General Primer / accuracy question

[Mikeyman]

Hello so I am relatively new to reloading and was curious as to peoples findings using different primers. Lets say you had a favorite load for your rifle but all you change is the type of primer. Do you notice much difference in accuracy and if so how much difference? Is it possible to go from 1.5 to 1 moa or vise versa just by changing the primer? I have a few thou of CCI and federal but so far have only used the CCI.

Mike

 

[Splatter]

The answer to your first question is probably "No, not "much" change." with the term "much" still needing to be defined.
Is 1/2 MOA "much"? in several shooting disciplines 0.5 MOA is quite a lot, actually; however actually seeing 1/2 MOA is another topic entirely. and requires good record-keeping.
For instance, in the rifle I'm working-up loads for right now, the average load, everything from 13.0 grains of H. Li'lGun to 18.0 grains (about 50 rounds total, so far, fired in 4 and 5 shot groups) seems to be about 0.8 MOA (thank-you "OnTarget" software for making all the stats possible for me!!)
Once I get the 3-or-4 repeatably best loads using the Federal SR match primer, the LilGun and the 40 grain V-Max and 36 grain VBG, I'll chnge primers to the CCI BR 's and see what (if anything) happens to my proven loads, do they gain or lose velocity and/or accuracy and/or how much POI shift?
I expect that the changes will be subtle; but given the precision possible for the group sizes and the software I'm sure I'll see some changes.
However, if I were working-up loads for my old Mini-14 rifle, where the best load I can ever remember measuring was over 2.0 MOA, I'd need to be very scrupulous indeed, with my record keeping to see any group changes of less than a full 1.0 MOA.

Think of it this way... it's all about the resolution.

 

[sunray]

"...possible to go from 1.5 to 1 moa or vise versa just by changing the primer?..." Theory is that if you change any one component you should work up the load again. However, just changing the primer is not likely to noticeably alter the group size. Certainly not with hunting bullets out of a hunting rifle.