I had a talk with the owner of a local shop owner who insisted that CCI primers are junk and that I should buy something else. Dandy. Being that Ive got over 80% of my loads worked up with CCI primers. So whats the deal do they suck or what? And if so what type should I go with? Thanks as always!

I'd say your local shop owner is full of shit. They aren't junk and they don't suck. I've used 1000's of them over the years without a single problem. Some of my most accurate loadings are sparked with CCI's. Does he even carry them? Since they are "junk" and "suck" he shouldn't even stock them, right?

CCR BR Is all I use.

CCi primers are fine. My personal preference happens to be Federal Gold Match, but given the current shortage of primers, I am using Winchester, Remington and CCI. It just happens that Winchester are most available in my area, so I have changed and rechecked my loads.

If you find a bunch of primers you should buy enough for the next year or so ( or maybe longer depending on the elections next year).

Good luck!

Funny I was "stocking up". Went to a major retailer and they were bone dry so I went into panic mode and went to the little local shop and found a good amount. Bought a few k but they didnt have what I wanted which was CCI #34 and #41. He said that he was making an order in a few weeks so guess I will wait. Hope the situation doesnt worsen in the mean time. Dont have to ban guns or reloading just pay the manufacturers not to make any except for the govt contracts. Sorry for the 1984 theory. Lol.

What ever goes bank when I pull the trigger works for me. I have not found a primer shortage here in Birmingham, except that only one store carries reloading supplies locally. I buy several k of CCIs when I buy and they seem to all pop.
Judge Sharpe

I use only Federal primers, but I used CCI for years and they are a fine primer..Many gun dealers, store salemen, are just that, and their experience is limited to a point of a little knowledge is a dangerous thing..

I only use Federal Gold Medal match primers. The owner of that store is just voicing his opinion, which happens to be a reflection of just how ignorant he is.

CCI primers are fine. Since you've already used them, you should have some bearing on whether or not they've worked for you.

The only primers I won't use anymore, regardless of their reputation, is Remington. They are the only primers I've tried in the past with multiple misfires.

My preference is Federal, but after this primer shortage my brand loyalty won't be there either...

All I use, all I ever remember using. They've always worked fine for me...

I've used all of the primer brands that are available (and some that are no longer available -- ever try Japanese made Herter's? No? Then how about Alcans?). I've found so little difference in primer performance that I regard it as the VERY last consideration in load performance. The shape of the CCI cup lends itself to a little smoother seating and metering through some primer feeds than does the Federal, just as unplated Winchesters seat easier still, but that's about the extent of the difference. It's not that I'm not particular, it's just that 40+ years of reloading, chronographing, bench & varmint shooting, and hunting experience tells me not to worry about brand differences in primers.

I prefer Federal primers, but I never find serious diference from CCI or Winchester....
Faina

Stonecreek.....Thank You Sir. My loads have always performed great but I guess that human nature is that even when greatness is upon you, there is always doubt. Look around you and you will understand what I mean. I load 20 standard and wildcat cartridges and even with limited time at the reloading bench I have developed some great loads using CCI primers. But being the modest man that I am when a man thats been in the gun business for many years recommends something is junk I have to at least give it a thought or 7. Thank you all for your 2 cents!

I've had powder fail to ignite using CCI in my .454C, switched to WW and problem went away. Have used CCI in others with no problems both rifle and pistol.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I use only Federal primers, but I used CCI for years and they are a fine primer..Many gun dealers, store salemen, are just that, and their experience is limited to a point of a little knowledge is a dangerous thing..

I agree.

I've got over 20,000 in stock in my house.....

I have a few federals and a few WW and a few Remingtons as well but CCI is what I keep the most of!

Nothing wrong with them IMO!

Hey! I'm behind the counter in a gun shop! I must be an expert and know everything. Duh, what is something smart I can say to impress folks?

For handgun ammo, whatever I can get on sale, WW, RP, CCI & Fed. are all fine. For my hunting rifles it matters more. Some of my "pet" loads work best w/ Fed. match others w/ CCI match. For blasting ammo in a AR or M1, hard to beat CCI34/41. AS usual, the avg. gunshop employee just doesn't know.

I have loaded since 1961 and have never used anything but CCI primers, I shoot a 30 BR in benchrest and use CCI 400, have never had any problem. They seem to work as good as any other brand garf

My Favorites are Federal Match Grade primers. If I can’t get them then I use Winchester. I have never used CCI but I have never been warned away from them….

I'm with Doc

No Remingtons for me -- misfires 1:10 a few years back so CCI and GM215M's for me.

BNagel

I use CCI Magnum primers and Federal Large Rifle and pistol primers. Never had a problem with either brand.

Don

I have used them all by the thousands, I now use only Fed primers because they were the most accurate when I did my yearly assessment (comparing the years targets) several years ago. I decided the primer part of the accuracy equation was established, thus now the Federals. Good shooting

reloaders know reloading.
store owners and clerks are almost always full of talk 2 like minded people. when in doubt read and reserch and read some more or join a great forum like you did here
their great primers...
regards

My guess is 98% or better of misfires can be blamed on human error and perhaps a few, very few, rifle malfunctions..or so it seems to me.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
My guess is 98% or better of misfires can be blamed on human error and perhaps a few, very few, rifle malfunctions..or so it seems to me.

It would be just the opposite for me.

cci's are great, feds are great, winchesters are great.. i don't think i have bought bricks of others... they all work for they application designed

quote:

Originally posted by buckshot:
My preference is Federal, but after this primer shortage my brand loyalty won't be there either...

Buck Shot, have been experimenting with other brands and how are they working for you?

CCI 250 or Fed. 215 or Rem lrm

whats with this talk of primer shortages? why havent i heard of it in alabama

Folks who have out of tolerance firearms will have misfires with CCI primers. CCI primers are less sensitive than Federal or the brass Winchester.

Typically you find these guys cutting coils from mainsprings, using 70 year mainsprings in the cold (with grease in the bolt), or using aftermarket mainsprings in revolvers to lighten the trigger pull.

One bud of mine installed some sort of aftermarket mainspring in his M686. He got misfires, with CCI primers. Yes, the trigger pull was lighter, but we both thought it stupid to have a revolver that was not reliable. With the original factory mainspring, all CCI primers went bang.

You will read all sorts of internet stupidity where people alter their firearms to lighten the trigger pull, smooth out the double action, have misfires, and then blame the primers.

And this has driven primer manufactures to make their primers more sensitive! That is what Winchester did in 1999. And guess what, sensitive primers have thin cups, pierce easy, and eat up firing pins!! Sensitive primers also slamfire in weapons with free floating firing pins.

Frustrating.

I was wondering about all this talk of primer shortage also. I was at the local gun store the other day, and he had a lot of everything.

As to CCI, that is pretty much what I use. For no other reason than when I was learning to reload, that is whay my mentor used so I have stuck with it.

Any misfires I have had have been do to my own error.

Primers are sort of like religion.
What ever you start out with is what you think is the best. I started with Federals because the local Gibson store carried only that brand and they were less expensive than driving 30 miles for primers.
Eventually I tried Winchester, CCI and Remington too.

I have shot thousands of Winchester primers in skeet loads, a few CCI, and a lot of Remington too.
I seem to get better rifle accuracy from the Federals. Most of my shooting is not for serious accuracy though and I shoot Remington just because the ash is easier to clean out of the primer pockets.