I ahve noticed often in the recipes for relaoding the primer is mentioned specifically. I noticed this morong in my reloading it was with federal primers, and some with cci primers. I didnt notice until I had realoded and I put them all together with CCI small rifle primers (reloading 223) My question is , Is there enought difference to cause any issues. i reload in the middle of the recommended charge, Nothing real hot , and I avoid the lower side also.I dont have enought experience yet to know what i can get away with powder charge wise So for now i am staying on the safe side. Will using CCI instead of Federal primers cause any problems?

I personally would not worry about it unless you foolishly started out at the max level.
I know there are slight differences but when I shoot the same powder charge with different primers the velocities sure don't vary all that much.
Usually well within standard deviation.

Except with the very smallest of cases (.22 Hornet, perhaps) any difference in primer briscience, even between so-called "magnum" primers and "standard" primers, is of no significant effect on the safety of the load.

However, that is NOT to say that some primers may not provide superior consistency and accuracy as compared to others with the same load.

as far as I'm concerned the only time I pay attention to the stated primer in the recipe is in loading high pressure shotshells.

Here's something that I posted on another site. An informal comparison of primers. I didn't do this as a test but it worked out that way.

The claim is that "Match" or "Benchrest" primers are more consistent which should translate to smaller groups especially at long range.

I had loaded up a bunch of test loads for my 6.5x284 with H4350 and CCI 300 (standard large rifle) primers. I had forgotten that I wanted to use the Federal Gold Medal Match primers in this gun so instead of pulling all of these loads down and trying to deprime them, I loaded identical loads with the Federal Match primers. These loads were done right after I finished the previous group of loads on the the same match prepped brass, the same powder measure, die settings, etc.

I measured the velocity of every shot and the group size and let my Pact chronograph calculate the Standard Deviation or SD.

When shooting, I alternated loads by weight of powder and cleaned with a dry nylon brush between each load. I also completely cleaned the barrel every 20 rounds and fired a couple of fouling shots before measuring the next groups.

6.5x284 Lapua Brass
142 grain SMK...................H4350____.007 off lands

Federal Match Primers______________________CCI LR Primers
Powder__Velocity__SD_____ Group____________Powder__Velocity_SD_____Group
44.5____ 2685____6.8_____ 0.72____________44.5____2682____12.2____0.92
44.7____ 2695____7.4_____1.3______________44.7____2690____8.8_____1.1
45.2____ 2709____3.9_____1.2______________45.2____2712____11.6____1.2
45.5____ 2737____11______0.85_____________45.5____2726____6_______0.9
45.7____ 2736____6.2_____0.5______________45.7____2738____11.8____0.75
46______2767____4.5_____ 0.5______________46_____2745____13.8____1
46.2____ 2775____5.5_____ 0.7_____________46.2____2768____8.9______0.8
46.5____ 2791____3.9_____ 0.85____________46.5____2785____16______1.1
47______2818____5_______0.75_____________47_____2808____10.8____0.82
47.3____ 2804____4.5_____ 0.72____________47.3____2834____9.9_____0.66
47.6____ 2840____9_______0.316____________47.6___2843____21.8_____0.85
48______2874____10.8____ 0.41_____________48_____2866____16.7____0.9

_______________SD_______Group___________________________SD_____Group

Average_________6.54_____0.73____________________________12.36___0.92


Conclusion: In my very limited test (using this one gun and lots of primers) there was a difference in standard deviation (89%) and group sizes (26%).

This testing is not a scientific proof of any kind for a variety of reasons including having too small a sample size but I also used primers made by two different manufacturers and the differences could easily be from the manufacturer's tolerances themselves.

I am not to the point of being down to one powder. I am just getting started and trying to get an idea of bullet weight and powder. Once I get a little more info i will try different primers and different types of bullets. Thanks for all the info , doesnt look like it will be an issue in safety, just might not be as accurate.

Another interesting thing; There is not much of a relation between SD and accuracy. So much for that one.
Good luck!

John Barness recently published some pressure tests in either Rifle or Handloader that reveal shifts of 10,000 plus PSI in loads, the variable being the primers with the same powder loading. You will have to look it up but the CCI 200 was one of the mildest I think. But, 10K PSI is a real problem at max loads. He had 5xK PSI load and a 70K PSI load just by changing the primer. It is worth finding and reading. There is some information on the net too that can be found by searching.

quote:

Originally posted by gunz:
I ahve noticed often in the recipes for relaoding the primer is mentioned specifically. I noticed this morong in my reloading it was with federal primers, and some with cci primers. I didnt notice until I had realoded and I put them all together with CCI small rifle primers (reloading 223) My question is , Is there enought difference to cause any issues. i reload in the middle of the recommended charge, Nothing real hot , and I avoid the lower side also.I dont have enought experience yet to know what i can get away with powder charge wise So for now i am staying on the safe side. Will using CCI instead of Federal primers cause any problems?

Switching primer brands is NOT going to blow up your rifle, or anything like that!

BUT if you work up a real accurate load with one brand then start using another make, the results might not be as good as far as accuracy is concerned.