Primers for the 204

GrizleyHunter

GrizleyHunter

New member
Getting inventory set up for the 204 and noticed my Hornady Handbook calls for Remington 7,1/2 primers and I have a ton of Winchester Small Rifle (WSR) primers.
Just checking to make sure if I can use the WSR primers without any problems.
 
You can use the WSR primers without any problems...

But the 204 tends to run high pressures, and the Rem 7-1/2, the CCI BR-4, and 450,s all take high pressures very well - they have thicker/harder cups.
 
I have found the Rem 7-1/2's to work well in my 204.. The thinner cupped primers [CCI400, WSR]pierce pretty often.. The cup thickness on the Winchester SR primer is .021", the Rem 7-1/2 is .025", which is the same as the CCI BR4 and CCI 450.
 
I like the magnum level primers in my .204 rounds due to the increased accuracy that I'm seeing..You just need to start building your load data at a lower charge weight and work up...
 
WSR primers worked fine in mine, when I had a .204, but the CCI 450's did work a little better. Especially if you plan on finding the outer limits.
 
I've shot over 2000 rounds thru one .204 using Winchester primers. No pierced primers, shooting a 39 gr blitzking at near max velocities. I shoot Fed match primers in my other .204, over 3000 rounds, again no pierced primers. I use the different primers (one shiny, one brass looking) to easily know which brass was shot in which gun. Brass is not interchangeable in my guns.
 
Never had a pierced primer with winchester; or any other primer for that matter. I do not push my loads in .204, 22-250 is another matter.
 
Wow,
Shot the rem 204 yesterday 10 rounds just to get on paper at 100yds and the last few were cutting one hole.
Cant wait to get to our range to see what she will do with reloads.
I need to know if this is normal for Hornady store bought ammo--- all the primers were cratered--- they must be a hot loads.
Anyone else get the same results with the Hornady Ammo as far as the cratering of the primers???
 
Had some punch throughs on Hornady factory loads. Same batch had some rounds that wouldn't chamber. Called Hornady and they wanted to see them. Sent them back and they said there were 2 problems.

1. bad lot of primers
2. SAMMI max cartridge in my tight Savage chamber.

Haven't had a problem with my reloads, except when I tried CCI 400 primers. Thin cup = deep cratering.
 
The remmy 700 i set up pierced a couple factory 32gr hornady v max primers. They have to be a hot load to get those kind of velocities. I reloaded for it with WSR primers and 39gr BK amd a max load of H 335 and it shot great no problems at all.
 
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Something else to consider if your rifle is a Remmy: The last three new Remingtons I have purchased will crater primers no matter how mild the load. This is due to the firing pin hole in the bolt face being a few thousandths oversize. The problem can be cured by bushing the hole, or.........use magnum primers and don't let it bug ya.
 
cratering---seems like a lot of people have firing pin issues that create cratering even with reduced loads. Some choose to live with it if they know that their loads arent too hot. My AR leaves a little bit of cratering regardless of the charge. For whatever reason....seems like a lot of the factory guns have this issue.
 
Ill have to go back and look at the .204 brass. I dont remember it cratering, but the pierced primers with factory loads made me scratch my head. The primers were flattened a little bit too. Not extreme pressure but a little. The bolt opened fine.
 
I have been using cci 450 mag primers for the boys 204 and they seem to give the best load. And yes we do see cratering on the primer even with a mild load rp
 


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