I am getting ready to load rifle loads for the first time. I am loading 168 gr.match bullets for a 308.I am not a great bench rest shooter but would like the loads to be as accurate as posible. I have selected imr 4064 as the powder. I have some winchester large rifle primers, but before I start working up loads do you think these are good primers to use for this, or if not what would you recomend. Thanks for all replys Jeff

I have used Fed Match 210 Gold Medal Primers and Gold Medal Brass for years with excellent results with IMR powder and Reloader Powder. A good starting load for your 308 Win is IMR 4064 is 43.5 which should duplicate the Gold Medal Match round. Seat your bullets out at 2.80" to 2.81" COL. Another good load is 44.0 of Reloader 15.

My Favorite is VARGET with CCI BR-2 primers at 46.0 grains.

Have fun and safe shooting!

[ 05-25-2003, 17:13: Message edited by: Alaska Bush Man ]

You're going to get as many "best" answers as there are different primers and powders...so I might as well as mine:

N-550 From 40.7 grains to 48.9 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer

Rem308,

I'm not an expert on primers, but I do load for 11 calibers, and shoot a great deal from the bench. I have some loads in which the only variable is the primer, mainly Federal and Remington. In some instances I get better results with the former, some the latter. I have never been able to determine that one is preferable to the other. I've read several articles on primer heat and such. It has been of no help. I formerly used WW and CCI, but stopped because of the occasional failure to fire. Even that may have been a fluke. CCI BR primers are rather highly regarded. Some shooters prefer to substitute large rifle primers in what we consider small rifle calibers. I don't know much about that. Until I find differently I'll stick with
Rem. 7 1/2 and 9 1/2 since they are much cheaper in Canada than the Federal Match primers. The main difference I understand is in the inspection process employed by Federal. Supposedly they eyeball the primers as they're completed. I don't know if that is necessary since I've never had a misfire with a Remingtoin. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

REM308, I've been very pleased with Fed 210 or 210M primers. Over the years I've tried others but the Federals seem to have a slight edge in contributing to accuracy. Paul.

I normally use Fed 210M but just bought a case of 210. I have heard the 1000 yd BR guys can't tell the difference between 210M and 210 and I notice that they seem to be now made with a pellet of compound rather than a slurry which should make them even more consistent - I think.

Primers are cheap, try a couple and see which gives good results in your rifle.

The next time I get out I will be using 4 different ones while working a load up. I think primers are no different from any other variable, what works well in mine might not be so great in another. There was some recent scuttlebutt about some irregular WMLR's that are currently on the shelves, so Im steering away from those.

The only thing I can add here, is that I usually use a mag primer with ball powder, and regular for extruded powder........Bug.

Just my 2 cents, but I recently bought some WLRM primers. Out of the first 76 loads, 3 failed to fire. (That is not a good thing so I'm giving the rest to Martha Stewart !) Not that I'm perfect, but cannot resolve that I made a mistakes during the loading stages. And, a couple other AR folks commented with some similar experiences of late. So, I plan to steer clear of these and switch to Federal primers, again.

I use CCI BR primers for most of my stuff, and I've never had a problem with them. For Magnums, I use Federal 215. I believe them to be the hottest primer out there. For the small stuff (6mm and smaller) I use Federal 210M. They are about as good as they get.

I searched high and low for some Fed primers. Finaly was abble to find some 210 and 210m. I loaded some of each, The 210m had a slightley less velocity with the same charge,and the max spread was a little less but they were both very accurate. I tryed 43.5 4064 and 43.0.I had an increase in velocity with less powder. Is this normal? This is the first time I've loaded rifle ammo and I've never checked my pistol velocity's. Thanks for all your help. Jeff