Do your AR's work better or more reliably with one brand of primer over another? For instance I know of CCIs can be too "hard" for some trigger springs to detonate 100% of the time. Just looking for some input prior to starting to stock up on supplies..
What primers for AR?
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Re: What primers for AR?
I have been using remington 7 1/2 and CCI with no problems. I do want to give the Wolf small rifle magnums a shot. I hear they are the way to go with the AR platform. I have had excellent results with Wolf large rifle and large rifle magnum primers. They give me better ES than CCI BR2s by a long shot.
I have been using remington 7 1/2 and CCI with no problems. I do want to give the Wolf small rifle magnums a shot. I hear they are the way to go with the AR platform. I have had excellent results with Wolf large rifle and large rifle magnum primers. They give me better ES than CCI BR2s by a long shot.
Re: What primers for AR?
The issue with primer selection in an AR platform, especially in .223/5.56, is the need for a harder cup. This need is due in some part to the design (floating firing pin) and operating pressures.
The Rem 7.5, CCI, and Wolf Small Rifle Magnums all have a cup that is thicker and harder to pierce.
Depending on your chamber dimension, load development can easily end up with over book published powder charges, due to the fact that 5.56x45mm is loaded to a higher pressure than .223 Remington.
palmik,
Wolf SRM primers shoot just as good or better for me than Rem 7.5
Do a search, and you may find the link that I have seen comparing ignition flame characteristics between several different primers.
The loads that I have tested have been mostly from a 20in SR upper, and a Noveske 18in SPR build. Both have explored higher powder charges, and the above mentioned brands have held up well.
Both physically, and looking at chronograph data.
The issue with primer selection in an AR platform, especially in .223/5.56, is the need for a harder cup. This need is due in some part to the design (floating firing pin) and operating pressures.
The Rem 7.5, CCI, and Wolf Small Rifle Magnums all have a cup that is thicker and harder to pierce.
Depending on your chamber dimension, load development can easily end up with over book published powder charges, due to the fact that 5.56x45mm is loaded to a higher pressure than .223 Remington.
palmik,
Wolf SRM primers shoot just as good or better for me than Rem 7.5
Do a search, and you may find the link that I have seen comparing ignition flame characteristics between several different primers.
The loads that I have tested have been mostly from a 20in SR upper, and a Noveske 18in SPR build. Both have explored higher powder charges, and the above mentioned brands have held up well.
Both physically, and looking at chronograph data.
Re: What primers for AR?
Palmik,
Here you go. German Salazar's primer testing.
http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2010/08/primers-wolf-223-primer.html
http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2011/03/primers-large-vs-small-flash-hole-test.html
Palmik,
Here you go. German Salazar's primer testing.
http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2010/08/primers-wolf-223-primer.html
http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2011/03/primers-large-vs-small-flash-hole-test.html
Re: What primers for AR?
I use CCI's for everything. Have never had a problem and they are very consistent.
I use CCI's for everything. Have never had a problem and they are very consistent.
Re: What primers for AR?
Wolf small rifle mags for me. Cheap from Wideners. Remington 7 1/2's otherwise. DONOT use use the Remmy 6.5's. WW SR are great too and the CCI BR4 are super accurate. Never tried Fed 205 match primers as they are hard to get.
Wolf small rifle mags for me. Cheap from Wideners. Remington 7 1/2's otherwise. DONOT use use the Remmy 6.5's. WW SR are great too and the CCI BR4 are super accurate. Never tried Fed 205 match primers as they are hard to get.
Re: What primers for AR?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BCP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use CCI's for everything. Have never had a problem and they are very consistent. </div></div>
I've actually used Winchester, CCI, Rem and Federals and have never had a problem, with any of them.
This being said, Sierra uses Rem 7 1/2s for their AR-15 load data.
I'll use any of them, but I guess if you waved your magic wand and transported to me, what I wanted, I'd go with the benchrest Remmy 7 1/2s.
Chris
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BCP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use CCI's for everything. Have never had a problem and they are very consistent. </div></div>
I've actually used Winchester, CCI, Rem and Federals and have never had a problem, with any of them.
This being said, Sierra uses Rem 7 1/2s for their AR-15 load data.
I'll use any of them, but I guess if you waved your magic wand and transported to me, what I wanted, I'd go with the benchrest Remmy 7 1/2s.
