Primers...New Qustion.

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14 years 10 months ago #2637 by BUILDING MY SASS
Primers...New Qustion. was created by BUILDING MY SASS
I have a New question. I have had CCI and Federal 210 match primers recommended, but at present all I have is the Remington to use, a friend I work with said he has some military primers he would part with. Can someone tell me the difference between the two types....Military and standard. I want to start reloading my Hornady brass soon and I need to know what primers would suit the shells for performance. I want to reload them as close to factory as I can....
Hornady recommended IMR 4064 for the powder, I am planning on 168 gr A-max bullets. Input if you please...
BMS

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14 years 10 months ago #2638 by Scaup58
Replied by Scaup58 on topic Re:Primers...New Qustion.
I have read that the CCI mil spec. primer is the same as their magnum primer, they both have a thicker and/or harder cup so as to not be vulnerable to slam-fire, and they are a little "hotter". Looking at the firing pin with it's spring in the AR-10, I don't think that slam firing is an issue. I compared federal magnum primers to Win. LRs in one of my loads using BL-C(2) to see if the magnums were more consistent with the ball powder. With the same powder charge, the magnums gave about a 40 fps. velocity increase and maybe a slight reduction in group size. BL-C(2) just does not shoot worth a crap in my rifle no matter what I do. I bought 2K of WLRs last January and am happy with them. I think primer differences are a much smaller variable than the other things I'm trying to sort out now, such as powder type, bullet choice, seating depth and to crimp or not. IMR-4895 was pretty accurate but I can't fit enough of it in my Lake City cases, Vihtavouri N-540 looks promising but I need more time with it. Alliant Reloader-15 looks very good. I haven't tried IMR-4064 yet but it is one of the go-to powders for the .308. MSH says Varget is the powder for the .308 so that's what I will try next. So far I've been crimping everything and can't get under 1.25" groups consistently. I'm going to try not crimping and see what effect that has. It's kind of cold here in Michigan now so I haven't gotten out to shoot lately.
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14 years 10 months ago #2639 by BUILDING MY SASS
Replied by BUILDING MY SASS on topic Re:Primers...New Qustion.
Well my friend I hear you on the cold, they say -20 tonight in Nebraska, I haven't got out since the test on the XTS-135. I have heard also that Varget is a good one to go with, I believe Edge, Z, and MSH have said that, but unfortunately I am dealing with what I can get within driving range locally.
I am somewhat perplexed when it comes to the difference in primers. My buddy at work, the one with the military primers, likes the Remington and Winchester and federal and says he only uses the CCI as a last resort. As I said a while back, this stuff is like baking a cake or something, everyone has their own recipe. All that said do you know about the military Primers....what is the difference if any other than a thicker/harder cap, and any problems with pressing them in...?

Stay warm....
BMS

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14 years 10 months ago #2640 by rnb873091
Replied by rnb873091 on topic Re:Primers...New Qustion.
I have been using Varget in both my 260 and 308 and have out standing results in both caliber(less that .335 inches in 260 with Berger 130 gr bullets and in 308 .359 with 155 gr Berger VLD bullets). I uses wolf primers I have found that they are very consitant.

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14 years 10 months ago #2641 by Hank in Arkansas
Replied by Hank in Arkansas on topic Re:Primers...New Qustion.
I have been using the CCI#34 arsenal primers in my .308 loads for my M1A and AR10 for several months now. They are great. I've never had a problem seating them; I use a RCBS bench mounted seating tool rather than my Rockchucker press. I believe CCI says the arsenal primers are the equivalent of their magnum primers, so on a couple of my loads I backed off 1 grain in the powder charge. However, as I've chronographed loads, I haven't noticed any significant changes in velocity, thus probably no significant change in pressure (this with same powder charges). Accuracy has been as good as with other primers I had been using, ie, CCI200 and Win WLR.

Years ago, some CCI pistol primers were hard to seat using progressive presses, but my experience is that CCI fixed that years ago. I have used CCI with great success since the 1960s. I've used every other brand except Wolf with equal success, though. I've switched to the CCI arsenal primers for all .308 and .223 ammo loaded for gas operated semi-autos, just for an added layer of safety.
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14 years 10 months ago #2654 by Scaup58
Replied by Scaup58 on topic Re:Primers...New Qustion.
>>>>>All that said do you know about the military Primers....what is the difference if any other than a thicker/harder cap, and any problems with pressing them in...?

What Hank said. From what I've read, the M1A needs the mil spec. primer. If you're going to use them in one .308, you might as well use them in all. Every one is going to have an opinion of what primer is best, and it's usually that, opinion. I started using Winchester primers 30 years ago when I started reloading, however I've used just about every other brand too. I bought Wins last January primarily because that's all I found! They work fine. The bench rest guy's will have preferences based more on observed fact because they're performing at a level where they can see minute differences in consistency so their opinions carry more weight. I'm not at that level, so like I said earlier, I have bigger variables to solve before I'll start worrying about primer brand. If you can get the CCI 34s, they should work fine. MHS said that many of the Palma shooters are using Wolf primers. To me that speaks volumes as they are another bunch for whom consistency is everything. As for CCI pistol primers, I'm half way through my second 1000 through my XD40 with no complaints. I seat my primers with my RCBS junior press's priming system and have had no issues with any brand of primer. One note however, if you dial in a nice accurate load on one primer and then change brands, you may have to adjust your powder charge a half grain or so to stay in that sweet spot.
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14 years 10 months ago #2661 by a Guest
Replied by a Guest on topic Re:Primers...New Qustion.
Your going to have alot of opinions. Hank has exelent advice on the M1A with the older bolts. The bolts are changed now so the new M1A bolts are safe to use on most primers. He didn't know that they changed the bolts but thats good info. The benchrest guys where I started watch the weather. Remingtons in cold weather and Federals above 32 degrees. Just like the powder The usual stick stuff 322, 2015, Little gun ect. but when the temp goes above 96 to 97 deg we swith over to 748 in the middle of the match. Use the primer that is giving you best groups and that will change from lot to lot. So it is our job as reloaders to stay on it.MSH

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14 years 10 months ago #2663 by RandR
Replied by RandR on topic Re:Primers...New Qustion.
From where I stand just getting ANY primer right now is difficult. And if you have to pay the hazardous shipping fee they get REALLY expensive. I have been looking at all my local suppliers for both powder and primers, the shelves are bare! RandR.

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14 years 10 months ago #2669 by BUILDING MY SASS
Replied by BUILDING MY SASS on topic Re:Primers...New Qustion.
OK I must be getting slow in my old age....LOL
So for the most part there is no real difference in the primers....as far as quality, between military and standard. I have the chance to pick up a couple of hundred so I think I will jump on them to have them....Maybe make Rocket loads with them...LOL
BMS

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14 years 10 months ago #2721 by taticalrifle
Replied by taticalrifle on topic Re:Primers...New Qustion.
I have been using the large milatary primers for 308 300wm 300wsm and 270. I have not had any problems. They work well in both bolt actions and semi-autos. I have had great luck with varget powder. It is a very versitile powder.

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