Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: duckmen1 on January 08, 2013, 03:27:19 PM

Title: Primer differences
Post by: duckmen1 on January 08, 2013, 03:27:19 PM: When reloading I usually use Winchester primers for my 300wsm. Do you think it will make a difference in accuracy getting other brands like cci or federal, or even Remington.
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: marlin on January 08, 2013, 03:32:20 PM: I would think it would be a miniscule difference if any at all.. Unless youre doing some serious benchrest competition I dont think it would make any difference. I think consistent preperation of your brass and consistent powder charge weights and bullet seating would make more difference.
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: duckmen1 on January 08, 2013, 03:34:45 PM: That's what I was thinking. I just wasn't able to find the primers I normally buy so had to by some federals. I'm just always a little paranoid when it comes to changing anything on a load that I like.
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on January 08, 2013, 03:50:33 PM: Duckman I dont know were you are but Boerner Firearms in Bremerton/Gorst has Winny's!
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: lostbackpacker on January 08, 2013, 03:52:12 PM: there are some reloaders that say primers do make a difference. these are usually the guys who do match shooting.
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: duckmen1 on January 08, 2013, 03:56:18 PM: Thanks, but that would be a little out of my area. Plus that is an additional cost for bridge toll. If I can get away with using different brands depending on availability then that will work I just don't want to see accuracy differences. If so I will be patient till I can find them around my area. Thanks again though.
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: duckmen1 on January 08, 2013, 03:57:33 PM: I just don't want grouping that average just under inch to become inch and a quarter at 100 yards.
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: Hilltop123 on January 08, 2013, 04:22:26 PM: When the first Obummer term first started and there was a component shortage, all I could get was regular large rifle primers, my load called for magnum primers, so I went with it.........now that I have magnum primers I see damn little, if any difference in grouping, between the two different primers.... :twocents:
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: jasnt on January 09, 2013, 05:41:57 PM: Only way to know for sure is test them in your rifle. Prob miniscule but......
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: duckmen1 on January 09, 2013, 10:01:11 PM: Plan on going out as soon as possible to see if there is any noticeable difference, but also found the primers I was looking for around town six stores later.
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on January 09, 2013, 10:18:57 PM: I've been reloading for 40 years, and have seen no difference in primers. The only difference is the hardness of the primer cup. Some brands of primers are preferred by pistol shooters because the cup is softer, and the light firing pin strike of a pistol makes misfires with harder primer cups more likely. On the opposite end of the scale are primers that are better for rifles because the cups are harder. Some primers for rifles like AR 15s, are a no-no because the primer cups are soft and thin, and tend to puncture when the firing pin strikes them. I use a lot of CCI and Winchester primers and have had no issues with either one, so far. Have a bunch of Federals, too. I guess I'm just not that picky when it comes to the primers. I put more importance on powder and bullets. :twocents:
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: duckmen1 on January 09, 2013, 10:37:13 PM: Cool thanks a lot.
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: Fisherdave10 on January 10, 2013, 02:27:11 PM: A regular guy making regular ammo using a regular rifle probably won't see any difference when switching between primers.

Some primers are slightly hotter than others, some cups are slightly thicker or thinner than others.

"Bench rest" or "Match" primers have a little better consistency between them. I spent a little bit more and loaded my hunting rounds using Federal GM Match primers. Just because I could.

I have noticed when loading 9mm, that Federal SP primers are softer/thinner and are easy to seat compared to the thicker cups on CCI primers. Because of that, I don't want to use Federal SP primers when loading .357 Magnum though. I'll stick to CCIs.
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: longrangekiller on January 10, 2013, 09:29:51 PM: My uncle was kinda messing around with diffrent primers and in his 7mm stw when he switched to match primers they shrunk his group from 1 inch to 1/2 inch at 100 yards but idk it is gonna be diffrent in every gun I'm acually gonna try my load witch is 3/4 ish at 100 yards this saterday with a couple diffrent kinds of primers out of my 300 rum for the hell of it sence we got em I'll let u know how it works out
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: longrangekiller on January 10, 2013, 09:31:50 PM: I forgot to mention in my 7mm rem mag it didn't make a diffrence at all
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on January 10, 2013, 09:48:00 PM: Quote from: Fisherdave10 on January 10, 2013, 02:27:11 PM
A regular guy making regular ammo using a regular rifle probably won't see any difference when switching between primers.

Some primers are slightly hotter than others, some cups are slightly thicker or thinner than others.

"Bench rest" or "Match" primers have a little better consistency between them. I spent a little bit more and loaded my hunting rounds using Federal GM Match primers. Just because I could.

I have noticed when loading 9mm, that Federal SP primers are softer/thinner and are easy to seat compared to the thicker cups on CCI primers. Because of that, I don't want to use Federal SP primers when loading .357 Magnum though. I'll stick to CCIs.

I think the competition shooters I spoke of liked the Federal primers because they were softer/thinner for their guns (38 Spl. revolvers.) Benchrest shooters can be very picky about components, too. Once they get the combination they want, they stick to it. If you are loading for hunting, I don't think the primers are that important, unless you are striving for tack-driving accuracy. Most pencil barreled hunting rifles are not capable of tight groups shot after shot. One or two shots is usually all you get any way....
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: carpsniperg2 on January 10, 2013, 09:58:05 PM: I have seen many shot side by side threw a chornony. Very little differnce in fps and etc. Don't ask me how or why but when I load federal primers in my 300 wm the groups go from 1" to 1/2" over the cci's. I have never seen anything like it and call me crazy but I have tested it 4 times to see if it was just me.
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on January 10, 2013, 10:10:18 PM: Quote from: carpsniperg2 on January 10, 2013, 09:58:05 PM
I have seen many shot side by side threw a chornony. Very little differnce in fps and etc. Don't ask me how or why but when I load federal primers in my 300 wm the groups go from 1" to 1/2" over the cci's. I have never seen anything like it and call me crazy but I have tested it 4 times to see if it was just me.

And yet, the 300 wm that came off the line right after yours probably hates Federal primers. Every gun has a personality all its own. Go figure... :dunno:
Title: Re: Primer differences
Post by: carpsniperg2 on January 10, 2013, 10:23:31 PM: I agree 100% I bought my first winchester 70 and fell in love with it. AMAZING GUN bought one a few months later and it would not shoot anything worth hell. Traded it off then bought another and the same thing. Thing would just not shoot well. So I guess I got one of the good ones off the line :chuckle:

I have heard from more then one person they have seen the same thing with the federal primers. I am a cci man myself but all my magnums are switched to fed LRM's right now.