Rem 7 1/2 BR vs CCI 450 primers

[wisconsinteacher]

What is the difference between the two primers? I am loading for a 6mmBR and have the Rems but a local store has 450s for sale.

 

[ShootDots]

If you are shooting RL-15, Varget or VV N150, use the CCI 450's... They seen to work best with those powders. Now the difference(s) are: The Rem & 1/2BR's are generally considered to be a "hotter" primer. The 450's are generally considered to be a "mild" primer.. The 450's have a VERY hard cup and the Rem's have a bit of a softer cup. There are diagrams and testing results that you can google etc.. to find out EVERYTHING you would want to know about almost every primer..

 

[fdshuster]

From the excellent article on "Primers and Pressure" by James Calhoon: CCI450's and Rem 7 1/2 both have .025" cup thickness, the maximum found on Small Rifle primers.

He did not get into hardness or softness other than to say: "an educated guess says that a primer manufacturer would choose a harder brass in order to keep material thickness down and reduce costs".

"Cases that utilize small rifle primers and operate at higher pressures (55,000 psi) should use CCI 450, CCI BR4, Fed 205 and Rem 7 1/2.

I've found that CCI 450's are an excellent alternative to CCI BR4's. Cannot find any difference across the chronograph or on the target, but at $30/1000 compared to $49/1000 they are a savings. As they continue to raise the cost of BR4's, I will continue to increase my use of 450's in the Varget 6BR loads.

Remington 7 1/2's have always been an excellent primer for me, again, cannot see any difference between them and the Federal 205's.

Tried to find this article on the "Technical" page on the homepage, but as always happens, when looking for something, it can never be found. I know it was once there, maybe has been removed.

 

[jonbearman]

Look up the riflemans journal by German Salzaar.He did an excellent piece of writing all about primers and anything you want to know.I personally like the remingtons 71/2 br primer myself.

 

[Beau]

You cannot make a blanket statement that one is better than the other.
The only thing you can do is try some of each lot# that you have available and see which one shoots best with your load. Switch powders and all bets are off again.

Brand and type count for little beyond the grossest attributes. Lot #s are what's important.

 

[CatShooter]

The Rem & 1/2BR's are generally considered to be a "hotter" primer. The 450's are generally considered to be a "mild" primer.. The 450's have a VERY hard cup and the Rem's have a bit of a softer cup.

I have not found the Remington 7½ cups to be soft. Last fall I was testing loads and had Remington 7½ primers falling out of the case, but they did not crater.

The cups are very hard.

 

[Preacher]

The 7 1/2's are used a lot in the 454 Casull's, and work very well doing it, so I wouldn't be say they are very soft....

 

[ShootDots]

The Rem & 1/2BR's are generally considered to be a "hotter" primer. The 450's are generally considered to be a "mild" primer.. The 450's have a VERY hard cup and the Rem's have a bit of a softer cup.

I have not found the Remington 7½ cups to be soft. Last fall I was testing loads and had Remington 7½ primers falling out of the case, but they did not crater.

The cups are very hard.

I have a 6-6.5 x 47 that shoots 115 DTAC's.. I use 38.3grs of H4350... They are shot out of an "unbushed" Remington. The Rem 7 1/2's crater noticeably more than either the BR4's OR the 450's.. I never found them to pierce or fail in any way>>> just crater more then the others..

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I've used Remington 7 1/2 for many years with some fairly warm loads in .223 Rem. They have always worked extremely well for me, never an issue.

If the OP has some in hand, no need to get anything else.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Thanks for the info. I will see how my rifle likes them and go from there. The local store only allows you to buy 200 per day and they are high on their prices so I would like to stay away from them.

 

[tjtjwdad]

First time I've ever heard the Remington 7 1/2 being soft; been using them for over 20 years w/o any issues. I've also used CCI-400, 450 & BR-4, no issues ith them either.

As far as which one is the best; you'll just have to try them with various loads and remember what is superb with one may be subpar with another & vice-versa.

 

[timeout]

Thanks for the info. I will see how my rifle likes them and go from there. The local store only allows you to buy 200 per day and they are high on their prices so I would like to stay away from them.

Recob's in Sauk Prairie has had Rem. 7 1/2s in stock at least a couple time recently. They had a 5000 limit once and 1000 limit another time. Their prices are good and living in WI., they ship by Speedee with a $14.00 hazmat charge, versus everyone else's 27 bucks. The Rems. should work fine. As a side note, I have scored CFE223 and Power Pistol powders at Recob's recently.

 

[WyleWD]

Just my experience with the 6br.... if you want to wring every whisker out of your groups, have Rem 7 1/2, CCI's, and Win small rifle primers on hand during load development. While exceptionally accurate, the 6br has shown me more affect on group size, velocity consistency, and ease of load development by changing primers than any cartridge I've ever loaded for. Just my experience with them. WD

 

[AckleymanII]

I sure have some different ideas than some of the other posters.

I have found a world of difference between the 450's and the 7 1/2's. I have found similar results in the 7 1/2 and the CCIBR-4 in the 223, 223 AI, and 6 BR's that are all out customs.

All of these primers have thick cups, but when it comes to tweeking the smallest group and changing out primers, you had better change primers and see what works for you.

One thing that reloaders have no control over is the difference in lot# of primers.

 

[th82457]

I load for several cartridges in the .223 case head size. I prefer the Rem. 7 1/2 primers, however when I have used CCI 450's in their place, I have seen no measurable difference in group size or performance. Mostly running Benchmark, IMR 8208 and RL7. May see more difference with ball powders. My two cents.