What kind of difference can I expect when going from a standard large rifle primer(CCI) to a Bench Rest primer(CCI)? I loaded up some 22-250 loads, with the same powder/bullet combination that has worked excellent for me in the past, but instead of the standard primer I went with the bench rest primer. Can any one tell me what differences I will notice with this new combination? Thanks

I think you would have to take a very large sample to detect any difference between standard and benchrest primers.

Waaaaal, some folks will tell you its the straight road to Jerusalum but that was not what I found. I have tried both small rifle BR primers and LR BR primers in side by side comparisons. I could not find any difference! Not in side by side comparison nor mixed use. There just wasn't any difference that I could detect. The BR primers are supposed to be made by the most skilled, experienced employees and some folks are willing to pay extra for the "comfort" of having a premium product but I personally think its a blue gosling.

I knew a guy that chased blue goslings all the time, he couldn't shoot worth a sh** though, maybe that's why he never got one.



Never could tell a whit of difference in BR primers either, what Denton & Beeman said!

I (and some of my buddies) have used both. General consensus is six of one and a half dozen of the other.

THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THEM

jUST LOOK AT THE PRICE TAG.....BUT THAT'S ALL THE DIFFERENCE i'VE EVER FOUND.

A change in brands or std. to magnum may give you a sim. result as going w/ a match. Buy 100 & try them out.

Benchrest primers are supposed to provide a more consistent ignition than the garden variety ones. I expect the difference in price is because the compound used took time and money to develop to its advanced state of reliability. I know as much about benchrest shooting as Bill Clinton knows about morality, but I do know that the key to successful benchrest shooting is consistency. Benchrest primers are so-called because they deliver such consistency.

I use Benchrest Primers for all my loads. I feel they do improve my groups, and provide more consistant velocity.

Just my opine.

I am looking forward to giving them a try. I don't expect my rifles to go sub minute by changing primers, actually I don't know what the heck they will do, but I'll give em a shot. An extra buck won't break the bank...however it would be nice if some forward progress could be realized...

I beleive that the match primers are sorted for more consistency in weight and size/height. In some benchrest circles,..the tools that seat primers are sensitive to .001" increments. A few years back some boys were all about having a .003" seating depth (supposed to be the best). The match primer can make seating these faster for the guys who use that theory. I use them because I shoot matches,...and every game animal represents an X-ring,..so I take no chances for the few extra $.

Do it the el cheap way: sort your plain primers by weight. There is some credible evidence that suggests this will work. Come to think of it, segregate your match primers by weight, too. Can't hurt.

When I first decided to try BR Primers, I did some side by side comparisons with established loads. I did find that BR Primers made a noticable difference in the size of my groups. While some loads were improved more than others, I only buy the BR Federal primers for my small and large rifles cartridges. The price difference really isn't that much, compared to other components like powder, brass and bullets.

There's a good article, maybe last year some time, by McPherson, on this very subject in Precision Shooting magazine. Interestingly enough,(as I recall) he did dark room photography showing the explosion pattern and intensity of various types of primers.

As I recall, there was a large variation both in consistency of the event, and the actual output(explosion)of the primers across the board.

Reinforces my belief, once again, to NOT CHANGE ANYTHING when dealing with near maximum loads.

I saw that article; the biggest surprise for me was the idea that the primer pushed the bullet out into the rifling.

Just test it... on most of my rifles the BR2/BR4 CCI benchrest primers

give to most accurate results, but on one (.222R)

a simple & cheap Sellier&Bellot (S&B) primer provides that

rifle with the most accurate load (double checked it).

If you have some shootingfriends, they will be happy to

just exchange 20 primers of each brand for testing evaluations.

The 210M Federal Match is also a good one.

For low temperature conditions you can use Magnum primers,

but most of the time accuracy will be less (but enough

for hunting purposes). Remember : accuracy is relative.