|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,387 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,387 Likes: 1 |
Been working up loads for a couple of new2me .38 Special revolvers the last few months, a Smith Model 14 and Model 15 to be exact. My initial loads used various bullet/powder combinations and CCI-500 primers, groups were mostly promising. Obviously some loads were better than others but the ones they both really liked used True Blue and would put 10 shots into 1 1/2 to 2" benchrest at 25 yards. I've been using Ramshot True Blue for several years now and really like it anywhere you'd use Unique. It's very clean burning - sometimes you'll get some unburned granules left in the barrel with the lowest pressure loads but very little soot on the outside of the firearm at any pressure level. Anyway, I finished the brick of CCI's since I was on the last couple of boxes anyway and decided to use up a brick of Federal 100's. Holey moley, those loads did not like those primers, at least the ones using True Blue - 4.5 and 5.5 grains under my cast PC 158 WFN. Groups with both revolvers spread into patterns of 4 to 5 inches. A load using 4.0 gains of 231 stayed about the same with both primers. Opened up a new brick of CCI-500 and loaded the exact same charge levels with the same batch of bullets, cases, all else same same and groups immediately shrank back to what they were. I've seen primers make some slight difference before but this is the first time I've seen such a drastic difference. Thinking the CCI-500 must be a good bit hotter than the Federal 100 to better ignite this fine grained ball powder but whatever the reason I'm glad I have a whole bunch of the CCI's on hand.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery. Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 30,983
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 30,983 |
Yep.
People who think primer don't matter usually haven't loaded very much.
You didn't use logic or reason to get into this opinion, I cannot use logic or reason to get you out of it.
You cannot over estimate the unimportance of nearly everything. John Maxwell
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
About ten years ago, I did a very large handgun test with several powders, bullets, and four brands of primers: CCI, Winchester, Remington, and Federal, with a 9mm, a 38, and a 44. The CCI ended up producing the most consistently accurate loads over all the other variables, though individual loads sometimes favored another brand. I shot ten-shot groups at 25 yards over a rest. I was amazed that it mattered so much what brand of primer was in each load. After the test results were considered, I just started stocking CCI pistol primers. Remington did the worst, BTW, followed by Federal, then Winchester. Winchester produced some of the best groups, but a couple of the worst. CCI rarely produced a clearly superior result, but never produced any clearly worst result, and were the most consistent over the whole test.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,809 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,809 Likes: 3 |
Interesting. FWIW, Fed GM100M and CCI 500 primers give identical results in my .22 Hornet with H110.
What fresh Hell is this?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,518
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,518 |
I used to use WW primers in everything, both handgun and rifle, until the Winchester primer problem of a few years ago. I switched to CCI for everything and have been perfectly happy with performance and accuracy.
If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.
Doug
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 600
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 600 |
Primers are a critical part of combustion. It is first necessary to match the primer to the powder and powder column shape and density, After that, the primers need to be consistent. I have found substantial improvements in ES and SD from sorting primers by mass. I weigh them with an electronic scale and sort them. While I do this primarily for my rifle cartridge, I would also do it for my revolver if I needed consistent combustion for long range use. At 7 to 10 yards it doesn't matter. On the other hand, if I'm measuring loads with a chronograph or groups at 25 yards for load-development, sorting primers is going to reduce the influence of that variable and show me the results from other factors more clearly.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,800
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,800 |
I've been a fan of CCI primers for over 50 years, but now days I'll make any brand that I can find work.
The other day I stopped in our local Sportsman's Warehouse and in their reloading section, the primer shelf is about 30' long and it was completely empty except for one carton of 209 shotshell primers.
SAVE 200 ELK, KILL A WOLF
NRA Endowment Life Member
|
|
|
|
587 members (10gaugemag, 10Glocks, 1badf350, 1lesfox, 1936M71, 12344mag, 60 invisible),
2,509
guests, and
1,429
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,195
Posts18,485,034
Members73,966
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|