5.56 CCI primers vs regular small primers?

[gulada97]

I have about 750 Federal small rifle primers at home that I use for reloading some 308. I'd like to start reloading 5.56 as well, and I can buy some CCI "5.56" primers on that one website I found. The question I have is, what's the difference between "5.56 primers" and small rifle primers. And can I use one or the other interchangeably?

 

[spife7980]

You mean the cci41? It is a small rifle primer so no real difference based on that criteria.
Its got a slightly thicker cup like the 450 and br4 than the 400 and it has more anvil gap than the others to help prevent slam fires with an ar15s floating firing pin.


Disclaimer is that you should never swap components interchangeably but if youre loading responsibly youll be fine.

 

[gulada97]

Yessir, the CCI41. Makes sense, I just wasn't sure why these were "5.56 specific". Thank you.

 

[Black max]

Other than what Spife has said, they seem to be a little hotter, like a 450.

 

[gulada97]

Right on, thank you!

 

[Rlandry]

I have a pot full of Wolf primers that are marked 223Rem. I think that's a designation for any small primer AR caliber and has thicker cups to prevent slam fires.