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Standard Primers vs Magnum primers

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Category: Firearms, Bows, and Ammunition
Forum Name: Reloading & Ballistics
Forum Description: Anything to do with ammunition
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Topic: Standard Primers vs Magnum primers
Posted By: trojan73
Subject: Standard Primers vs Magnum primers
Date Posted: February/03/2013 at 11:05
Hi Guys
I need your help in reloading .223/5.56 and some other variety cartridges. I typically use CCI 400 primers when reloading 55, 62, and 75grain .223. However, CCI 400 is hard to find. However,  Im finding CCI 450 mag primers instead. Should I, and can I use these primers? Local gun shop says for me to use 1 grain of powder less than what I am currently using??? What about BR primers? Your help is greatly appreciated.
Reloads will be used both for bolt action and semi.
All shooting is done on paper or steel.
The following are powders I use for .223:
1. Hodgdon Varget
2. Hodgdon CFE
3. Ramshot Tac
Following Powders I use for other calibers:
1. Hodgon H380
2. Hodgdon BL-C(2)
3. Hodgdon Titegroup(pistol)


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To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
George Washington



Replies:
Posted By: Stevey Ducks
Date Posted: February/03/2013 at 23:47
My impression is that the CCI 450 primers have a somewhat thicker cup that the CCI 400's do - possibly about .004-.005 inches thicker and resist cratering and penetration better. In any event I have not measured primer cup thickness but have used 450 primers without cratering or penetration or case head expansion with the same loads as the 400's.
I think, then again I have not measured them, that BR primers could be slightly shorter than the 450's but have the same thickness. This is just a guess and possibly I am wrong and need to be corrected. In any event my results using 450's please me to the extent that I an not ready to pay the extra money for BR type primers but that could change if the supply of 450's dries up.
 
In any event when switching components drop the powder charge and work up.
 
I would use the 400 type primer for low pressure small primer cartridges such as the .22 Hornet and such.
 
I have loaded and fired many many .223 rounds using 450's, most of which with TAC and 50-52 grain bullets.
 
Of the powders listed Varget, Tac, and Tite Group are my favorites. I could go on quite a bit on Tite Group.


Posted By: tejas
Date Posted: February/04/2013 at 20:56
    Br primers should be fine. Magnum primers I would only use as a last resort. By the way way, with BLC-2 you should already be using magnum primers.


Posted By: trojan73
Date Posted: February/04/2013 at 21:37
Thx Guys
 
I do use magnum primers for BLC-(2) and H380, however, I needed some feedback on .223 using CFE and Varget powder, thx.


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To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
George Washington


Posted By: supertool73
Date Posted: February/04/2013 at 23:24
I bet i have shot over 30 lbs of blc-2 with cci400 primers and never had an issue. I have actually never used a magnum primer in a 223 load.
I always find it interesting that many say they are needed.


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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own."


Posted By: Alan Robertson
Date Posted: February/13/2013 at 23:54
Howdy trojan73,

Lots of info out there about primers. There are extra considerations for ARs, such as slam fire prevention by using thicker primer cups. CCI 400s aren't really recommended for ARs. Milspec CCI #41s work well.
I couldn't tell any difference in my groups with BR4s and don't like their cost... have never used 450s.
Magnum primers might affect your pressures and groups.

AR service rifle competitors around here seem to use Fed 205M match primers, due to a big supplier around here stocks them and not  Rem 7 1/2s... I've settled on 205Ms and use 205s, too.

There are some good Russian primers for 5.56, also. Right now, what can you get your hands on?
 
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=56422.0 - http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=56422.0

http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php - http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php   


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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"


Posted By: trojan73
Date Posted: February/14/2013 at 02:12
Originally posted by Alan Robertson Alan Robertson wrote:

Howdy trojan73,

Lots of info out there about primers. There are extra considerations for ARs, such as slam fire prevention by using thicker primer cups. CCI 400s aren't really recommended for ARs. Milspec CCI #41s work well.
I couldn't tell any difference in my groups with BR4s and don't like their cost... have never used 450s.
Magnum primers might affect your pressures and groups.

AR service rifle competitors around here seem to use Fed 205M match primers, due to a big supplier around here stocks them and not  Rem 7 1/2s... I've settled on 205Ms and use 205s, too.

There are some good Russian primers for 5.56, also. Right now, what can you get your hands on?
 
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=56422.0 - http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=56422.0

http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php - http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php   
Awesome! thanks for the info on the links
I can typically get a hold of CCI 400, 450, BRs, and a variety of others but at the moment its only BRs. When I get the chance I usually take a drive down south to phoenix where there is lots to choose from but not as often as i would like. I have a friend who will be making the drive for me and I am hoping she can get a hold of tons of primers for me, Ill know by this weekend. Thanks for your input on this matter.


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To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
George Washington



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