RL 17 shooters, what primers are working for you?

[kyreloader]

My brother has been shooting RL17 quite well in his .284 Shehane with 175g SMKs with CCI 200s. His vertical at 1000 yards has been very good as well as his SD/ES in velocity.

Over the weekend, he shot the same RL17 loads with Fed210M primers and the load fell apart. His vertical was noticeable and his SD/ES were all over the place.

I am wondering if the people that are having problems with getting RL17 to shoot well or tune are using the wrong primers.

Also, I am wondering if the coatings that change the burning curve on RL17 is harder to ignite or responds different to different primers.

Your thoughts?

 

[FroggyOne2]

I think that if someone could inform us what kind of primer the Swiss use in the 7.5 Swiss, we would then be on the right track. Being that, Reloader 17 is the powder that they have been using for years in that rounds from what I have to understand. Personally, I have been using Wolf LRM.

 

[normmatzen]

I'm using Wolf LR for both 7.5X55 Swiss and my 243 WIN match rifle. No problems

 

[flatlander]

I experimented with RL17 in my 284s & 6XC, but don't recall whether there was any clear-cut 'best primer' during that time. However, in looking back through the chrono records with RL17 in these two ctdgs, Wolf LRMs gave ES & SD numbers at least as good as any of the several other primers I tried.

However, it is the go-to powder with 130-142gr. bullets in my 6.5x47s, and in that application, CCI450s have worked so well - especially compared to R 7-1/2s - that I haven't looked any further.

 

[WyleWD]

In my 6xc either CCI BR or Rem 9 1/2. For the 243 or 6.5-06 Rem 9 1/2 work best. WD

 

[Steve Blair]

I tried several .308 series using Berger 210 BT-LR and RL17. Primers tested were: CCI 200, CCI BR2, Fed 210M, Remington 9½, Winchester 8½-120 and Wolf KVB-7 and KVB-7M. The best results came from Wolf KVB-7, CCI BR2 and Wolf KVB-7M, in that order. The rest were notably worse. That says to me that the powder is easy to ignite and mild primers provide better results, at least where LR primers are concerned.

Just to make a point about the deterrent treatment; the powder grains are not "coated" but "soaked." The deterrent is uniform through the grains.

 

[Ironworker]

I shoot a 6x284 and CCI 200 standard rifle is all I use. If any one else uses a magnum primer with this powder they should be reported to a democrat politician.

 

[Larryh128]

Years ago, like 15+ maybe, I believe that Shooting Times did a high speed photo comparison of all the major primers. A couple things were very evident. 1st Federal Primers are a LOT hotter than anything else. Red Fire flying everywhere, so if the powder is hard to light, this is your baby. 2nd, CCI's didn't have fire flying everywhere, they had a round blue ball of flame. Very concentrated. SOOO if the powder is easy to light, starting the burn in a concentrated area (flash hole) is always going to produce better figures than a primer that starts the burn in several places at once by blowing flame everywhere. Also the reason that 99% of my loads have CCI primers. If I need more flame I go to mags. This doesn't mean that brand x or y won't work, but an explanation to the results you saw.

 

[kyreloader]

Years ago, like 15+ maybe, I believe that Shooting Times did a high speed photo comparison of all the major primers. A couple things were very evident. 1st Federal Primers are a LOT hotter than anything else. Red Fire flying everywhere, so if the powder is hard to light, this is your baby. 2nd, CCI's didn't have fire flying everywhere, they had a round blue ball of flame. Very concentrated. SOOO if the powder is easy to light, starting the burn in a concentrated area (flash hole) is always going to produce better figures than a primer that starts the burn in several places at once by blowing flame everywhere. Also the reason that 99% of my loads have CCI primers. If I need more flame I go to mags. This doesn't mean that brand x or y won't work, but an explanation to the results you saw.

The Rifleman's Journal has an article with pictures looking at the different flashes noted with particular primers. See this link.
http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2009/06/primers-large-rifle-primer-study.html

 

[Larryh128]

Nice article but the photos were considerably better in the other article. I assume that it's very demanding.

 

[louielouie]

I've had very good luck with the Wolf LR primers but I couldn't switch with BR-2's and get the same results. I also have an extra-power Wollf spring to ensure ignition.

While a picture shows a flash it doesn't quantify consistency: I've always liked this http://www.castingstuff.com/primer_testing_reference.htm study of relative power and consistency. The force is strong with the Federals but they seem to have a larger deviation than the Wolf or BR-2's. Look at the Winchester LRM's - a little less force but very consistent.

 

[GSSP]

The last step in my step by step with my "hunting" grade 6.5x47 Lapua. I've always read the CCI 450 was "the" best in the little 6.5.

Alan

 

[GermanS1]

Larry, yes, taking those pictures is very difficult! I have a few more and might do a small follow-up someday.

 

[Larryh128]

I applaud your effort. At the least, it's very interesting.