Watch out for old primers

[arnie19]

I am new to AR type rifles but not reloading .I have a 223 varmint bolt gun that's about 25 years old . I have reloaded for it in years as my interest in guns went to Black powder cartridge and WW2 military rifles . Now that I have anAR-15 I started reloading for it and found among my primers a box of federal small rifle primers # 200 which I see now are designated as pistol primers . As you can see by the picture of the box .It says there for rifle and high power pistol .

 

[arnie19]

The bad primers are the Federal and the good one is a CCI and if you look close you can see little marks on the CCI primer caused by dimples cut into the bolt head .

 

[arnie19]

BTW I did the felt tip writing on the box so it wouldn't get used again.

 

[High Binder]

BTW I did the felt tip writing on the box so it wouldn't get used again.

Or you could just... I dunno, toss them in the trash.

 

[wakajawaka]

What are the particulars of the load you used?

 

[arnie19]

The load was 55 grain Nosler and 22 grains of H322 .The primers look fine as far as flattening and when switching to CCI primers they don't blow those pin holes in them .

 

[arnie19]

The age of the primers really isn't the problem .The problem came from the fact that at one time Federal said these primers were ok for rifle loads but obviously that isn't true .Maybe in a 22 hornet but sure not in a 223 .

 

[wakajawaka]

The age of the primers really isn't the problem .The problem came from the fact that at one time Federal said these primers were ok for rifle loads but obviously that isn't true .Maybe in a 22 hornet but sure not in a 223 .

I'm inclined to agree.

Sort of like Remington 6 1/2 small rifle primers...

 

[arnie19]

Im not familiar with the rem 6 1/2 primers . Are they a pistol cup also ?

 

[Name Enough]

Remy 6 1/2 not good for 223 - ask me how I know. I got some by mistake, I asked for 7 1/2 and the clerk handed over 6 1/2 by mistake. They are not designed for high pressure.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Check your firing pin's tip with a jeweler's loop and look for cratering. Replace if cratering is notated.

Like High Binder advises, chuck them in the trash, or just use them in pistol rounds.

Chris

 

[wakajawaka]

You could use them in .30 Carbine, .22 Hornet, .221 Fireball, .222.
I've used quite a few over the years. Just be selective.