Guys,

Over the years I have used a variety of large rifle primers, but have never thought to ask if there are any "rules of thumb" to help select the right kind for an application.

I currently have some of the following in inventory:

CCI 200
CCI 250
Older Winchester (for standard and magnum loads)
Remington 9 1/2
Federal 215


Have used the 200s for 30-30, 308, and 30-06
Have used 250s and the Winchesters for harder to ignite powders and magnum cases

9 1/2s are new to me ... haven't used a great many of them

The Fed 215s have been used in larger cases like the .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, .458 AR, and .470 NE. Am happy with those applications.

Am curious if there is a difference between the 200s, 250s, Winchesters and Remingtons in their ability to handle higher pressure loads.

Anyone developed any rules of thumb or observations they'd care to pass along?

Thanks!

As far as I'm concerned.....a large rifle primer is a large rifle primer regardless of the name applied to it.

I've used them interchangably and never had a problem because of it.

If you're a target shooter you might see some accuracy differences but I've never proven it in a hunting rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
If you're a target shooter you might see some accuracy differences but I've never proven it in a hunting rifle.

I've proven it a time or two. I load IMR 4227 for a scoped 357 Herrett handgun that is distinctly more accurate when CCI 250 Large Rifle Magnum primers are used. Most of the time, the primer brand makes little difference.

Anyone notice that a particular brand of large rifle primer has a harder (less prone to fill out or crater) cup than the others?

CCI is the hardest.

I recall an article a few years ago, probably in Precision Shooting Mag. about primers. Photos of the flames produced were included, and the differences were substantial. Personally I use mostly Federal primers simply because thye are almost the universal choice among benchrest shooters.

Based on the photos, I would expect some differences in performance. I have a Win. M70 375 H & H that clearly prefers Win. over Federal primers for some reason.

That said, I've seldom noticed any significant difference in accuracy for hunting calibers.

Sometimes my pistols with light hammer springs wont hit ccis hard enough to set them off.

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
Anyone notice that a particular brand of large rifle primer has a harder (less prone to fill out or crater) cup than the others?

Primers

Regards,
hm

Don't know if it hardness or thickness but CCI#34 primers do not get struck hard enough to work all the time in some rifles.
In some large capacity cases (> 85grains) magnum primers will solve the hang fire problem with some powders ; not always but a good percentage of the time.
With some cartridges there is little or no noticeable difference.
With many of the ball powders the suggestion by the manufacturers to use a magnum primer is real. roger

quote:

CCI#34 primers do not get struck hard enough to work all the time in some rifles

Always thought the #34 & #41 were made heavier to stop slam fires in military semi-auto etc.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

CCI#34 primers do not get struck hard enough to work all the time in some rifles

Always thought the #34 & #41 were made heavier to stop slam fires in military semi-auto etc.

absolutely correct,ergo it takes larger energy to activate the #34 primers than it does others.Some rifles do not deliver the necessary energy. roger

Not sure if you are allowed to link to other boards, so google
"Primer Flash Test Photos. German Salazar"

Here's what I typically use:

CCI 200 in medium size cases with stick powders. (.270, 30.06)
WMRP in large cases with stick powder. (.338 Win Mag)
Fed215 in extra large (STW and RUM) with ball powder.

I almost always use either a match, or magnum primer with ball powders, even in the .223.

I have used them all and haven't been able to detect any appreciable differences. I did notice that the last Rem. 9-1/2 I bought seemed to be slightly smaller in diameter than the CCI's. They would almost fall out of cases that the held CCI's adequately. I have noticed differences in large pistol primers; loads developed with one may not work well with others.
C.G.B.

I use CCI #34 primers in my double 9.3x74R because they are the ONLY primer that will allow the gun to open reliably after firing both barrels.

Whether they are harder, thicker, or both, they definitely do not allow the firing pins to indent the primers as much as other makes of primers permit, and I have tried ALL the domestic ones available to handloaders (and many of the foreign ones).

As you can see on the CCI website, they are listed as their "mil-spec" primer.