Primers

19 May 2002, 12:11

<KING>

Primers

I reload for a .223 and usually use Ball Powder H335 and know to use Mag primers. I would like any imput on using Bench Rest primers instead. Any help would be appreciated. I have also started using Varget, seems ok! and accurate. Primers are CCI brand. Any info would be appreciated.

19 May 2002, 14:51

Bobby Tomek

You don't need magnum primers in a case this size. I have fired thousands upon thousands of rounds with the .223 and wildcats including the 6mm-.223 (6x45), 6 TCU, 6.5 and 7mm TCU cartridges, and with the vast majority, H-335 was the propellant of choice. For several years now, all I use is the Rem 7 1/2 bench rest primer. The accuracy and consistency is as good as it gets.

19 May 2002, 15:46

<bearmanmt>

Like the previous responder, I use Remington 7 1/2 primers exclusively. I shot a .222 Rem and they work perfectly, with good shot to shot uniformity on the chronograph.

Incidentally, I now use Fed 210s and 210Ms for most of my other reloading requiring large rifle primers. The only place that I use a mag primer is in my .416 Rigby.

Hope this helps.
The Bearman

19 May 2002, 16:19

Bigdaddytacp

quote:
Originally posted by KING:
I reload for a .223 and usually use Ball Powder H335 and know to use Mag primers. I would like any imput on using Bench Rest primers instead. Any help would be appreciated. I have also started using Varget, seems ok! and accurate. Primers are CCI brand. Any info would be appreciated.

Ditto on the Rem 7 1/2 primers and also the CCI Br primers with the H335....no problem with upper end loads and 50 to 55 grain bullets in bolt gun ....good luck and good shooting!!!

19 May 2002, 18:22

craigster

Another vote for 71/2BR's. I use them exclusively for all small rifle applications.

------------------
there's a fine line between hobby and mental illnes

20 May 2002, 15:48

Pecos41

Personally I thing the "Magnum Primer" thing is a load of crap. The ONLY benefit from using so called magnum primers is it makes CCI and the other companies a little more money.

I've loaded most of the magnum rifle cartridges on down to the .22 Hornet and NEVER use Magnum primers unless someone gave me some. For my money they are pure BS. Oh and this includes shooting up GOBS of the Ball Powders...even the big stuff like H-870! Piss on magnum primers.

21 May 2002, 08:01

Stonecreek

Pecos puts thing so delicately that it's hard to disagree with him.

I haven't found any advantage to magnum primers in 35 years of reloading, 32 of that owning a chronograph. Even with cases as large as the 8mm Remington Magnum and .340 Weatherby, and even using ball powders as slow as WC 872 (originally manufactured for 20mm cannon), standard force primers work as well, or better.

I've never shot or hunted in sub-zero weather, and some people will swear that you have to have magnum primers when it gets really cold, but they offer no data to back up that claim.

If a person feels more comfortable with magnum primers and wishes to use them, well that's fine with me. But I regard the label as a marketing ploy which allows the manufacturer to charge a bit more (and more importantly, forces the retailer to stock more of the manufacturer's product).

Don't get me started on "benchrest" primers!

[This message has been edited by Stonecreek (edited 05-20-2002).]

21 May 2002, 08:55

<Gary Rihn>

I gotta go with the crowd here. I shoot ball powder (Win 748) in a 308 (larger charge than the 223), and still never needed magnum primers. I use WLR or CCI BR primers, never once had a problem.

31 May 2002, 18:18

<Lightnin>

Folks I don't want to start a war here but anybody that thinks there is no difference between magnum and standard or standard and benchrest primers needs to get a copy of "The Benchrest Shooting Primer" and read the information contained there. It is compiled from the pages of "Precision Shooting" magazine and is an education on the world of accuracy and how to achieve it. There is an excellent article on primers. Jim

01 June 2002, 01:13

<reload>

Standard primers burn more consistant then magnum primers that is way people looking for accuracy use them. Benchrest primers may be a little better than standard, but you should probably have a custom built rifle to see the difference. Other things such as case preping can do more for the accuracy of your rifle. AA2230 is a excellent powder for the .222 and .223, try it! Good Luck

01 June 2002, 02:40

<jdllyons>

I was developing a load for my 243 with 55 gr. Nosler BT. Used 51.0 gr. of H-380 ahead of a WLR primer. At an average MV of 3788, I was getting an extreme spread of >100 fps (10 shots).

Decided to try magnum primers and my average MV increased to 3801 and my extreme spread dropped to 22 fps.

The temperature at time of testing was 40 degrees.

I have since switched to Fed 210M and have had equally good results.

For my 17 Rem., I use Rem 7-1/2.

01 June 2002, 05:28

Stonecreek

I don't doubt jd's results with the primer switch. But I would like to point out that a similar result might have occured in some other load and gun by switching from, say, a CCI 250 magnum to a Remington 9 1/2 standard.

A single example of improved performance between one manufacturer's "standard" primer and another manufacturer's "magnum" primer says little about the larger universe of primers and loads.

01 June 2002, 06:35

<JoeM>

While we are on the topic of primers I have a question for those that might have tried it.

Has anybody ever tried a very small charge of Red Dot ahead of the main charge?

I have heard of this being done, supposed to increase brisannce or something..or make dirty powders burn clean?

Never tried it myself. Not really sure of the informations accuracy.

01 June 2002, 10:57

Dutch

Hey Joe, why don't you try it, and if you live, tell us how it went...... [Big Grin]

LOL! I'm sure it has been done, but with the superb quality reloading supplies we have, I can't see a possible benefit. JMO, Dutch.

09 June 2002, 11:01

Pecos41

quote:
Originally posted by JoeM:
While we are on the topic of primers I have a question for those that might have tried it.
Has anybody ever tried a very small charge of Red Dot ahead of the main charge?

I actually tried this once Joe in a wildcat .30caliber with 1.5 inch case. I was trying to see if I could make the thing use slow machinegun powder by kicking it off with .5 grain of Bullseye.

I set up my chronograph and fired half a dozen rounds of this ammo before I finally chickened out. Velocity and pressure were all over the place! [Eek!]

It was an idea whose time had not come and never will as far as I'm concerned.

If you just gotta try something like this, use someone else's gun and fire it with a lanyard.

Now I suspect someone will come back and tell me how they've been shooting duplex and even triplex loads for years with wonderful results. And I'm happy as a pig in fresh slop for them.
But I'll never try it again! [Eek!]

The old expression, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread," fits this situation to the T.

In summation: DON'T [Smile]

09 June 2002, 20:44

rudie

Hi everyone

Well Pecos45 you could not have said it any better & I do agree with most of the posts on using Magnum primers . To sum it up you cant pay me enough to even bother using them I have a about CCI Magnum primers & used up about 10 for load development , I can assure you that, that 190 left will probably die of old age before I do [Big Grin]

or until someone wants them . Poor old fella.

Regards
Rudie

10 June 2002, 09:26

<centerpunch>

[ 06-15-2002, 05:03: Message edited by: centerpunch ]

10 June 2002, 05:50

Pyrotek

I disagree that magnum primers being useless.

I had been using CCI 200 for some time but I had serious ignition problem when using ball powder(H335) in 7.62X54R cases. Then I used magnum primer instead, works like a charm, the gun spits fire like a dragon. I believe CCI 200 is on the mild side thus the magnum strength for longer jet.