How important are your primers when reloading

[freddyfour]

I've been using Win WLR primers to load for most of my rifles because I have a pile of them. I have been working on my 260 loads and most of the loads I see are using different primers like CCI 200 or Rem 9 1/2 or.... Am I losing out by sticking with the same old WLR's?

 

[yomomma]

there can be a somewhere around 200fps difference between the best and worst primers.

Every time you change primers you should work up your load again

 

[yomomma]

http://3.bp.########.com/_f1TTfqxVUw4/SxfJ8WU0xiI/AAAAAAAAAwA/1PI1SACs100/s640/Table_1_and_Table_2.jpg

 

[yomomma]

http://riflemansjournal.########.com/2009/06/primers-large-rifle-primer-study.html

 

[sunray]

Unless you're shooting bench rest, the chances of you seeing much difference is slim. However, the velocities will be slightly different, but not enough to matter for a hunting load.

 

[kamlooky]

I've pretty much given up on Winchester primers.
Opted instead on CCI's.
I find for some reason I need a wee bit more effort to
push them into the primer pockets of my brass.
Plus, being part rat, I like the shineyness of them.

 

[HIGHRPM]

Well, from everything I have researched, both CCI and Win are the hardest cups out of all the primers, except the military primers. Win are the hottest primers and I have tested both CCI and Win in multiple loads at the range and see little or no difference in accuracy. Speed might be different but my impact points don't really show it. I am sure some have very different results, or favour one over the other, but I find these two primers the best and most reliable to use for range work and hunting.

 

[freddyfour]

Shiny?!?!?! Well why didn't you tell me I could get em shinier

And just for the hell of it, here is what I am messing with today

 

[mmattockx]

I've pretty much given up on Winchester primers.
Opted instead on CCI's.
I find for some reason I need a wee bit more effort to
push them into the primer pockets of my brass.
Plus, being part rat, I like the shineyness of them.

I have only ever used CCI primers and have no reason at all to change. I must be part rat, too, because I like the shiny ones as well.


Mark

 

[Spawn-Inc]

i like the shininess as well, but mainly the smaller packaging of cci vs winchester. if you really want shiny though, S&B are mirror shiny!

 

[freddyfour]

So primer choice has come down to the fine science of shininess........I like where your heads are at

 

[deadeyes40]

started out using Winchester small rifle primers for my 222 reloads but have since switched to cci small rifle because they are easier to find local. I also have a box of federal small rifle match primers a friend gave me to try. have yet to do any loads with the match primers. I have not noticed any real difference between using Winchester primers over cci primers. I re worked my loads when I switched primers and still ended up with the same loads with different primers.

 

[H4831]

I like them all, no matter what color or shine.
My criteria in buying primers is to get the lowest priced ones in the store I happen to be at.

 

[dead meat]

I like them all, no matter what color or shine.
My criteria in buying primers is to get the lowest priced ones in the store I happen to be at.

Me to. Usually buy lots when i find a deal, price rollbacks don't happen often at gunshops.

 

[UR2X3M4ME]

I like them all, no matter what color or shine.
My criteria in buying primers is to get the lowest priced ones in the store I happen to be at.

My line of thought as well.
That said, I would not mind coloured ones in order to differentiate my brass from others after matches.

 

[freddyfour]

I like them all, no matter what color or shine.
My criteria in buying primers is to get the lowest priced ones in the store I happen to be at.

I've been buying the WLR's because that's all my LGS has. Makes my life easier sometimes.

 

[curseyou]

I chose cci magnums despite 223 and 308 specifications for regular primers. I use slightly less powder, and I get less temp variation with my powders than I did with regulars. ( my velocity on warm days is only marginally higher and my velocity on cold days is significantly higher making for a more flat temp curve.) The more positive ignition seems to be evening out the temperature variations. Otherwise I haven't noticed a heck of a lot of difference. I also haven't noticed seating depth differences, or any benefits in ram priming so I hand prime my magnums into regular cartridges and am happy so far.

 

[Ganderite]

I like to buy primers at least 20,000 at a time, making sure they are all the same lot #. That gives me a batch of ammo with one less variable to contend with.

Sometimes I have to change brands because my favourite primer (Federal Match) is not available in a large quantity. When changing to Winchester, for example, in a 308 match load, we had to drop the powder charge about a half grain to keep the same velocity.

I have never seen much of a pressure/velocity change between primers. HOWEVER, I have found that ball powder, especially with a light load with a light bullet is hard to ignite. In that situation, regardless of caliber, I use only a Winchester primer or a Magnum primer.

 

[Northman999]

I like them all, no matter what color or shine.
My criteria in buying primers is to get the lowest priced ones in the store I happen to be at.

This is my method too, for everything except .375 RUM, which requires Remington 9 1/2M primers, or I get dangerously erratic ignition.

For everything else, even other magnums, I have never seen diddly squat difference between the performance of any primers, which leaves only price as something to consider.

 

[Nate.308]

I’m new to reloading! It seems the common opinion for most of you guys is that the ignition source is relatively the same across the board, regardless of brand? I dont care how shiny, I just want to KNOW my primer is going to work 100%of the time!!

So primer choice has come down to the fine science of shininess........I like where your heads are at