I was using wlrm and my best groups at 100 were about 1.25 with a new lilja barrel on a custom action. I was pretty disappointed. After several attempts at getting this gun to shoot I went out and got the 210ms and the group size shrank to under 3/8" with the primer being the only change. All the loads with that powder/primer combo shot pretty tight