primer question (WSR)

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I have a couple thousand Rem 7 1/2 and CCI 400 primers and I was looking at the new load books and see Hornady list WSR small rifle primers for their loads. I know for spherical powders reloading books often recommend specific primers with this powder.

I am looking to load the 748 and TAC powders. Should I buy the WSR primer to use with this load? In other words for loads (223Rem) with spherical powder will WSR make a but difference between WSR and Rem 7 1/2? I often see Winchester primers suggest with for example H414 (in 243) powder so they must be suitable for spherical powders.

Thoughts?
 
The 7 1/2's are easily equivalent to the WSR's. If anything they seem to handle pressure abit better in "appearance" but performance you won't see anything much different. You could also use the CCI 450 in the same setting with good results.

Greg
 
lyotehunter,

That is what I thought until I looked at my Hornady 5th Ed book and it shows that the Remington 7 1/2 and CCI 450 in the "Small Rifle Magnum" column but the Remington 7 1/2 had an * next to it stating "these primers are designed and manufactured for bench rest/match shooters and are useful in similar applications as the standard primer.

This is why I asked thinking the Remington 7 1/2 is also considered a magnum primer and probably why many loads in the 223 Remington One Book One Caliber Reloading manual list Remington 7 1/2 primers for almost all of their loads. I had not considered the 7 1/2 a magnum primer until I looked it up.

I hate to have to shoot standard primers when I know the mag primers will do better. Which is why I am considering the CCI 450 but since the 7 1/2 has worked for me I guess I will just stay with is until I find an anomaly.
 
I have shot thousands of WSR in benchrest, and never had a failure. And I have gotten higher velocities it certain cartridges than others using the coveted Federal primers. CCIs are used a lot in the Dasher. They have the hardest cup of any other. You blow a CCI primer and you've done something.
 
Keep in mind that some of us have had problems with the Winchester primers being a smaller diameter than specification and have had some problems with loose primers. Jus sayin.
 
Originally Posted By: StobI have shot thousands of WSR in benchrest, and never had a failure. And I have gotten higher velocities it certain cartridges than others using the coveted Federal primers. CCIs are used a lot in the Dasher. They have the hardest cup of any other. You blow a CCI primer and you've done something.

It seems there has been a few QC issues at Winchester lately. Out of spec primers and split necks on new brass. Hopefully the beancounters are getting swapped out, as it seems this is where these type of issues originate.
 
Originally Posted By: pahntr760Originally Posted By: StobI have shot thousands of WSR in benchrest, and never had a failure. And I have gotten higher velocities it certain cartridges than others using the coveted Federal primers. CCIs are used a lot in the Dasher. They have the hardest cup of any other. You blow a CCI primer and you've done something.

It seems there has been a few QC issues at Winchester lately. Out of spec primers and split necks on new brass. Hopefully the bean counters are getting swapped out, as it seems this is where these type of issues originate.

The problem of split necks has been with them for a long time - all companies have them, but Winchester's QC inspection people are out on long coffee breaks.

Other than that, Winchester is the best domestic brass - much better than Rem, Fed and the rest.
 
Originally Posted By: MotoHunterKeep in mind that some of us have had problems with the Winchester primers being a smaller diameter than specification and have had some problems with loose primers. Jus sayin.

I'll keep that in mind. I most always use Lapua brass, and the WSR primers are a nice tight feel when the brass is new. But I hammer them quite a bit, and I can tell the brass starts to loosen up. So far, new brass and these primers have done well, but I'll watch out.
 
This post is not a "reply" to the previous post, but is instead a reply I wrote re the Distinction of Standard vs. Magnum primers in .223 Remington...so I am posting it at Help New Reloaders for other new reloaders' benefit. Remember, it was written toward another thread's content and posters, not this one, so previous posters here should not take offense!!!:
OK, I will solve the rest of the story here as none of the other posters [after me] have done so, and I am really disappointed in them...

The magnum primer is generally recommended for:
(a)igniting all ball powders as ball powder is "relatively"
harder to ignite than other [stick-type] powders and the magnum primer has a relatively much "hotter" flame than standard primers;
(b) especially recommended when igniting a ball powder in cold weather of 0 degrees F and below;
(c) igniting larger quantities of ball powder (think .338 Win. Mag, 22/250, 308 and 30/06, etc.)

See the older Speer manuals of 1970-90s vintage for a good discussion on this.

Thus, when switching to a magnum primer for a load previously worked up to a safe maximum, one should certainly back off the same powder say 10% and work back up to a safe level with the magnum primer, especially if the loads will be used in hot summer weather - i.e ground hog hunting here in OH - as the magnum primer develops higher pressure faster than the standard primer did with the same quantity of powder. So you can't just use a nmagnum primer withe the previously safe pressure load of the standard primer and expect the same pressure! You may very well get an overload/excess pressure, and you may not! Understanding this so far.

Notice none of the other posters have mentioned any of this...and I have other things to do than type...but have answered as these others do not seem to get it although you are the rookie reloader and they allegedly are "veterans"...

That being said, the CCI 400 standard primer has done very well at igniting my ball powder of choice (Winchester 748) so I have not opted to try the CCI 450 Magmum primer...in the .223 Remington as I hunt a lot in the summer and the 400 standard works fine. BUT, if hunting coyotes in sub-zero conditions I would do so with a Magnum 450 re-worked load. You will likely benefit with a more reliable, complete powder burn...relatively.

Oh, by the way, the BR-4 costs almost twice as much now as does the standard CCI 400 or the Magnum 450, so it is more than just "pennies" as one poster claimed. The BR-4 allegedly has better "quality control" manufacturing than the 400; let CCI tell you what are the other differences between it and the 400.

 
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