SeekingTradDeer
New member
I'm loading some .243 Win. cartridges. Does it matter what primer I use or are they all the same? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
Are all primers the same?
- Thread starter SeekingTradDeer
- Start date
Heavens no!!!
There are standard, magnum, small and large rifle, and there are small and large pistol primers that will fit in to the primer pocket of a rifle cartridges, but should not be used because they are not made for the pressures rifle cartridges generate. Pierced primers will result and possible damage to you or the firearm! Always use the same primer that the reloading manual used, and then experiment with different brands, magnum or standard, even the bench-rest types, but reduce the load and work back up.
There are standard, magnum, small and large rifle, and there are small and large pistol primers that will fit in to the primer pocket of a rifle cartridges, but should not be used because they are not made for the pressures rifle cartridges generate. Pierced primers will result and possible damage to you or the firearm! Always use the same primer that the reloading manual used, and then experiment with different brands, magnum or standard, even the bench-rest types, but reduce the load and work back up.
blinddog
New member
No it don't really make a lot of differance, but yes they are differant, burn temps brissiance ect. are differant between brands, some folks have lists of the brissiance of the differant brands, I don't. Primer typs are differant as well Pistol primers are shorter than rifle primers large rifle are a differant diameter than small rifle, and Magnum primers are slightly hotter than standard, (that slight differance in heat, can cause a differance in pressure). When you develope a load that works in YOUR rifle a change as small as primer brand may cause a differance in bullet performance, but it may not. It is best to rework a load if you make any changes.
Are you talking about Large vs. Small or are you talking Winchester vs. Remington vs. CCI. Small Rifle of any brand, will work in ctgs designed for small rifle primers. However if you mix brands you will find slight differences in point of impact. Or not. Just find the brand you like the best and use it.
SeekingTradDeer
New member
Just wondering what primers I should pick up to reload some Winchester .243 rounds using Hornady 58 grain vmax. Friend will be loading them for/with me and I need to bring the supplies.
You may find that one brand, or one type within any brand, produces better or worse accuracy than others. For example, when we were using H380 for our .22-250 and .220 Swift loads using 55 grain bullets, we found that we got better accuracy when using CCI magnum primers than we got when using their standard large rifle primer. Using the magnum primer also required a reduction of 1/2 grain in powder weight, from what we used with the standard CCI primer.
Whether a particular brand of primer, or type of primer within any brand, makes a difference depends on what you expect in the way of accuracy. If you are perfectly happy shooting 3 shot groups of 5/8" at 100 yards with a .22 centerfire, it may not make any significant difference what brand you use. If you want to get your groups well under 1/2" at 100 yards, then they can make a difference. But, these "differences" will vary from gun to gun, from powder to powder, from cartridge to cartridge and from load to load.
Whether a particular brand of primer, or type of primer within any brand, makes a difference depends on what you expect in the way of accuracy. If you are perfectly happy shooting 3 shot groups of 5/8" at 100 yards with a .22 centerfire, it may not make any significant difference what brand you use. If you want to get your groups well under 1/2" at 100 yards, then they can make a difference. But, these "differences" will vary from gun to gun, from powder to powder, from cartridge to cartridge and from load to load.
sharkathmi
New member
Quote:
There are MANY handloading books on the market today. I would suggest that you pick up a couple. You can even find them cheaper used on Amazon.
I second that! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
You simply have to have a good manual. These manuals will contain detailed information about your question and much, much more.
M
There are MANY handloading books on the market today. I would suggest that you pick up a couple. You can even find them cheaper used on Amazon.
I second that! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
You simply have to have a good manual. These manuals will contain detailed information about your question and much, much more.
M
GC
Well-known member
I really like the Federal Gold Medal Match and the Winchester primers. There are others that certainly work well. Pick what is available to you locally, work up your loads, and then don't change anything. A primer change can sometimes lead to different pressures and with a max load could put you in a redline situation. If you change primers, you have to back off the load and work back up observing for over pressure signs once again. Primers do make a difference in certain ways.
SeekingTradDeer
New member
They only had Remington and CCI large primers so I picked up the CCI.
Hidalgo
Well-known member
Quote:
They only had Remington and CCI large primers so I picked up the CCI.
You know.....this whole conversation is scaring the CRAP out of me! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
First off, if your friend told you to "bring the supplies" he SHOULD have instructed you on how to work up a load and gone into much more detail about what to "bring".
This in itself makes me concerned about your friend's reloading experience. Me might have been reloading for years...and that's OK, But on initial appearance it just doesn't sound good to me.
Like you have been told above, get a manual, and load BY THE MANUAL. And if your friend isn't an experienced reloader that actually knows what he is doing, do some research before someone gets hurt. And I'm not knocking your friend. It just doesn't seem to me like he gave you enough info. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
They only had Remington and CCI large primers so I picked up the CCI.
You know.....this whole conversation is scaring the CRAP out of me! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
First off, if your friend told you to "bring the supplies" he SHOULD have instructed you on how to work up a load and gone into much more detail about what to "bring".
This in itself makes me concerned about your friend's reloading experience. Me might have been reloading for years...and that's OK, But on initial appearance it just doesn't sound good to me.
Like you have been told above, get a manual, and load BY THE MANUAL. And if your friend isn't an experienced reloader that actually knows what he is doing, do some research before someone gets hurt. And I'm not knocking your friend. It just doesn't seem to me like he gave you enough info. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
CatShooter
New member
Quote:
Heavens no!!!
There are standard, magnum, small and large rifle, and there are small and large pistol primers that will fit in to the primer pocket of a rifle cartridges, but should not be used because they are not made for the pressures rifle cartridges generate. Pierced primers will result and possible damage to you or the firearm! Always use the same primer that the reloading manual used, and then experiment with different brands, magnum or standard, even the bench-rest types, but reduce the load and work back up.
Oh, Jeeze, where do I start.
Pistol primers are ~ 15 thou shorter than rifle primers, so they WON'T be mistaken in a rifle case. It has been that way since forever.
Remington makes a pistol strength primer (chemical wise) in a rifle cup - it's the 6-1/2.
You do NOT have to use the primer that the manual said. You can substitute whatever you have.
Many primers are so interchangable, that there is no change in velocity at all - others might change the velocity 20 or 30 fps. None will get you in trouble, unless you are already at the raggity edge.
Magnum primers are NOT more powerful than regular primers... they only differ in the duration of heat, and are often LESS powerful than standard primers.
.
Heavens no!!!
There are standard, magnum, small and large rifle, and there are small and large pistol primers that will fit in to the primer pocket of a rifle cartridges, but should not be used because they are not made for the pressures rifle cartridges generate. Pierced primers will result and possible damage to you or the firearm! Always use the same primer that the reloading manual used, and then experiment with different brands, magnum or standard, even the bench-rest types, but reduce the load and work back up.
Oh, Jeeze, where do I start.
Pistol primers are ~ 15 thou shorter than rifle primers, so they WON'T be mistaken in a rifle case. It has been that way since forever.
Remington makes a pistol strength primer (chemical wise) in a rifle cup - it's the 6-1/2.
You do NOT have to use the primer that the manual said. You can substitute whatever you have.
Many primers are so interchangable, that there is no change in velocity at all - others might change the velocity 20 or 30 fps. None will get you in trouble, unless you are already at the raggity edge.
Magnum primers are NOT more powerful than regular primers... they only differ in the duration of heat, and are often LESS powerful than standard primers.
.