CCI #41 vs. #400

[sirgrumps]

CCI has the #41 primer for the 5.56mm. They also have the #400 for small rifle.

So I assume you can use the #400 in a 5.56, but is there a special primer for 5.56?

So can you use a #41 in typical small rifle applications?

[Shab21]

CCI 41 primers have both a slightly thicker cup metal to help prevent AD's if the same round is chambered and chambered over, as well as it has slightly more pressure/heat to ignite spherical powder (use in ball ammo loads) better than the 400 primers as well.

Typically used for ARs or semi-automatic rifles to avoid slam fire.

[MongooseV8]

Iirc the 41 has a thicker cup to reduce the risk of slam fires in a semi auto. You can use a 41 in say a Rem 700 if your firing pin hits hard enough. Ive used both versions in every action under the sun and they always go bang. So to answer your question directly the 41 isnt really designed for the 5.56 per say, more for an AR type rifle. If you have the choice I would save the 400 for your bolt actions.

[sirgrumps]

Iirc the 41 has a thicker cup to reduce the risk of slam fires in a semi auto. You can use a 41 in say a Rem 700 if your firing pin hits hard enough. Ive used both versions in every action under the sun and they always go bang. So to answer your question directly the 41 isnt really designed for the 5.56 per say, more for an AR type rifle. If you have the choice I would save the 400 for your bolt actions.

So are you saying, for an AR, I should try to get #41 over #400?
Then, would the #450 (magnum small rifles) be better than the #400 in an AR too?

[FLIGHT762]

Then, would the #450 (magnum small rifles) be better than the #400 in an AR too?

Yes, the 450 magnum primer has a thicker primer cup (.025") than the 400 (.020"). If you can't get the 41's, get the 450's. The Remington 7-1/2 has the same thick primer cup as the CCI 450 and 41.

[sirgrumps]

Yes, the 450 magnum primer has a thicker primer cup (.025") than the 400 (.020"). If you can't get the 41's, get the 450's. The Remington 7-1/2 has the same thick primer cup as the CCI 450 and 41.

And Winchesters?

[FLIGHT762]

See for yourself here:http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php

[17+1]

[sirgrumps]

See for yourself here:http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php

Thank you very much. That is a great article.

[OpenSightsOnly]

Some folks use 400s without any issues but for my reloads I only use 450s, BR4s, 7.5 BRs, or the Wolf/Tula SRMs.

[Ruger15151]

CCI says that #450s and #41 have the same cup thickness and the same primer compound. You should be able to use them interchangeably.