What primer to substitute

[Fern]

I am out of wsr primers I used for my tikka 223 varmint. I used a near max charge of exterminator powder pushing a 40gnosler at 3600fps.
I’m wondering if I should used cci 400,450, 205m,7.5 etc.
I came up with the load to burn up some older primers and it ended up loving it.
I had a pierced primer when I went up .2 of a charge so I backed it down and went with it. Because of this I was leaning towards something with thicker cup

 

[TTE]

Whatever you use, lower the charge weight and start testing again.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

7 1/2’s and 450’s are thicker.

 

[JB10]

In all my 223 rifles i use Remington 7.5
Few years back i loaded up some with F205 not thinking. While they grouped well also at 300 yards they were low right compared to the R7.5
Had a chronograph there so checked them. All things equal the 7.5 shot 30fps faster than the 205.

 

[GLShooter]

I use 7 1/2s and 450s with great results.

 

[Just Say Moe]

I use a ton of 7 1/2's with Exterminator max loads with 50 grain bullets with no problems.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I’m surprised the wsr primers were tough enough.

 

[jpjulian]

I have used 7 1/2's in 6 different .223's, both AR & bolt guns and multiple barrels from multiple makers. They work.

 

[Fast14riot]

I would try Ginex srp. Those seemed closest to WSR primers in my testing of my srp 260AI loads. Both gave me hang fires with N555 powder. They are slightly larger diameter though and fit very snug in most SRP pockets. Great for getting a few more firings from old brass.

 

[LBEdgin]

Cci 400 & 450 are my go too.

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

I would try Ginex srp. Those seemed closest to WSR primers in my testing of my srp 260AI loads. Both gave me hang fires with N555 powder. They are slightly larger diameter though and fit very snug in most SRP pockets. Great for getting a few more firings from old brass.

love me some ginex

 

[SKWERLZ]

7 1/2’s and 450’s are thicker.

These are my preferred small Rifle primers

 

[nakneker]

7.5s and 450s are a good choice. If .2 variance on your charge weight pierced a primer, a warm day or ammo sitting in a hot barrel for any length of time can do the same thing. Might want to reduce that charge a bit if you’re confident it wasn’t one piece that was loaded a little hot. Just sharing my opinion, not trying to be a donkey or tell you what to do.

 

[K22]

I've use Federal 205 Match primers for over 25 years now with excellent results in all my 223 Rem bolt rifles including my Tikka Varmint.

I also used Rem 7 1/2's with equally excellent results, especially in the 222 Rem.

However, I do not load to max charges that produce pressure signs.

 

[DocBII]

Fern,

There's always CCI-42s for a tougher sr primer.

HTH,
DocBII

 

[Webster]

I am out of wsr primers I used for my tikka 223 varmint. I used a near max charge of exterminator powder pushing a 40gnosler at 3600fps.
I’m wondering if I should used cci 400,450, 205m,7.5 etc.
I came up with the load to burn up some older primers and it ended up loving it.
I had a pierced primer when I went up .2 of a charge so I backed it down and went with it. Because of this I was leaning towards something with thicker cup

You don't need near max charges. Pierced primers can damage the bolt face. Possible personal injury? Just load for the best groups at a reasonable fps.

 

[Walt Krafft]

White River Energentics SR primers will work for you. I run a very stout charge of powder under a 90 in my 223 ftr rifle.

 

[358WCF]

I am out of wsr primers I used for my tikka 223 varmint. I used a near max charge of exterminator powder pushing a 40gnosler at 3600fps.
I’m wondering if I should used cci 400,450, 205m,7.5 etc.
I came up with the load to burn up some older primers and it ended up loving it.
I had a pierced primer when I went up .2 of a charge so I backed it down and went with it. Because of this I was leaning towards something with thicker cup

Just an FYI if you didn't know...

Where did the primer pierce... at the firing pin strike or on the radius at the outer edge? Some (mostly) older lots of Winchester primers (blue box stuff, & maybe some of the newer red white & black box stuff) had a problem with pinholing at the radius. This is not necessarily a high pressure occurrence, it's a primer cup material failure.

 

[searcher]

I Like the Rem 7 1/2's a lot for the .223. Recently, I have been using the Federal A/R Match primers in my bolt gun as I had a lot on hand. Quite pleased. I like the thicker cups for less potential damage to my bolt faces. The 450's and Federal 205M also good. Most of these primers deviate in velocity around 30-50 fps from one another, so I'd drop down a full grain and work up when substituting. If you are running in the red zone, maybe a bit more.

 

[6MMsteve]

The Ruag primers are nice