Is there really any difference between primer brands?

For one, some are much softer than others. My collection is mostly military style rifles and you definately want harder primers for the semi-autos. M14 style rifles and soft primers can be a bad combo.
 
I believe some reloading press manufacturers specify not to use Federal primers in some of their presses. Take a look at how Federal packages their primers. It's twice as big of box than their competitors, at least.
 
Quality(accuracy) and hardness

Hardness
Some primers are harder and this required for use in some semi-auto with floating firing pins such as the AR15.

Remington and CCI make excellent hard primers for semis.

Quality - Accuracy
Resounding yes according to Lyman tests (Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th, p57):
the spread in average pressure can be 2600PSI for the same 308 Win load.

The spread in speed and pressure:
  • best primer 38fps and 3500PSI (excellent).
  • worst primer 133fps and 9300PSI (3 times larger, almost scary).
The best primer can give 3 time less velocity and pressure variation compared to the worst primer.

CCI and Federal Match primers are the gold standard when it comes to accuracy (and are expensive).

Alex
 
there must be,a 222 round with 22.7 grains of 4895 over a win small rifle primer behind a 50 grain v-max had a 5 shot group 100 yards of just over 1 inch.the same round except with cci small rifle primer group was a good 2 inches for 4 of the shots with the 5th one around 3 inches.
 
D_w_A said:
AFAIK there isn't but I always wonder because load notes always specify the exact primer.
Click to expand...

I don't follow the primer brand (CCI,Federal,Win, etc) noted in the reloading notes but I definately build up a load with the same brand of primer. If I have to change primers I redevelop the load. I mostly just use Winchester primers as I got them cheap a while ago.

I also generally follow the standard vs magnum primer recommendations depending on the powder used.
 
I have found WLR primers a little hotter than CCI 200's in my 308. With the same powder charge, bullet, and brass the velocities with the WLR is about 40-50 fps faster. I would assume this is because the WLR is hotter and probably creating a tad bit more chamber pressure. I have also noticed that on a couple of loads for the 30-06 and the 22 250 that switching to WLR primers improved accuracy. Of course there are a few loads that prefer the CCIs over the WLRs. :)
 
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