Chris
Re: What primers for AR?
CCI 41's are the only primers i use in Ar's. They are specically made for the 5.56X45. They are basically mil spec primers.
CCI 41's are the only primers i use in Ar's. They are specically made for the 5.56X45. They are basically mil spec primers.
Re: What primers for AR?
And while we are on this subject, What's the difference between
Tula and Wolf KVB556M and Why does one cost more than the other
And while we are on this subject, What's the difference between
Tula and Wolf KVB556M and Why does one cost more than the other
Re: What primers for AR?
I was using rem 71/2, but have now changed over to CCI 34. Gun shows have had tons of the 34's, and getting them cheaper around here. The rems worked fine though.
I was using rem 71/2, but have now changed over to CCI 34. Gun shows have had tons of the 34's, and getting them cheaper around here. The rems worked fine though.
Re: What primers for AR?
I recently switched to the CCI #41 mil spec primers for my ARs because of the thicker primer cup. The #41 mil spec primer is the same as the CCI 450 (the magnum small rifle primer) internally. Alot of people use the Rem 7 1/2. They are supposed to also have hard cup suitable for semi-autos with floating firing pins. Plenty of people also use CCI 450s and BR4s.
I was using CCI 400s that I bought after the last presidential election when I could not find anything else. I was able to work up nice accurate loads with them but supposedly the cups are on the thin side so I switched.
Whether or not you are in the camp that believes that a slam fire is even possible with a properly seated primer, better safe than sorry in my book. I would say the go-to primers for AR use are Rem 7 1/2, CCI 41, 450s and BR4s.
YMMV
I recently switched to the CCI #41 mil spec primers for my ARs because of the thicker primer cup. The #41 mil spec primer is the same as the CCI 450 (the magnum small rifle primer) internally. Alot of people use the Rem 7 1/2. They are supposed to also have hard cup suitable for semi-autos with floating firing pins. Plenty of people also use CCI 450s and BR4s.
I was using CCI 400s that I bought after the last presidential election when I could not find anything else. I was able to work up nice accurate loads with them but supposedly the cups are on the thin side so I switched.
Whether or not you are in the camp that believes that a slam fire is even possible with a properly seated primer, better safe than sorry in my book. I would say the go-to primers for AR use are Rem 7 1/2, CCI 41, 450s and BR4s.
YMMV
Re: What primers for AR?
For Ar's in 308 or thr Garand and M1A I use only CCI # 34's which are also milspec promers like the #41's.
For Ar's in 308 or thr Garand and M1A I use only CCI # 34's which are also milspec promers like the #41's.
Re: What primers for AR?
All I could find was CCI 400's for the time being, so I only bought 200... we'll see how they work..
All I could find was CCI 400's for the time being, so I only bought 200... we'll see how they work..
Re: What primers for AR?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HM Spike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And while we are on this subject, What's the difference between
Tula and Wolf KVB556M and Why does one cost more than the other </div></div>
No difference at all other than the name on the box. It is my understanding that the Tula primers are imported directly and the Wolf has a middleman, thus the higher price for the Wolf.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HM Spike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And while we are on this subject, What's the difference between
Tula and Wolf KVB556M and Why does one cost more than the other </div></div>
No difference at all other than the name on the box. It is my understanding that the Tula primers are imported directly and the Wolf has a middleman, thus the higher price for the Wolf.
Re: What primers for AR?
I personally believe that if a commercial primer in good condition fails to ignite; the true source of the failure is the fire control system, and not the primer.
I've shot an awful lot of handloads in M1, M1A, and AR rifles. I inspect my handloads for properly seated primers before using them. I practice sensible ammunition feeding techniques (I never hand chamber and release a bolt to slam home without a magazine being fully seated. Proper semi ammo feeding always requires feeding the round from within a magazine.). I have never experienced, or witnessed, a slam-fire.
I personally believe that if a commercial primer in good condition fails to ignite; the true source of the failure is the fire control system, and not the primer.
I've shot an awful lot of handloads in M1, M1A, and AR rifles. I inspect my handloads for properly seated primers before using them. I practice sensible ammunition feeding techniques (I never hand chamber and release a bolt to slam home without a magazine being fully seated. Proper semi ammo feeding always requires feeding the round from within a magazine.). I have never experienced, or witnessed, a slam-fire.
