Those who sort primers by weight...

[kelbro]

Small sample size I know but I just sorted 100 GM205M primers and here's the distribution:

3.61-3.63gr - 18
3.64-3.65gr - 26
3.66gr - 31
3.67-3.70gr -25

What level of granularity would you use to sort these?

There is a large cluster there between 3.64 and 3.67 but the total variance is only ~.1gr.

Where does the variance show up on target @ 600-1000yds?

I would like to know if the juice is worth the squeeze.

 

[Rick300]

Try it in grams and see how it looks. You're mainly looking for outliers.

 

[Evan]

I would shoot all of them, but only primers of the same weight are used for a record target.

 

[Mulligan]

In my testing of 205m primers, the heaviest and lightest in a box had a difference of around 25 FPS on the chronograph shot in a PPC. I have not tested it in a larger cartridge to see if it is the same or the difference gets lost in the noise of a bigger powder column.
I sort in grams and batch by .002g .
None get culled, just batched.
CW

 

[round]

In my testing of 205m primers, the heaviest and lightest in a box had a difference of around 25 FPS on the chronograph shot in a PPC. I have not tested it in a larger cartridge to see if it is the same or the difference gets lost in the noise of a bigger powder column.
I sort in grams and batch by .002g .
None get culled, just batched.
CW

How is that even possible ?

How much and what brand of powder are you using ?

 

[Retired shooter]

EDITED

At what yardage do you sort them to. Use the lightweights up close,is my guess. ?

Let me rephrase my question.
When weight sorting primers. ES & S/D. Especially @ longer ranges . What values are you using when separating, how are you grouping per weight value.

Once you have separated, are the lightweights used for fire forming, first round cold shot. Do you use the lightweights for close range targets & and where is the break point. As you can tell by my questions I am new to this rabbit hole.

To all a good day

 

[ShtrRdy]

What scale are you using to measure within 0.01 grain? The Fx120i measures to within 0.02 grain.

 

[Jr solocam]

I just don't have enough time left on this earth to do this. For those of you chasing the dragon go for it.

 

[Mulligan]

How is that even possible ?

How much and what brand of powder are you using ?

Thread 'How much "Extreme Spread" is acceptable in competition?'

Sep 18, 2018

A little background,

This is in regards to a thread I read on this forum regarding weight sorting primers.

I have attached a short article describing a quick test I performed to see if a real test is warranted.

In the attached "quick test"- The average MV from the lightest 5 primers (actually 3 as I had an issue or two) was 26 fps slower than the heaviest 5 primers in the quick "test" attached.

I will be having surgery soon that will keep me at the house for a while and I will have the time to weight sort primers and prep all the stuff for a "real" test.

Here is where I need your...

• Mulligan
• Replies: 191
• Forum: Main Message Board

• 

And the rest of the story

CW

 

[Larry Koch]

To sort the weight of primers, might be the biggest waste of time in accurate reloading.

 

[kelbro]

What scale are you using to measure within 0.01 grain? The Fx120i measures to within 0.02 grain.

FX120i. Those .01gr 'measurements' are when the scale cycles between two readings. Yes, it's not 100% accurate but I figure it's neither or it would be stable at one or the other.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Small sample size I know but I just sorted 100 GM205M primers and here's the distribution:

3.61-3.63gr - 18
3.64-3.65gr - 26
3.66gr - 31
3.67-3.70gr -25

What level of granularity would you use to sort these?

There is a large cluster there between 3.64 and 3.67 but the total variance is only ~.1gr.

Where does the variance show up on target @ 600-1000yds?

I would like to know if the juice is worth the squeeze.

I have weighed 1000s of the same primer. I sort into 5 groups with most being in 2 of the groups. I shoot mostly Varget. Rule of thumb 1 piece is .02 grain. In your box of primers top to bottem an absolute minimum of .1 variance as a rule or 5 pieces of powder. So why weigh to 1 piece while allowing a 5 piece variance in your primers? I shoot paper benchrest. Would I do this in most other disciplines.....probably not. However I still believe reading conditions is number one reason separating winners and contributers.

 

[rdb8847]

Is the reason for sorting to determine how much propellant is in each primer and batch to attempt more consistent ignition? Much like sorting bullets by weight or length and measuring H2O water capacity in cases? Or am I totally missing the concept?

 

[PatMiles]

What scale are you using to measure within 0.01 grain? The Fx120i measures to within 0.02 grain.

Weigh the primers in grams ( 1 gram = 15.432 grains). Changing the FX12i scale to grams is as simple as pressing the mode button once (GN to g).
Weigh 100, might take 10 minutes, then load 10-20 rounds with primers that weighed the same, might take 10 minutes, then go shootum. What did your chronograph tell you? Then make the decision as to whether or not to continue weighing primers.

 

[Woollybugger]

Is the reason for sorting to determine how much propellant is in each primer and batch to attempt more consistent ignition? Much like sorting bullets by weight or length and measuring H2O water capacity in cases? Or am I totally missing the concept?

I’m ok with knowing case capacity between brands of brass and new vs fired has some merit. A load that is sweet at 2950 isn’t at 2950 in a smaller or larger case. I check one case out of a batch, not every case. weighing primers is too deep in the weeds for me. Read a interview with a guy that won the unlimited Bench Rest National and his key was reading the 5-8mph wind.

 

[Fuj]

To sort the weight of primers, might be the biggest waste of time in accurate reloading.

Quote from Dave Way......I love to compete against those that do not sort.

I hope he stopped filling those little bomb bottles.....LOL

 

[SeabeeKen]

Small sample size I know but I just sorted 100 GM205M primers and here's the distribution:

3.61-3.63gr - 18
3.64-3.65gr - 26
3.66gr - 31
3.67-3.70gr -25

What level of granularity would you use to sort these?

There is a large cluster there between 3.64 and 3.67 but the total variance is only ~.1gr.

Where does the variance show up on target @ 600-1000yds?

I would like to know if the juice is worth the squeeze.

Id test them on a target.

 

[ELR LVR]

Is the reason for sorting to determine how much propellant is in each primer and batch to attempt more consistent ignition? Much like sorting bullets by weight or length and measuring H2O water capacity in cases? Or am I totally missing the concept?

I do it to reduce the chance of vertical stringing
batched in batches of .004 mg for accuracy loads
(Most fall within .003 but if one is occasionally within .001 mg I throw it in there with the rest)
there are some outliers that I feel very good about culling them out of the majority
the rest are used for plinking or fireforming
---
and yes you can determine the amount of priming compound by weighing a spent primer empty
and compare it to a charged primer
the spent primers I have weighed all weigh the same empty with no variances except an occasional
.001mg

 

[25ring]

To sort the weight of primers, might be the biggest waste of time in accurate reloading.

Just think,if you use CCI BR primers you can index them using the little B !

 

[FDCaptain]

Too much busy work.