It seems there's a bit of a shortage of large rifle magnum primers these days and some of us are forced to "use what we got" for the time being. I'll be doing some loads for .300 win mag soon and I'm wondering if anyone here might have experience using the CCI #34 (milspec) primers in place of the regular magnum primers. CCI says these contain a "magnum mix," which caused me to start wondering.

Having a mil-spec primer cup for semi-auto rifles running in excess of 55,000 PSI, they should work well in the .300WM. I would avoid the hard to ignite ball powders until the weather warms a little. Use a good crimp as well.
I've used them in 8-mag with stick powders with no problems.

To begin with I'm going to use Sierra 220 ' s and RL22. Shouldn't be too hard to ignite.

Been using CCI #34 primers for about 9 years.The only adverse event was with a Ruger .257 that has a slightly weak striker spring. Some small percentage don't fire on the first strike.Other than that they are great. roger

Thanks guys. This is sounding very encouraging. I have a total of 1200 so if they work out I should be good for some time.

Great primer. Will light up H-414, Ramshot Hunter or Big Game in below Zero weather in the 30-06 case just fine.
I bought them, like you did, because that was what I could get. I have used them in all my big game rifles with light to heavy loads just fine.

The primer mix developed for use in the FA #34 primer was the FA 956 mix,

PATR 2700 Encyclopedia of Explosives Vol 8 gives the composition

FA 956

Lead Styphanate 37.7 +/- 5%
Tetracene 4.0 +/- 1%
Barium Nitrate 32.0 +/- 5%
Antimony Sulfide 15.0 +/- 2%
Aluminum Powder 7.0 +/- 1%
PETN 5.0 +/- 1%
Gum Arabic 0.2%


I ran a test to compare velocities of a series of primers, including Tula 7.62, with my standard 30-06 match load of 168 SMK 47.0 grs IMR 4895.

I have lots of 174 FMJBT's, five gallon buckets of LC match brass, so I used those and all the primers I have rolling around the reloading room. Any load I have developed with 174’s is perfectly safe with 168 match bullets.

I do not recommend the use of Federals in Garands, Federals are the most slamfiring primers around, so I am not publishing any federal primer data in my Garand, because someone may think it might be an endorsement of use.

I used the great old WLR nickel plated primers. These were made prior to 1999. Winchester changed their primers in 1999 to make them "more" sensitive and changed the primer color to brass. These brass Winchester primers have thinner cups than the older version I do not recommend their use in Garands/M1a's. I also do not recommend the use of brass WSR as primer piercing in my AR's ate up a handfull of firing pins at loads that never bothered the great old nickel plated WSR.

Tula 7.62 primers were advertized by Graf as equivalent to CCI #34 primers. CCI #34 primers are advertized as being “mil spec” primers by CCI. Mil Spec primers are the only appropriate primers to use in Garands and M1a’s as they are less sensitive than commercial primers and greatly reduce the risk of an out of battery slamfire.

Tula 7.62 and Wolf primers shot very well and I have been using Tula 7.62 in matches, I have a high confidence in their accuracy ability.


30-06 Primer Test


Colombian Mauser Match

174 FMJBT White Box 1968 NM M72, Headstamp LC67 match, box velocity 2640 fps

14 Nov 2011 T = 68 °F

Ave Vel = 2698
Std Dev = 51
ES = 117
High = 2771
Low = 2654
N = 5

174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI #34 OAL 3.30

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2645
Std Dev = 12
ES = 42
High = 2671
Low = 2629
N = 10
Very good group

174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Tula 7.62 lot 1-10 primers OAL 3.30

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2665
Std Dev = 9
ES = 28
High = 2677
Low = 2649
N = 10
Excellent Group

174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Wolf NCLR lot 18-09 OAL 3.30

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2656
Std Dev = 15
ES = 36
High = 2677
Low = 2641
N = 9


174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Fed 210S OAL 3.30

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2656
Std Dev = 13
ES = 34
High = 2674
Low = 2640
N = 10


174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM WLR (Nickle) OAL 3.30

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2665
Std Dev = 18
ES = 60
High = 2696
Low = 2636
N = 10
Excellent group

174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI200 OAL 3.30

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2680
Std Dev = 14
ES = 56
High = 2712
Low = 2656
N = 10
V. Good group




M1 Garand BMR Receiver Douglas Barrel 1:10 twist

150 gr FMJBT 1966 Ball

14 Nov 2011 T= 74 ° F

Ave Vel = 2545
Std Dev = 20
ES = 68
Low = 2513
High = 2581
N= 8


174 FMJBT White Box 1968 NM M72, Headstamp LC67 match, box velocity 2640 fps

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2592
Std Dev = 28
ES = 103
High = 2647
Low = 2544
N = 10


174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI #34 OAL 3.30

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2632
Std Dev = 20
ES = 60
High = 2671
Low = 2611
N = 10

174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Tula 7.62 lot 1-10 primers OAL 3.30

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2582
Std Dev = 15
ES = 49
High = 2602
Low = 2553
N = 10
excellent group


174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Wolf NCLR lot 18-09 OAL 3.30

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2607
Std Dev = 17
ES = 57
High = 2642
Low = 2585
N = 10


174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM WLR (Nickle) OAL 3.30

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2650
Std Dev = 19
ES = 68
High = 2688
Low = 2620
N = 10
Very good group


174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI200 OAL 3.30

14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F

Ave Vel = 2599
Std Dev = 22
ES = 75
High = 2637
Low = 2562
N = 10
Very good group






Based on my test, I would say the WLR is at least as strong a primer as the CCI #34. This is assuming that velocity increases are pressure increases. I have used the CCI #34 primer in Across the Course (XTC), mid range (600 yards) and long range (1000 yards). If we assign my poor long range scores to poor marksmanship, for all the rest, I have shot HM scores at all distances with the #34 primer.

From what I read in the PATR 2700 Encyclopedia of Explosives, there are three common features that are varied to make a less sensitive primer. A thicker cup, a greater primer bridge gap, and a less sensitive primer mixture. I believe that all three are in US military spec primers. The only magnum I have is a 300 H&H and I used Federal 210S primers on a nice 72F day. I did not have any ignition issues. But, I but I have had rotten luck in cold weather with ball powders, standard primers in my 35 Whelen. In that rifle I had hangfires. I would not recommend standard, or even military primers, with ball powders and cold weather. Military primers are less sensitive so depending on the design of your ignition system, if it is weak, you might experience misfires with anything except Federals. Federals are the most sensitive primer on the market.

Slam:

I just love this stuff !!!

I fancy myself as an extreme "meticulous" but you make me look bad !!!!

quote:

Originally posted by wetibbe:
Slam:

I just love this stuff !!!

I fancy myself as an extreme "meticulous" but you make me look bad !!!!

Thanks. This obsessive behavior is all a consequence of being able to buy chronographs at a reasonable price.

A bud of mine got to see factory test equipment, with modern equipment they are able to measure the amount of material ejected after a primer ignites, the time of the flame, I assume the energy impulse, and more. I can't remember all that he said they measured.

I wish I had one of those machines. I would be camped out at the range for weeks.