I've finally been able to get some blocks of Remington 7 1/2 BR small rifle primers. Anyone have any comparisons or comments on these compared to Remngton 6 1/2 small rifle primers.

I've used 6 1/2 extensively in the past in reloading the 17Remington, 222, 223 and 221 Fireball. I now want to reload a bunch of 17 Fireball and 222, but all I have is the 7 1/2 small rifle.

Comments?

The 6 1/2 has a thinner cup than the 7 1/2.

Of the cartridges you mention I load the 223, and the 7 1/2 is really excellent in it. Back off a few tenths and work up and you'll hit paydirt pretty quick.

If you look in the Remington ammunition catalogue, the factory loads 7-1/2's in all the cartridges you want to load. they only use the 6-1/2's for .30M1 and .22 Hornet, maybe a couple other low capacity/lower pressure loads.

I shot many 222 Rem loads last Summer using Rem 7 1/2 Primers. Here are some targets I shot with load data. The best loads were shot with TAC powder and Speer's 52 grain HP bullet.

Remington 7.5's are my primer of choice in my .17 Rem, TAC 20, .222 and 223. They are showing up on shelves in quanity now for about $30 to $34 a K. Last ones I bought were $24 I'm going to hold out for awhile since I can get the Wolf small rifle magnums for $25 which work just as well.

STOP USING THE Rem 6.5 primers in your high pressure rounds. Read the warning on the box.

As stated, they are for LOW PRESSURE centerfire cases, like the Hornet.

R_Walter: I have used the Remington 6 1/2's in the distant past but I have never used it in anything but 22 Hornets and 218 Bee's etc.
I have never tried them in the high intensity cartridges like the 17 Remington!
So I have no idea as to the comparativity of the two.
I also have just of recent been finding Remington 7 1/2's in stores.
In fact just yesterday in the tiny town of Cheney, Washington (eastern Washington) I found some 7 1/2's and bought them.
I use Remington 7 1/2's in my 3 17 Remingtons Varminters - in all my other small rifle primer applications I use Federal 205 Match primers.
Use caution in your conversion to the "different" primers!
Best of luck to ya!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

At both the local stores where I buy gun stuff, right over the cartons of Remington 6-1/2s, there's written warning not to use those in the .222 family, they are not meant for the higher pressure cartridges, only for the .218 bee, .25-20, etc. You should be using the 7-1/2s for your cartridges in the .222 family.

I used to shoot the 205 match primers also, but 2 of my last 3 700s chambered for cartridges in the .222 family have had sloppy firing pin holes / weak springs and I've destroyed a total of 3 Jewell HVR triggers when primers pierced and vented back through the bolt body. At $225 each, that gets your attention real fast. I have not pierced a 7-1/2 yet and I've been running them 2+ years.

Tom

T O M: I have A Remington XR-100 in 204 Ruger that has a slightly over-sized firing pin hole in its bolt.
It causes a "cratering" appearance to the firing pin indentation of the 204's primers.
I had this "condition" checked by a competent Riflesmith (who used to be a Remington factory authorized gunsmith/repairman!) and he said no worries were to be valid UNLESS I "hot-rodded" the handloads in this Rifle.
He knows me better than that and suggested I do nothing.
Were YOU "hot-rodding" your handloads in the Rifle/Rifles you ruined the Jewell Triggers in?
And for my information also how does a weak firing pin spring enter into your former situation with the Federal 205 Match Primers?
TIA
And sorry for the loss (damage to?) your Jewell Triggers - yes they are expensive but they are fine products.
I quit buying them several years ago as Remington's latest triggers have been just exceptioanl - in my opinion.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy