WSR Primers for .223 for AR's

[Paratus et Vigilans]

I just got started reloading, and I have seen several warnings here against using WSR Primers for .223 loads for AR's. Is there any truth to the rumor that there is a risk of the firing pin penetrating the WSR Primer and damaging the rifle? Was that just a bad batch of WSR Primers some time back? Is it just a seating depth issue? If WSR Primers should be avoided for AR loads, what is the consensus favorite primer?

Thanks in advance for the info and tips!

[geo5120]

I used them on a batch of 200 reloads for my AR. Checked them by cycling them safely through the gun and had only light marking on the primer from the firing pin. Make sure the primer pocket is clean well and seat the primer just below the base surface.

[phish]

Certain folks used to hot-rod their WSR loads when they had the thicker nickel plated cups.

When Winchester switched to the blue boxed, non-plated cups, pierced primers started to occur.

I've actually never had piercing problems with the newer batch of primers when I used them, but I don't hot-rod my loads either.

You can pierce any primer out there given a stiff enough charge of powder.

[ocabj]

I've had many problems with Winchester SR primers in the AR platform, from medium loads on up.

I've had pierced primers with only 24.0gr of Varget behind a 77gr SMK. With 25.3gr of Varget (which is a very hot load), I've had the primers actually pop out and the primer cups separate and get into the action.

I switched to CCI and all my primer issues with the AR went away.

Remington 7-1/2 are very popular among Service Rifle shooters. Unfortunately, they are hard to come by for some reason, as of late.

I use CCI 400 for practice and CCI BR4 for competition. Both give the same velocities, but the BR4 appears to have better standard deviation and extreme spread, especially with Lapua brass.

FYI: If you ever pierce a primer, you should always check the firing pin for any deformation. Piercing a primer in the AR can cause firing pin damage that will cause more pierced primers. This is also why you should keep spare firing pins. I have two spares in my range kit.

[Paratus et Vigilans]

Great advice, Jon!

Thanks for the tips! Spare firing pins just went on my shopping list!

I've had many problems with Winchester SR primers in the AR platform, from medium loads on up.

I've had pierced primers with only 24.0gr of Varget behind a 77gr SMK. With 25.3gr of Varget (which is a very hot load), I've had the primers actually pop out and the primer cups separate and get into the action.

I switched to CCI and all my primer issues with the AR went away.

Remington 7-1/2 are very popular among Service Rifle shooters. Unfortunately, they are hard to come by for some reason, as of late.

I use CCI 400 for practice and CCI BR4 for competition. Both give the same velocities, but the BR4 appears to have better standard deviation and extreme spread, especially with Lapua brass.

FYI: If you ever pierce a primer, you should always check the firing pin for any deformation. Piercing a primer in the AR can cause firing pin damage that will cause more pierced primers. This is also why you should keep spare firing pins. I have two spares in my range kit.

[REDHORSE]

I use CCI SR Magnum primers

[NRAhighpowershooter]

I use CCI400's for my service rifle as well as my spacegun but I use CCI BR's for my 600yd loads.. but for my plinking loads I use Winchesters, CCI's, Federals.. basically anything I can get my hands on....I was using Rem 7 1/2's for my service rifle but had extreme primer flow using only 24.0gr Varget and a 69gr SMK.. switched to CCI400's and the problem went away...

[Paratus et Vigilans]

Thanks to all for chiming in on this question!

As always, Calgunners have the answers!

[Ten Rounder]

I have not had any problems with WSR in my 6.8. I have loaded all the way to the max book load for 115 SMK, 110 V-Max, and 115 HOTM

[Bolt2Bounce]

I have not had any problems with the Winchester Small rifle primer. I just finished loading 3500 rds of 223 55 gr ball ammo with WSR. I've loaded and shot them in service rifle AR's up to 77 gr match loads, no primer flow at all. They are fine as far as I can tell. There is a possibility of a bad lot of soft cup primers getting out, or as CCI had a lot # 50 BMG primes that had cracked primer cups that caused gas to flow back into the bolt face... causing damage . Fed also had a large Rifle rifle primer lot # that was piercing primers on a regular basis about 10 years ago... same result damage and pitted bolt faces. Usually it will be a bad metal alloy or some sort of chemical getting to the metal , causing it to fail.... B2B

[thmpr]

Strictly use CCI nato, 400, 450, BR4, 200, 250 primers. Switched from Federal. Never tried Winchester primers.