Primer Question?

[nosler06]

I'm looking for any wisdom from the experience knowledge that's out there. Currently I have switch to 165gr Nosler Partitions in my older 30-06 with H4350 powder. I have been using CCI200 primers and found so articles on the internet about switching primers and being able to tighten groups by as much as half. What are the differences between the Federal 210 primer and the CCI-BR primer? Would this be worth trying or is the expense to test not really worth it? What do you think?

 

[phil]

It can be a vast difference, depending on what it prefers. Drop down a couple grains and do another charge weight test. Sometimes it can make things fall right in place.

 

[ElmerThud]

I don't shoot 30-06, but in my 25-06 I use a magnum primer & found more consistency in both powder burn & as a result much better accuracy.
Fed Gold Match Magnum primers are very good. Brass prep is so important so take good care with it.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

I'm looking for any wisdom from the experience knowledge that's out there. Currently I have switch to 165gr Nosler Partitions in my older 30-06 with H4350 powder. I have been using CCI200 primers and found so articles on the internet about switching primers and being able to tighten groups by as much as half. What are the differences between the Federal 210 primer and the CCI-BR primer? Would this be worth trying or is the expense to test not really worth it? What do you think?

Fed 210 is the standard primer unless you are referring to the 210GM match primer which is similar to the CCiBR4 primer. You'd just have to try and see how your rifle responds to the primer switch. Personally, I haven't seen as much difference from one standard primer to another using standard case calibers. Some ball type powders do better with magnum primers and heavier powder charges do well with magnum primers. Having said all this, I don't think it would hurt a thing using the more expensive primers just your wallet

 

[Ralt71]

I play with primers last in load development. I have seen tighter or wider groups by switching it up. My two favorites are Fed 210GM and Winchester Large Rifle Magnum. Most of my loads got tighter groups when going from 210GM to WLRM. Build some loads in different primers and see what your gun thinks. 3 to 5 rounds won't be enough to tell you what is good, but it will be enough to tell you what isn't good.

 

[michsteve]

I play with primers last in load development. I have seen tighter or wider groups by switching it up. My two favorites are Fed 210GM and Winchester Large Rifle Magnum. Most of my loads got tighter groups when going from 210GM to WLRM. Build some loads in different primers and see what your gun thinks. 3 to 5 rounds won't be enough to tell you what is good, but it will be enough to tell you what isn't good.

Winchester LR Magnum are like flamethrowers I think they are the hottest just beating out the Federal 215M.

 

[RL338]

Fed vs CCI is like a Ford vs Chevy fight , everyone had their favorites. Federal is hands down the most used primer by me.

 

[Ralt71]

Winchester LR Magnum are like flamethrowers I think they are the hottest just beating out the Federal 215M.

I love them, great powder burn and consistent for me!

 

[Ralt71]

Fed vs CCI is like a Ford vs Chevy fight , everyone had their favorites. Federal is hands down the most used primer by me.

I'm probably one of the few that does not have much luck with any of the CCI line. Federal are my second most used primer.

 

[George Foster]

Back in Feb., '83 I tested the Fed 210m against the CCI BR2 primers in one my 6mm Rem rifles. All with the same load, I shot three 3 shot groups with each primer. The Fed210m loads averaged .025 tighter groups than the CCI BR2 primer loads at 100yds. Only one test with one load, one rifle but I have used the Fed210m primers ever since.

 

[Hunter26]

I haven't done much testing but have used CCI, Winchester, Federal, Remington and Magtech in that order of most to least. I've never had a bad result with any. I like Federal and CCI but will get whatever is available. Dad always chose CCI's.

 

[PJGunner]

A t least three of the cartridges I load for use Winchester Magnum Rifle (WMR) powder which has been off the market for close to 15 to 20 years now. The cartridges are the .270 Win., .280 Rem., and .300 Win. Mag. All three rifle average sub MOA with that powder. Note that I didn't mention the 30-06. Even Winchester hinted that a magnum primer might be better with WMR yet the excellent results I get have been with the standard WLR primer, not the WLMR primer. I've also use the CCI 200 primer in those cartridges with WMR with equally good results.
The point is you'll never know if you don't try the3other primers over the ones you use now.
Just a stray aside about WMR and the 30-06. It does not and will not work in that cartidge. Winchester published load data shows only a 55.0 gr. load for the 30-06 ffor 200 and 220 gr. bullets and velocity figures were dismal yet WMR is excellent with 150 gr. bullets and the .280 absolutely loves WMR with 160 gr. bullets. I've been reloading ammo since 1954 and that's been the first time I've seen this problem show up. Kind of weird.
Paul B.

 

[mjcmichigan]

I’d suggest your asking what does primer choice matter? Maybe. Group size is a measure that could suggest consistency or inconsistency in powder burn. Primers are graded by Brisance. federal and Winchester have higher Brisance than CCI and Remington (that’s a general statement.. get a chart off google . It will help this all make sense). They will give you average brisance and sd for that primer. Some powders don’t ignite as easily as others. Slow burning powders and ball powders might need more brisance, especially in long cases to consistently ignite. …or if the powder is temperature sensitive if might need more help igniting consistently when it’s colder.
I usually go with CCI or Winchester primers.
Today I loaded up my pet 270 win load because I opened a new can of RL17 and my SD went from 2-3 to 13. I’m trying a federal 215 vs cci 200. you are talking about 3006, I consider 60 grains to be near the bubble for magnum primers. When I loaded those, I also decided to revisit the H4381 load that I never got the great results others have seen… so I’m swapping a cci primer for federal.

Tell us what you find works for your load!

 

[highoctane]

I use Winchester primers exclusively due to having thousands and thousands of them. They were bought for about 30-35 dollars per thousand.

Only once in my reloading years have I found that primers make that much of a difference for me. I will qualify that by saying, I only load to hunt and even if a primer did give slightly better averages it will make no difference for me and where I hunt. Most of my rifles loads will shoot 3/4 inch, slightly more, depending on "how tight the nut behind the trigger" is on that particular range day! LOL I rarely have shots past 100 yds and the coldest I get to hunt is low twenties, which is seldom.