Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Primer?

Does it matter what brand primer I use in my hunting loads? For instance, can I just buy CCI primers or do I have to have different primers for each caliber? Thanks.

Your rifle will tell you what it likes during load development. I generally have better luck with CCI primers.

While the primer can have some effect on the accuracy, for hunting loads in typical hunting rifles, it's way down the list. I'd buy a brand that I could get locally in good supply and not worry about it. I tend to use CCI and Winchester for the bulk of my loading. I wouldn't feel handicapped if I could only use CCI.

I have had best luck with CCI or Federal.
I will never use Remington or Winchester again as both have had issues for me.
John

Not sure what to think. I quit using CCI primers many years ago because of a lot of misfires. With one box of ammo, I never knew if the gun wold go bang or click. Switched to Winchesters and no problems until just recently. Doing load work ups for a .280 Rem. and two 7x57 Mausers, I had seven misfires from the various rifles. Some would go bang on a second try and others did not. These are not the brass colored primers but some from a lot that are nickel plated. They've been stored under good temperature controlled conditions like inside a closet in the house. Gonna really torque my jaws if I'm sighted on an elk next month and the damn gun goes, "click". instead of bang.
Paul B.

While working up a load a few months ago I had fifteen out of fifteen CCI250 hangfires. They would go click bang about as quickly as it takes to read the two words out loud. The load was lots of US869 behind a 6.5mm 140 grain AccuBond. The temp was about 40 degrees. I switched to Federal 215 and have not had a single hang fire since.

I will still use the CCI250 in my smaller 6.5.

Primers matter. I have some load that will only shoot group with a specific primer. In other instances the point of impact cam move a full foot with a primer change.

Sometimes you can change primers and still shoot in the same hole, but the only way to know is put the new load on paper.

Does it matter what brand primer I use in my hunting loads?

Yes!

The current lot of WW WLR & WLRM primers I have that were not plated by WW are undersize on their diameter!

These undersize primers fit loose in good new primer pockets!

They are not so loose as to fall out so far.

Link "undersize WLR pimers."

Just use CCI's. Trust me, you'll be just fine..

Why would you hunt with those loads?

A.S
Will not disagree to some extent on the above. Personally have not seen a foot diffrence, but have seen a 2-3" diffrence in POI with a primer change in certain calibers. Seems like the the smaller the caliber the change is less significant.
Slower powders seem to be more tempermental to primer change than the faster powders. IME.
I have alot of small caliber loads that will give great performance and accuracy independent of primer change, where the opposite is true of the larger hunting calibers.
Guess it all depends on what the goal is.
Example is a couple of 25.06's I have give best groups and velocity with heavy bullets, slow powders and only Federal or Winchester primers.
My varmint calibers will not vary much in group size with primer change but do seem to be more susceptible to powder change.