Who's primers do you use and why? Are there any characteristics known to differentiate primers of diffrent brands, make one better than another? For example I've heard that Winchester primers are softer than others, does anyone know if this is true?

Whatever is on sale.

Sometimes a particular brand and type of primer will exhibit better consistency with a certain load, but there is generally no such thing as "poor" brands of primers, nor is any one brand of primer always superior to others. I'm currently using CCI, Winchester, and even some ancient Japanese-made Herters small rifle primers and all perform fully satisfactorily. I've recently purchased some Federals but have not used any yet.

By the way, I have not noticed Winchester primers being "softer", but I sincerly doubt that you would experience pierced primers with them before exceeding pressures which would be life-limiting to the brass case.

I like Rem 7-1/2 primers for 5.56 as with their copper color, I can tell which military cases have had the pockets reamed!

Federal 205, or 205M.

Don

If you use one of the hand held priming tools like the Lee or RCBS read the instructions regarding which primers not recommended with the tool.

I'm currently using CCI primers.

primer of choice SR

CCI BR-4 in everything I have that they fit in.

CCI BR-4 in my 6mm Norma BR custom rig, it gives me very low ES, CCI 400 in 222/223.

I h avae found throughout the years that some primers are softer than others and don,t seat as hard in the primer pockets. I have had win. primers back out of even new brass with light loads. I use CCI on all my reloads since 1958. I like them,and they seem to seat harder for better fit,and thats just the way i want it.

CCI are the best fit.

I just get what's on sale, like Stonecreek does.

If there is ever a change in accuracy, I don't notice it with my style of shooting but I don't do any hard core target shooting, where saving a buck or 3 on a case of primers might not be as important as that 1/16 of an inch.

Use mostly Federal 205M's, but many Rem 7 1/2 BR, and CCi's are quite acceptable especially the BR series... they all work well, some lots or applications better than others.