small rifle primers - CCI BR-4 users - What is your second choice?

[Spartan-117]

Looking for a bit less expensive offering but want a similar performance. Has anyone switched from BR4 to a primer they like as well? Or, due to availability, tried a less expensive primer that turned out to be just fine?

 

[bpd459]

Greetings,
CCI-450 for both my 6 Dasher and .308win. Less than 10fps and no accuracy difference. Both with Varget and N-150.
John

 

[JMayo]

Cci br4, 400 or 450. I can tell the difference.
Others are feds 205 ... The M is a gimmick

 

[Mark M.]

Rem 7 1/2

 

[Nvcnvc]

CCI 450 or 205 M in my 6BR and 6.5 Creed

 

[spudgun]

About 3 years ago I did a test with the primers I had on hand. My load was a 6mm Creed, 40.6gr H4350, 105 EDL match, Starline Brass. 1,000 yds range, using Silver Mountian scoring. The FPS was the bullet at the target.
My conclusion was there was not that much difference between the batches and in a pinch I could tune the load to the primers if I needed too.

SHOT		#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	#7	AVG
WINCHESTER	​	1340.00​	1324.00​	1328.00​	1336.00​	1338.00​	1294.00​	1332.14​	1327.00​
CCI 450 MAG		1342.00​	1317.00​	1323.00​	1343.00​	1359.00​	1311.00​	1312.00​	1329.57​	​
CCI 400		1331.00​	1320.00​	1328.00​	1319.00​	1346.00​	1345.00​	1320.00​	1329.86​	​
CCI #41		1327.00​	1351.00​	1344.00​	1305.00​	1368.00​	1339.00​	0.00​	1339.10​	​
FED 205M		1296.00​	1285.00​	1346.00​	1311.00​	1329.00​	1280.00​	0.00​	1307.83​	​

 

[6.5 forever]

Tested both. CCI450 was better.

 

[ChrisNZ]

About 3 years ago I did a test with the primers I had on hand. My load was a 6mm Creed, 40.6gr H4350, 105 EDL match, Starline Brass. 1,000 yds range, using Silver Mountian scoring. The FPS was the bullet at the target.
My conclusion was there was not that much difference between the batches and in a pinch I could tune the load to the primers if I needed too.

SHOT		#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	#7	AVG
WINCHESTER	​	1340.00​	1324.00​	1328.00​	1336.00​	1338.00​	1294.00​	1332.14​	1365.00​
CCI 450 MAG		1342.00​	1317.00​	1323.00​	1343.00​	1359.00​	1311.00​	1312.00​	1329.57​	​
CCI 400		1331.00​	1320.00​	1328.00​	1319.00​	1346.00​	1345.00​	1320.00​	1329.86​	​
CCI #41		1327.00​	1351.00​	1344.00​	1305.00​	1368.00​	1339.00​	0.00​	1339.10​	​
FED 205M		1296.00​	1285.00​	1346.00​	1311.00​	1329.00​	1280.00​	0.00​	1307.83​	​

The average of those Winchester shots (by eyeball) is possibly round 1330, not 1365?

 

[K22]

I prefer Federal 205M, match primers, second is Remington 7 1/2.

 

[spudgun]

The average of those Winchester shots (by eyeball) is possibly round 1330, not 1365?

You are correct.

My fat fingers got in the way..

Thanks for pointing that out

Larry

 

[Bill Norris]

I use BR-4s for 30BR & 6PPC. Use 450s in the larger cases.

 

[Liven The Dream]

450’s in my Dasher Love
Same in my .308 Small Primer !
Is there any other ???

 

[AndrewB]

When primers were really hard to come by, some short range benchrest guys had good results with wolf primers.

Big price difference - might be worth a try

 

[jpjulian]

I have used BR4's and Rem 7 1/2's interchangeably with no measurable difference in my .223 loads for many years in highpower competition. I have also used both in my 6mm CM SRP cases but seem to get better groups with CCI #450's so that is what I am primarily using in the 6mm.

 

[JFrank]

I use both BR-4 & 450’s for long range, it just depends on what barrel likes which primer.
Now that other primers are starting to show up I’m expanding the supply to test a little further.

 

[SteveOak]

About 3 years ago I did a test with the primers I had on hand. My load was a 6mm Creed, 40.6gr H4350, 105 EDL match, Starline Brass. 1,000 yds range, using Silver Mountian scoring. The FPS was the bullet at the target.
My conclusion was there was not that much difference between the batches and in a pinch I could tune the load to the primers if I needed too.

SHOT		#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	#7	AVG
										​
										​
										​
FED 205M		1296.00​	1285.00​	1346.00​	1311.00​	1329.00​	1280.00​	0.00​	1307.83​	​

​

For the Fed 205M, 1280 to 1346, 66 FPS, seems significant. Am I reading it wrong?

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Anecdotally, Ginex seem to work well in my BR. Otherwise, I usually use BR4's or Federal Gold - but I haven't seen either since Biden got in. Surely a co-incidence...

 

[Rat Rifle]

About 3 years ago I did a test with the primers I had on hand. My load was a 6mm Creed, 40.6gr H4350, 105 EDL match, Starline Brass. 1,000 yds range, using Silver Mountian scoring. The FPS was the bullet at the target.
My conclusion was there was not that much difference between the batches and in a pinch I could tune the load to the primers if I needed too.

SHOT		#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	#7	AVG
WINCHESTER	​	1340.00​	1324.00​	1328.00​	1336.00​	1338.00​	1294.00​	1332.14​	1327.00​
CCI 450 MAG		1342.00​	1317.00​	1323.00​	1343.00​	1359.00​	1311.00​	1312.00​	1329.57​	​
CCI 400		1331.00​	1320.00​	1328.00​	1319.00​	1346.00​	1345.00​	1320.00​	1329.86​	​
CCI #41		1327.00​	1351.00​	1344.00​	1305.00​	1368.00​	1339.00​	0.00​	1339.10​	​
FED 205M		1296.00​	1285.00​	1346.00​	1311.00​	1329.00​	1280.00​	0.00​	1307.83​	​

This data seems to justify the need to “WEIGHT SORT PRIMERS”

 

[markm87]

For 6.5cm with small rifle primer brass, I subbed Federal AR Match for BR-4s and didn't notice any significant Accuracy or Velocity changes.

 

[7br]

I prefer Federal 205M, match primers, second is Remington 7 1/2.

DITTO!!